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The Birth of a Logging Town in the San Juan Valley
Port Renfrew, nestled at the mouth of the San Juan River on Vancouver Island’s west coast, began as a modest settlement surrounded by dense temperate rainforest. Long before industrial logging arrived, the region was home to the Pacheedaht First Nation, whose stewardship of the land predates European exploration by centuries. The inlet was named Port of San Juan in 1790 by Spanish-Peruvian explorer Manuel Quimper, but it wasn’t until the late 19th century that settlers began carving homesteads into the valley.
By the 1920s, the area’s vast timber reserves attracted investment. In 1923, T. Cathels and C. Sorenson established the first large-scale steam logging camp, backed by Victoria financiers including E.P. Butchart—whose legacy lives on in Butchart Gardens. This marked the beginning of Port Renfrew’s transformation into a logging hub.
Railways and the Rise of the Bear Creek Trestle
The Malahat Logging Company expanded operations in the 1930s, constructing a network of railways to move timber from remote camps to processing sites. In 1939, they completed the Bear Creek Trestle, a towering wooden structure that stood 242 feet high—making it the tallest logging trestle in the world at the time. This engineering feat allowed rail access deep into the forest and became a symbol of industrial ambition.
Three major camps supported the operation:
Cable Bridges and the Bedspring Crossing
Among the more unusual engineering solutions was the Williams Creek Bedspring Bridge, built in 1960. This cable suspension bridge earned its nickname due to its flexible, spring-like movement under load. Though visually intimidating, it served as a vital crossing for loggers and equipment. Local lore recounts that three individuals tragically fell from the bridge over the years, though details remain sparse.
The bridge’s design was so unique that it stood alone in North America. The only comparable structure in terms of suspension technique was the San Francisco Bay Bridge, completed in 1930. Fletcher Challenge Canada, which acquired British Columbia Forest Products in 1989, considered replacing the bridge in 1995 but ultimately redirected funds to other infrastructure.
Transition from Rail to Road and the Decline of Camps
By the mid-1950s, the dominance of rail began to wane. In 1957, the Bear Creek truck trestle was completed, allowing vehicles to reach Port Renfrew from Shawnigan Lake via the Renfrew Road—now known as the Red Creek Fir Main Line. This shift enabled more flexible transport and reduced reliance on rail.
Between 1957 and 1963, the Harris and Bear Creek camps were decommissioned. Their bunkhouses were relocated to Beach Camp, which evolved into the heart of the community. Logging operations moved to the Gordon River area, where the Port Renfrew Marina now stands. The town began to take its modern shape, eventually housing nearly 100 homes.
Industrial Logging and Economic Shifts
Port Renfrew thrived on industrial logging through the 1970s and 1980s. Fletcher Challenge’s acquisition of local operations brought modernization but also consolidation. In 1990, the company moved its base to Cowichan Lake, signaling the end of Port Renfrew’s era as a logging powerhouse.
The Capital Regional District began absorbing responsibility for utilities and services in the 1990s. As logging declined, the town pivoted toward tourism and recreational fishing. Today, Port Renfrew is known for its proximity to old-growth forests, surf beaches, and the West Coast Trail.
Legacy Structures and Local Stories
One of the surviving relics of the logging era is the Beach House, formerly a bunkhouse that served multiple camps before settling in its current location. Owned for years by William “Ziggy” Seiglar and his wife, the house doubled as a laundry service and briefly operated as a bar known as “Seiglar’s Little Brown Jug.”
Other landmarks include:
Conclusion
Port Renfrew’s history is etched into its trestles, bridges, and bunkhouses. From steam-powered camps to towering wooden spans, the town’s rise as a logging center was driven by ingenuity and grit. Though the chainsaws have quieted and the railways rusted, the legacy of industrial forestry remains visible in the landscape and the stories passed down by those who built it. Today, Port Renfrew stands as a testament to transformation—where timber once ruled, nature and tourism now thrive.
Port Renfrew, nestled at the mouth of the San Juan River on Vancouver Island’s west coast, began as a modest settlement surrounded by dense temperate rainforest. Long before industrial logging arrived, the region was home to the Pacheedaht First Nation, whose stewardship of the land predates European exploration by centuries. The inlet was named Port of San Juan in 1790 by Spanish-Peruvian explorer Manuel Quimper, but it wasn’t until the late 19th century that settlers began carving homesteads into the valley.
By the 1920s, the area’s vast timber reserves attracted investment. In 1923, T. Cathels and C. Sorenson established the first large-scale steam logging camp, backed by Victoria financiers including E.P. Butchart—whose legacy lives on in Butchart Gardens. This marked the beginning of Port Renfrew’s transformation into a logging hub.
Railways and the Rise of the Bear Creek Trestle
The Malahat Logging Company expanded operations in the 1930s, constructing a network of railways to move timber from remote camps to processing sites. In 1939, they completed the Bear Creek Trestle, a towering wooden structure that stood 242 feet high—making it the tallest logging trestle in the world at the time. This engineering feat allowed rail access deep into the forest and became a symbol of industrial ambition.
Three major camps supported the operation:
- Bear Creek Camp
- Harris Creek Camp
- Beach Camp
Cable Bridges and the Bedspring Crossing
Among the more unusual engineering solutions was the Williams Creek Bedspring Bridge, built in 1960. This cable suspension bridge earned its nickname due to its flexible, spring-like movement under load. Though visually intimidating, it served as a vital crossing for loggers and equipment. Local lore recounts that three individuals tragically fell from the bridge over the years, though details remain sparse.
The bridge’s design was so unique that it stood alone in North America. The only comparable structure in terms of suspension technique was the San Francisco Bay Bridge, completed in 1930. Fletcher Challenge Canada, which acquired British Columbia Forest Products in 1989, considered replacing the bridge in 1995 but ultimately redirected funds to other infrastructure.
Transition from Rail to Road and the Decline of Camps
By the mid-1950s, the dominance of rail began to wane. In 1957, the Bear Creek truck trestle was completed, allowing vehicles to reach Port Renfrew from Shawnigan Lake via the Renfrew Road—now known as the Red Creek Fir Main Line. This shift enabled more flexible transport and reduced reliance on rail.
Between 1957 and 1963, the Harris and Bear Creek camps were decommissioned. Their bunkhouses were relocated to Beach Camp, which evolved into the heart of the community. Logging operations moved to the Gordon River area, where the Port Renfrew Marina now stands. The town began to take its modern shape, eventually housing nearly 100 homes.
Industrial Logging and Economic Shifts
Port Renfrew thrived on industrial logging through the 1970s and 1980s. Fletcher Challenge’s acquisition of local operations brought modernization but also consolidation. In 1990, the company moved its base to Cowichan Lake, signaling the end of Port Renfrew’s era as a logging powerhouse.
The Capital Regional District began absorbing responsibility for utilities and services in the 1990s. As logging declined, the town pivoted toward tourism and recreational fishing. Today, Port Renfrew is known for its proximity to old-growth forests, surf beaches, and the West Coast Trail.
Legacy Structures and Local Stories
One of the surviving relics of the logging era is the Beach House, formerly a bunkhouse that served multiple camps before settling in its current location. Owned for years by William “Ziggy” Seiglar and his wife, the house doubled as a laundry service and briefly operated as a bar known as “Seiglar’s Little Brown Jug.”
Other landmarks include:
- The Bear Creek Trestle foundations
- Remnants of the cable bridge at Williams Creek
- Abandoned rail grades now used as hiking trails
- Machinery graveyards scattered in the forest
Conclusion
Port Renfrew’s history is etched into its trestles, bridges, and bunkhouses. From steam-powered camps to towering wooden spans, the town’s rise as a logging center was driven by ingenuity and grit. Though the chainsaws have quieted and the railways rusted, the legacy of industrial forestry remains visible in the landscape and the stories passed down by those who built it. Today, Port Renfrew stands as a testament to transformation—where timber once ruled, nature and tourism now thrive.
