Local Parks & Trails
Sooke Potholes Park
Enjoy the views, explore the trails or take a refreshing dip on a hot summer day! The trails through the park aren't too technical, and there are many places where you can just walk the edge of the river. Or even in the river at shallow spots! The trail to Peden Lake is challenging, but well worth the effort. A great spot for a swim, well away from the crowds.
I grew up only 5 minutes away from the potholes and spent many summer days exploring the park. The Sooke River is an active with Coho and Chinook Salmon spawning in the fall and is never as crowded as Goldstream Park. It can be VERY crowded in the Summer and parking is limited, so tours here are better hosted in the evening hours during the summer. |
East Sooke Park
West Coast wilderness awaits you in every corner of East Sooke Park. Experience a hike along the windswept rocky coast, over dry hilltops, through dark rainforest mossy to sheltered coves.
The Coastal Trail makes a great day hike, and with the western exposure you get a lot of sun! Babbington Hill can be approached from a few ways, and it offers a stunning view of the strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Mountains. The Petroglyph near the Aylard Farms trail head, and abandoned mines inside the park offer a rare physical glimpse of local history. |
Mt. Wells
Mount Wells is a 123-hectare wilderness park of second growth forest and fragile mossy rock outcrops with incredible views of the Sooke Hills, Olympic Mountains, and Downtown Victoria. Mt Baker (in Washington state) can be seen on clear days and stunning wildflowers cover the hill sides in the spring. It is located on the edge of an immense protected area of green space near Sooke Hills.
The trail to the summit is only 1.5km, but there are some challenging sections requiring scrambling so it is not a quick ascent. The summit of Mt Wells has two great viewpoints, so your effort is well rewarded on this one! |
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Matheson Lake
Matheson Lake Regional Park is a quiet oasis set amongst a thick rainforest at the base of a steep coastal mountain. The park encompasses 157 hectares that includes a fresh-water lake and heavily-forested terrain at the base of Mount Matheson in Metchosin, British Columbia.
A 3.4km loop trail surrounds Matheson Lake taking hikers through the lush rainforest, and at some points, clings to cliff-tops which have spectacular views high above the water. The trail is rated as moderate since its rocky shores have lots of up and down sections on exposed rock faces. In winter and spring, wet and muddy sections make for some slippery surfaces, especially on the western side of the lake. This park borders on Roche Cove Park, making it easy to explore both in one afternoon. |
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Roche Cove park
Roche Cove Regional Park surrounds a picturesque, secluded cove on the eastern shores of the Sooke Basin. Located in East Sooke, about 30 minutes from Victoria, British Columbia, this quiet park features an intertidal beach, a heavily-treed walking path and incredible ocean views along the rugged shores of the Sooke Basin.
Hikers can also trek through the Cedar Grove Trail which winds through a stand of old-growth cedar trees estimated at 500 years old. This 1.9 km trail starts from the parking lot, traverses up hill through a forest of maple trees, which turn beautiful colours in the fall. The lush forest has obscured most views but the area is a bird-watcher's haven, particularly in the spring and fall. Continue east through the cedar grove and the path will eventually drop down to the Galloping Goose trail where you can loop back to the parking lot or continue east to Matheson Lake Regional Park. |
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Thetis Lake Park
There is an easy trail hugging the shores of Upper and Lower Thetis lakes. For panoramic views of the lakes and surrounding hills, follow the more challenging trails up Seymour or Scafe hills. In spring, wildflowers dot the hillsides. In summer, swimmers and sunbathers dot the hillsides.
This is a large park (833 Hectares) with more than enough trails through varied ecosystems to explore all day, and only a half hour from downtown Victoria! |
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More Parks & Trails!
Tours are not provided at these parks, but they are great spots to explore in the region.
Devonian Park Mill Hill Mount Doug Park Mount Work Francis/King Park Durrance Lake Muir Creek Sheringham Point Sandcut beach Wittys Lagoon Goldstream Park Gowland Todd Park |
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