emailSooke Potholes Regional Park
Sooke Potholes Regional Park is located on the banks of the spectacular Sooke River.
Enjoy the views, explore the trails or take a refreshing dip on a hot summer day!
Features
- Spectacular views of the Sooke River
- Freshwater swimming
- Access to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail
- Hiking on short forest trails
- Camping at adjacent Sooke Potholes Campground
Trail Rating: Easy to Moderate
Size: 55.28
Location: Sooke
Established: 2005
Summer hours: 8am to 9pm
)Things to Do
You can picnic or swim at the river, explore the short forest trails or enjoy the stunning vistas from one of several viewpoints. You may see black-tailed deer, red squirrels or bald eagles riding the breezes overhead.
The "potholes" are unique geological formations - deep pools in the river rock - that offer some of the best freshwater swimming in the region.
The Sooke River is the second largest on southern Vancouver Island and home to a productive salmon run every fall.
Riding the Goose
Sooke Potholes Regional Park is a great starting point for a trip by bicycle or on foot on the Galloping Goose Regional Trail. Travel south toward Roche Cove Regional Park, or through wilderness scenery all the way to the end of the trail.
Camping
The Land Conservancy of BC runs a tent and RV campground adjacent to Sooke Potholes Regional Park from May to September.
Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt
The park is near the south-west corner of the Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt Regional Park Reserve, a corridor of protected green space linking Saanich Inlet in the east to Juan de Fuca Strait in the west. The Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt separates the developed urban area of the Capital Region from tracts of forest land to the west.
How to Get to Sooke Potholes
Follow the Trans-Canada Highway from Victoria, and take the Millstream Road exit (Exit 14) to Sooke. Follow Veterans Memorial Parkway, then turn right on Sooke Road. Turn right on Sooke River Road and follow the signs. Allow approximately 45 minutes driving time from Victoria.
Public Transportation
Take BC Transit #61 from Victoria to Sooke River Road (ask the driver to let you off as close as possible), then a several kilometre hike along Sooke River Road. Contact BC Transit for schedule information.
© Image courtesy of Mary Sanseverino
