West Coast wilderness awaits you at East Sooke Regional Park. Experience it as you hike along the windswept rocky coast, over dry hilltops, through dark rainforest to sheltered coves.
Features
- 50 kilometres of trails through forest, marsh and field
- Challenging 10 kilometre Coast Trail
- Pocket beaches, rocky bays and tide pools for exploring and scuba diving
- Spectacular views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Mountains
Trail Rating: Easy (Aylard Farm) to Challenging (Coast Trail)
Size: 1474.04 hectares
Location: East Sooke Road in East Sooke
Established: 1970
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Things to Do
Begin your exploration at one of three entry points:
Aylard Farm is popular with picnickers, and those looking for easy excursions. A 5-minute walk through open fields leads to a short steep dirt trail down to pocket beach where you can discover intertidal life, or watch river otters scurrying across the sand. Trails head inland to hilltop views, or along the rugged and steep 10km Coast Trail. There is an accessible toilet at the trailhead, picnic shelter and picnic area. 
Aylard Farm to Becher Bay user-friendly trail is 300 metres one way. It has a smooth gravel surface and gradual slopes less than 6% through old farmland and coastal forest environments. Enjoy ocean views from the rest shelter. There is an accessible toilet at both ends of the trail. There is an accessible toilet at the trailhead, picnic shelter and picnic area.
Anderson Cove, on the Sooke Basin, is the starting point for hikers heading to Babbington Hill and Mount Maguire. The trails to these hilltops are steep with uneven terrain. At the top bald eagles, turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks join you for sweeping views of the Olympic Peninsula.
Pike Road is the most westerly access to the park, and to the Coast Trail. An old logging road with a smooth gravel surface and gradual slope less than 6% winds through forest to meadow; a short steep trail leads down to Iron Mine Bay beach. Here, at low tide, look for periwinkles, goose-neck barnacles and purple sea stars, but do not remove.
Pike Road to Iron Mine Bay user-friendly trail is 1.5km one way. It has a smooth gravel surface and gradual slopes in a forested environment. Enjoy ocean views from the rest shelter. There is an accessible toilet at both ends of the trail.
Amenities
Accessible toilets at each park entrance and at the end of the Iron Mine Bay /Coast Trail.
Group picnic shelter seating for 8 and a picnic table at Aylard Farm.
Three rest areas along the Coast Trail and 1 picnic area.
One picnic area at Anderson Cove entrance.
Information kiosks at Aylard Farm and Pike Road entrances.
Aylard Farm parking lot has parking for 70+ vehicles (summer overflow parking also available), room for full-size buses, and 4 accessible parking stalls.
Anderson Cove parking lot has room for 20+ vehicles and room for mid-size buses. Pike Road parking lot offers parking for 20+ vehicles and room for mid-size buses.
How to Get There
Aylard Farm Entrance
Follow the Trans-Canada Highway from Victoria, and take the Colwood exit. Follow the Old Island Highway, which turns into Sooke Road, Highway 14. From Sooke Road, turn left on Gillespie Road. Turn left on East Sooke Road, then right on Becher Bay Road to reach the park entrance. There is no public transit to this entrance.
Anderson Cove Entrance
Follow the directions above to Gillespie Road. Turn right on East Sooke Road to reach the park entrance on the left. See public transportation below for bus details.
Pike Road Entrance
Follow the directions above to Gillespie Road. Turn right on East Sooke Road and continue past Anderson Cove. Turn left on Pike Road to reach the park entrance. There is no public transportation or accessible parking stalls.
Allow approximately 1 hour driving time from Victoria.
Public Transportation
Take BC Transit #64 East Sooke Loop Bus from 17 Mile House to East Sooke Road. There is a bus stop close to the entrance to Anderson Cove. Please note that BC Transit #64 runs Monday to Friday only, no weekend service.