The Coastal Trail will take you through lush rain forest, along windswept bluffs and along the shores of Juan de Fuca Strait. The coast is very rugged with deep bays, steep cliffs and an atmosphere of remoteness in this wilderness park. This is a great place to be one with nature and share in the culture of the Coast Salish People who wandered these lands years before white settlement. At Alldridge Point, a heritage site, you cn see petroglyphs that were carved in the rocks hundreds of years ago.
The T’Sou-kes first nation lived around Becher Bay where they colected shellfish and berries and netted salmon.
In the late 1800s many of the supplies for Fort Victoria were brought from this area. Loggers, miners and fishermen made their living of these lands. You may find stumps near the trails from very large trees that were selectively harvested from the park lands. At Iron Mine Bay and Mount Maguire, copper and iron were mined for nearly a century. During those years, fishermen secured traps in the sea bed and harvested the bounty of the sea. The Trap Shack at Cabin Point is lays solitary witness to a bygone era.
There are three main entry points to East Sooke Park.
Aylard Farm
The easiest and most productive of the entries is Aylard Farm entrance of the East side of the park. Here you will find park facilities, picnic sites, a large meadows and access to a sandy beache, Hardy folks often swim here in the summer. It is only a 5-minute walk from the parking lot to the beach. An apple orchard and pasture are all that signs that remain of the Aylard Farm. Easy trails head inland to great hilltop views or you may choose to do a small part of the Coast Trail. As far as wildlife, you may see otters along the rocky shores and if you are lucky you may see passing whales. Sea birds will be common. This area is well known as a path for bird migrations and in the fall hundreds of Turkey Vultures can be seen on their southward migration.
Anderson Cove
Anderson Cove on the Sooke Basin is one of the most scenic spots in the park. Here you get spectacular views of the Sooke Basin. It is also the starting point for hikers heading to Mount Maguire and Babbington Hill. When you get high up on any of the hills or mountains as we like to call them, you will see panoramic views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Mountains in Washington State.
Pike Road
Pike Road is the western access to the park and the west trailhead of the Coast Trail. Hikers usually park a vehicle at both ends before they do the Coast Trail. The trail from Pike Road winds through cedar woods to the waterfront at Iron Mine Bay.
The hike to the beach here takes about 40 minutes and you will likely find this end of the trail with fewer visitors. It is a great place to explore tidal pools at low tide. This is a great place to just relax and become one with the beautiful surroundings.
The Coast Trail is a challenging 7 hour day hike (approximately). There are not many places where you can find such a fantastic wilderness hike so close to a major urban centre. It is approximately 10 km long and is rugged and winding. You get magnificent views of of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. You will have the ocean at your feet one minute and then find yourself in a dark rainforest and then back into the sun.
For more information about East Sooke Park, click here.
How to Get To East Sooke Park
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. 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.
Anderson Cove Entrance
Follow the directions above to Gillespie Road. Turn right on East Sooke Road to reach the park entrance on the left.
Pike Road Entrance
Follow the directions above to Gillespie Road. Turn right on East Sooke Road and continue past Anderson Cove to reach the park entrance on the left.
Allow approximately 1 hour driving time from Victoria.
