Hiking on the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop
In East Sooke Regional Park, there are two major hiking loops, including Coast Trail and Interior Trail, which are extended alongside the park. Known as one of the most scenic coastlines in the southern Vancouver Island region, East Sooke Coast is the paradise of hikers seeking an inexperienced adventure and is about a 40-minute drive from downtown Victoria. East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop is a heavily trafficked loop. The trail is 9 km (5.6 miles) with an elevation gain of 258 m (846.4 ft). This hiking loop offers the chance to see wildlife and have a memorable nature trip.
Another merit of passing the area and hiking on the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop is the observation of the Petroglyphs carved into the rock by the Coast Salish people hundreds of years ago. Besides hiking, other activities such as running, nature trips, paddle sports, and wildlife viewing may be traced while visiting this hiking trail. The section along the coast is breathtaking and so well maintained; if you are lucky, you may see some whales.
From May until September is the best time for hiking in the vicinity of East Sooke Regional Park.
Location of the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop
The East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop is located in East Sooke Regional Park, Sooke, Vancouver Island. The park has a diversity of sightseeing and hiking locations. Aylard Farm Parking Lot is the start point of East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop. This hiking trail is accessible both from Aylard Farm Trailhead and Pike Road Trailhead. There are several strenuous up and down with various cliffs and some other twists and turns. East Coast Regional Park is a series of interconnected hiking trails with different origins and destinations, including Creyke Point, Petroglyphs, Beechey Head, Cabin Point, Parkheights, and Iron Mine Bay.
Hiking Trails Near the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop
Hiking on the entire East Sooke Coastal Trail is an experience not to be missed! This beautiful trail is a mix of the fantastic coast and beautiful greenery. Hiking boots are required! The route takes you along bluffs and cliffs by the Pacific Ocean that worth it for the views. This well-marked trail can take full-day hiking in East Sooke Regional Park.
Here is a highly recommended and well-marked trail for challenges enthusiasts. Hiking on Mount Empress from Sooke Potholes via Mary Vine and Todd Creek Trails offers you insane 360° views of the Sooke Basin, Victoria, and San Juan Islands.
Wear decent hiking boots for a moderate hiking trail near Sooke. It is not for the faint of heart, but it is an enjoyable trail that leads you to Grass Lake and featuring Monument Mountain makes it possible to have amazing views from the top. Doing the Grass Lake Trail overnight and camping by the lake turns it into a memorable trip. Enjoy the trail in warmer seasons and get a dip into the lake.
The East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop is a well-marked trail with beautiful scenery. It is a combination of an easy access road and a more challenging coastal pass, which offers you incredible viewpoints. This excellent trail is along the Pacific Ocean and allows you to see marine life such as whales from a distance.
It is time to put your heart into hiking and step into a moderate multi-use trail with some great views along the way and on top. Mount Manuel Quimper has a beautiful summit worth the climb, which gives you excellent vistas of Sooke Harbour and a chance to visit one of the last fire lookouts left on the island.
How to Get to the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop By Car
For hiking on the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop, it is best to drive to East Sooke Regional Park - Aylard Farm Parking Lot, the trail's starting point.
From Nanaimo: Getting to the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop from Nanaimo is via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. It is 118 km (73.3 miles) and takes about an hour and a half.
Take Wallace St to Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S for 550 m (1804.4 ft). Follow Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S to W Shr Pkwy in Langford and drive 94.1 km (58.4 miles). Continue on W Shr Pkwy. Take Juan De Fuca Hwy/Sooke Rd/BC-14 W and Gillespie Rd to Becher Bay Rd. After 22.9 km (14.2 miles), you will reach East Sooke Regional Park - Aylard Farm Parking Lot.
From Victoria: The access to the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop from Victoria is via Metchosin Rd. It is 34.5 km (21.4 miles) and takes about 40 minutes. Take Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N, Metchosin Rd, Rocky Point Rd and East Sooke Road to Becher Bay Rd and drive 32.7 km (20.3 miles). Follow Becher Bay Rd, and after 1.8 km (1.1 miles), you will reach East Sooke Regional Park - Aylard Farm Parking Lot.
What you Can Expect to See Near the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop
Visiting the Butchart Gardens is an outstanding experience that will be remembered for a lifetime. Being in a dreamy atmosphere where colours surround you would refresh your soul. This colourful display is a gem in Victoria, designated by the National Historic Sites of Canada, with a landscape of flowers, trees, grass, sculptures, and fountains.
Sometimes a stunning waterfall is all you need. Pass the magical trails with the wooden stairs in Goldstream Provincial Park, which lead you to a beautiful waterfall. Goldstream Falls is like a hotspot in a fairyland with a lush forest view, a dream that comes true, a perfect place to relax and refresh your mind and soul. The scenery can motivate anyone to go camping, hiking, or devoting time to relax and enjoy the beauty.
Being on the beach with the ocean in front and trees and a waterfall backside is a perfect view. A cheery on top of Sandcut Beach is Sandcut Beach Waterfall. This picturesque beach waterfall cascades gracefully from the rock cliff over the pebble beach. Watching the sunset is spectacular by the fall; the orange sky and the last rays of sunshine reflexing in water drops are something worth seeing.
The exotic flora, Japanese Maples, native Garry oaks, splendid rhododendrons of Abkhazi Garden makes it a must to visit when you are in Victoria. Walking and frolicking through this peaceful garden is delightful, especially in the spring and summer, when the flowers are blooming. The pond is full of turtles and Koi, and there is a teahouse perfect for afternoon tea.
Being at China Beach could be a memorable experience. The beach is a mixture of sand, pebbles, and grit, with access to the Juan de Fuca Trail. China Beach is suitable for watching whales, seals, dolphins, and even storms. With perfect waves, you would have an unforgettable adventure surfing there. If you desire to get the most out of the beach, stay at China Beach Campground.
Jordan River is a small settlement famous among surfers. It has many tourist attractions like Hidden Falls, Mystic Beach and Mystic Falls, Sandcut Beach Waterfall and Sandcut Beach, China Beach, Juan de Fuca Trail Trailhead, and Jordan River Regional Park. Enjoy storm watching, kayaking, and Camping or have a picnic in the area, which could be an experience of a lifetime.
Located in Victoria, the Royal BC Museum is one of Canada's most significant cultural and historical treasures. It showcases natural wonders and includes artifacts, documents, specimens, and everything slightly relevant to British Columbia's natural and human history. The museum also provides a dynamic forum and a safe space for discussion and reflection.
On the west coast of Vancouver Island, Jordan River Regional Park is a scenic place nestling among coastal hemlock, fir and cedar trees. The park features a long cobble shore and the Juan de Fuca Strait with a fantastic overlooking of the Olympic Peninsula. Locating on the ocean side made it a perfect choice for swimming, kayaking, and surfing.
If you are a fan of sun and beach, Victoria has the warmest weather in Canada to take a sunbath and swim, and Willows Beach is located in this area. This white sandy beach is south of Willows Park and has protected water suitable for a family vacation. Get the most out of your visit when you are at the park. Have a meal or drink in its cafe with a view of the sea.
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria or AGGV is home to artworks from talented artists of Canada and Asia. The building complex of the gallery includes the Spencer Mansion and the exhibition galleries. It also has gardens with a Japanese Shinto shrine. The art gallery is kid-friendly, and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. The gift shop has gorgeous merchandise.
Langford is a city on the south coast of Vancouver Island and heaven for golfers. You can stay at lodgings and play at challenging hillside courses and enjoy yourself at luxurious advantages like the Amatista Spa. Beautiful parks surround the city, so go hiking through scenic forests or have peaceful moments beside lakes. Langford offers shops, family activities, sheep farms, and a bike park.
Did you get fascinated before by a beautiful place that makes you stand steel? The pleasure of watching colourful butterflies from various spices and other creatures in a beautiful garden, the smell which lifts your mood, and the fresh air all feel like you are in a dreamland. If you love walking through a tropical area and are tired of boring visits, don't skip Victoria Butterfly Gardens.
The Gowlland Range is a small and low mountain range. It has spectacular views and varieties of animals such as blacktail deer, cougar, river otter, raccoons, black bear and birds as hawks, eagle, grouse, and owl. Mountaineers would experience fantastic climbing and hiking trails passing through a beautiful forest ornamented with plentiful, stunning wildlife.
Goldstream Provincial Park is an old-growth temperate rain forest with 600-year-old Douglas fir trees. It has magnificent waterfalls, giant trees, and a winding river, a perfect area for camping. Annual fall salmon that runs in the river and the bald eagles that gather at the park for feeding are some of the most exciting views. With a variety of trails, this park is an excellent place for hiking.
You may have limitations for yourself, but if you are not a beginner at cave exploring, overcome your own limits. Find a hidden gem in Langford, somewhere that few people know. Florence Lake Cave is a mystery waiting to be discovered for professional cavers. Some believe that it is the largest cave in Greater Victoria. Don't waste your time hesitating and pack your bag for a challenge.
Details for Hiking on the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop
Plan for the hiking trail
What you Can Expect to Do Near the East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop
What you see in Elk / Beaver Lake Regional Park is never what you had heard about it. A beautiful park featuring two lakes has a lot to offer. Elk / Beaver Lake Regional Park is a hot spot for answering your cravings for water activities, particularly windsurfing. There are also some popular land activities you can find exciting right on the shore.
Victoria offers endless kayaking and canoeing opportunities, whether you have the expertise or not. It is the gateway to world-class paddling in which various wildlife and birdlife exist. But the adventure doesn't stop there; you can do any activity you imagine, and consequently, Victoria is the paradise of paddles for those who enjoy having more exciting excursions besides kayaking and canoeing.
A fantastic offering for those who would like to dive and learn about the history of marine activities of Vancouver Island is lying on the grounds of Race Rock Lighthouse. The existence of this lighthouse adds up to the exceptionality of this diving adventure. However, you have to look out for the whales living there.
If you are a paddling enthusiast and happen to visit Vancouver Island during summer times, put Shawnigan Lake on top of your list. The lake is enclosed with fabulous parks in which you are provided with tons of recreational activities. Lakeside cabins, several beaches and a spectacular shoreline make Shawnigan Lake a fantastic hot spot for kayaking and canoeing.
You would better plan a visit to Cabin Point Coastline between April-September. It is the best time for those preparing for Sooke Whale Watching in one of the famous coastlines for it in the Salish sea. You are given adequate opportunity to gaze upon these marvellous sea creatures.
You would get lost among the reasons why you should visit Sooke. As an ocean-side village, Sooke is full of natural beauties in which you can enjoy several outdoor activities. Waters that feature Sooke are idealistic for paddling enthusiasts to kayak. Most importantly, Sooke is the starting point of the exciting journey of the West Coast Trail.
Here is a highly recommended and well-marked trail for challenges enthusiasts. Hiking on Mount Empress from Sooke Potholes via Mary Vine and Todd Creek Trails offers you insane 360° views of the Sooke Basin, Victoria, and San Juan Islands.
Choose wisely to make your stay on Vancouver Island unforgettable. Camping in the Gordon Bay Camp Site can give you the chance to have a retreat from daily bustles in a perfect and clean with a quiet atmosphere. It has a lovely swimming area surrounded by log booms in which you can bathe and relax for unnoticeable hours.
It is time to put your heart into hiking and step into a moderate multi-use trail with some great views along the way and on top. Mount Manuel Quimper has a beautiful summit worth the climb, which gives you excellent vistas of Sooke Harbour and a chance to visit one of the last fire lookouts left on the island.
Sombrio Beach is the place you can both find comfort and excitement. This V is a hot spot for storm watching for its harsh waves. Another attraction of Sombrio Beach is that you can enjoy storm watching on a rocky beach where the majestic waves break into, and the sound of it will comfort your mind. Due to the powerful winds and robust waves, Sombrio Beach is a paradise for surfers and storm watchers.
Located in the heart of Victoria and adjacent to many whale watching operators, Victoria Harbour Ferry is a starting point for your whale watching tour. Many visitors come here to watch whales annually; not only whale watching but open waterways of Salish make Victoria Harbour Ferry a remarkable place for anglers, wildlife followers and daily tourists.
For those who seek sea paddling, the Jordan River might be a potential destination to satisfy their desires for kayaking. Another merit of visiting Jordan River is that it is surrounded by some recreational sites which guarantee your stay to be adventurous. Camping areas around the Jordan River facilitate a long kayaking experience.
Use your memory as your travel bag and fill them as best as you can. Follow your desires of camping and visit the Jordan River Regional Park Campground. a quiet, serene campsite in which you have the chance to stay away from the bustle in town. Please have a visit to gorgeous waterfalls, which are fantastic since they don’t plunge into the water but drain into the ground.
Beechey Head and its loop are two of the hot spots for whale watching in Sooke. In addition to fantastic opportunities for whale watching, Beechey Head is a hiking and nature trip location that offers you excellent activities, such as birdwatching.
As one of the kiteboarding attractions in southern parts of Victoria, this recreational resort is primed with services and equipment for surfing sports and other outdoor activities. Let your spirits free and be feeding on the abundant adventures provided for you in James Bay.
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