Sooke Pot Holes Sooke

Sooke Pot Holes Sooke

Trail Rating: Easy to Moderate
Size: 63.5 hectares
Location: Sooke
Established: 2005
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Download the Sooke Potholes Regional Park information sheet (396 kb PDF)

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 - 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.

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.

Park Etiquette
The Sooke River is an area of steep cliffs and deep fast-moving water. Please use caution and wear appropriate footwear.

To protect the park's fragile ecosystems, please:

  • stay on designated trails
  • keep pets on the trail and under control
  • pick up your dog's droppings
  • carry out litter

The following are prohibited:

  • alcohol
  • camping and open fires (except in campground)
  • removal or disturbance of plants or animals
  • Please note that drinking water is not available.

Here’s a tip: If you park anywhere outside of the parking lot make sure that your tires are not touching the paved road. Otherwise you will be towed.

There are several bush trails in the area that are ideal for light hiking. For the most part, the trails around the creek do not require any intense commitment on the part of explorers, but only venture where you’re comfortable and keep in mind that cougars have been spotted in this area. They have been known to wander right inside of some more populated areas of the Sooke district. Enjoy yourself, but stay alert, especially if you’re with young children. The water in the Sooke Potholes always seems to be just right on a hot summer day. And because there are small beaches along much of the accessible river, there’s plenty of room to splash around. One of the more interesting sights to see at the Sooke Potholes are the cliff divers, usually younger men or boys who climb up the stony cliffs surrounding the potholes and then jump into the water. While this may appear fun, local authorities invariably rescue people who do not quite reach the water. Sooke Fire Rescue had to be called to the potholes on at least three occasions last summer. Two of those calls were diving related accidents. Because the Sooke Potholes is a provincial park and not a Capital Region Park, there are no lifeguards on duty. The closest rescue vehicles are several minutes away, so it’s always a good idea to play it safe.

Camping
The Sooke Potholes Campground is located at the North end of the Sooke Potholes Regional Park by the Sooke River.
It is owned and operated by The Land Conservancy of B.C.
Camping information and bookings are available at: www.conservancy.bc.ca/potholescamping
Or call (250) 383-4627

The Land Conservancy of British Columbia

Sooke Potholes park
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