by Jesse Holth –
With over 3,500 acres of rugged West Coast wilderness, East Sooke Regional Park boasts 50 kilometres of forest, field and coastal trails. This massive park has three main entrances: Aylard Farm, Anderson Cove, and Pike Road. At the Aylard Farm entrance, you’ll find a picnic area and beach access. Try one of the coastal trails to see rocky bluffs, turquoise water, and windswept arbutus trees.
Don’t miss one of the highlights on your way to Beechey Head – there are a number of Coast Salish petroglyphs carved into the rocks at Alldridge Point. Unfortunately, due to the natural processes of erosion, many of the petroglyphs have faded over time. Some have become difficult to see, or are no longer visible. There is a sea lion petroglyph that seems easiest to spot, so make sure to take a look before it, too, disappears.
The Coast Trail can be quite muddy after heavy rain, and does have some rocky sections. If you’re looking for an easier trail, you can also follow the Interior Trail toward the petroglyphs. This forested path is shady, peaceful, and often less busy than the coastal routes. Looking for an uphill challenge? Try hiking up Babbington Hill or Mount Maguire (also accessed from the Anderson Cove entrance) – you may see bald eagles, hawks and other wildlife, and enjoy a panoramic view of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic mountains.
If you enter from the Pike Road side, you’ll encounter a rocky beach (Iron Mine Bay) where you can search for starfish and other sea creatures. Seals and sea lions often frequent this area, and you might even see an orca. There’s also an old historic mining site, and you can access the Pike Point viewpoint, looking over Donaldson Island and the rest of the Strait. You can follow the entire Coast Trail from this side of the park, but be aware that this winding 10-kilometre trail will take upwards of six hours to complete, one-way.
There are often free guided hikes offered at East Sooke Park, if you’d like to join a CRD naturalist – just make sure to pre-register ahead of time. One of the most appealing aspects of this park is its changeable beauty, as equally stunning on a clear sunny day as it is with an overcast sky, crashing waves, and trees shrouded in mist. May is a great time to visit East Sooke Park, especially if you’d like to let your dog roam free. The park is completely off leash for most of the year – take advantage before June 1, since dogs must pass through beach and picnic areas on leash during the summer.
You can easily spend a few hours or an entire day at East Sooke Park – there’s so much to explore, you can see something different every time. For more information about this special, coastal retreat, including some useful trail maps, directions, and other recommendations, visit www.crd.bc.ca/parks.
