East Sooke Regional Park offers a true West Coast wilderness experience. Hike along the rugged, windswept coastline, traverse dry hilltops, and wander through dense rainforests to discover sheltered coves.

The park features spectacular views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Mountains. There are 50 kilometers of trails through forest, marsh and field, including the 10-kilometre Coast Trail that features pocket beaches, rocky bays and tide pools for exploring and scuba diving.

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

Start your adventure at one of three entry points in East Sooke Regional Park:

Aylard Farm

• The Aylard Farm access is popular for picnicking and easy hikes. A five-minute walk via open fields leads to a short, steep dirt trail down to a pocket beach where you can explore intertidal life and watch river otters. There are accessible toilets, a picnic shelter and a picnic area.

Anderson Cove

• Anderson Cove is located on the Sooke Basin and is ideal for hikers heading to Babbington Hill and Mount Maguire. Trails at this access are mainly steep with uneven terrain, leading to hilltops where you can see bald eagles, turkey vultures, and red-tailed hawks, along with sweeping views of the Olympic Peninsula.

Pike Road

• Pike Road is the most westerly entry point to the park and the Coast Trail. The trail is an old logging road with a smooth gravel surface and gentle slope (less than 6%) that winds through forest to a meadow. From here, a short steep trail leads to Iron Mine Bay beach.

To help preserve the park:

• Keep your dog under control or on a leash.
• Stay on marked trails and do not disturb plants or animals.
• Clean up after your dog and take all your trash with you.
• Smoking is not allowed in parks or on trails.
• Bicycles and motorized vehicles are not allowed.
• Camping, open fires, and alcohol are not allowed.

Amenities

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.

• Directions to the Aylard Farm parking lot

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.

• Directions to the Anderson Cove parking lot

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.

• Directions to the Pike Road parking lot

Allow approximately 1 hour driving time from Victoria.

• Map 

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.

• BC Transit Schedule Information