Quick Facts · The Outdoors
Hiking Trails
From easy forest strolls to one of the finest day hikes on the West Coast — all within East Sooke Regional Park.
East Sooke Regional Park protects a large, wild stretch of coastline, forest, and rocky headland on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. There are dozens of kilometres of maintained trail here, and the beauty of it is the range: you can wander a flat meadow loop with kids in the morning and, on another day, test yourself on a full coastal traverse that takes most of the daylight.
The Coast Trail
The Coast Trail is the park's signature route — roughly a 10 km point-to-point along the open shoreline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, usually walked between Aylard Farm and Pike Road. It is often described as one of the premier day hikes in the region, and for good reason: wave-battered rock, wind-bent shore pines, sweeping ocean views, and on a clear day the Olympic Mountains across the water.
It is also genuinely rugged. The trail climbs, drops, scrambles over rock, and is slow going — plan on six hours or more end to end, and arrange a shuttle or second vehicle since it is not a loop. It is not the trail to underestimate.
Going the whole way? Start early, carry plenty of water and food, wear real footwear with grip, and tell someone your plan. There is no cell service for much of the route and no services along it.
Gentler walks
You do not need to commit to the full coast to enjoy the park. Some of the most rewarding short outings:
- parkAylard Farm meadows & beach — open grassland down to a sandy cove, easy and family-friendly, with a taste of the coast at the end.
- forestPike Road trail — a wide, shaded forest path that leads gently down toward the water; a good out-and-back.
- landscapeBabbington Hill & Mount Maguire — short but steady climbs to high viewpoints over Sooke, the strait, and the surrounding hills.
- history_eduAlldridge Point — a coastal spot with First Nations petroglyphs; please look without touching and leave the carvings undisturbed.
Getting there
The park has several trailheads. The most-used are Aylard Farm (eastern end, beach and meadows), Pike Road (central, forest access to the coast), and Anderson Cove (interior trails and the climb to Mount Maguire). All are reached by road from Sooke; there are pit toilets at the main lots but no stores inside the park, so come prepared.
Before you go
- Check the forecast and the tide — some shoreline sections are best avoided at high water or in heavy weather.
- Footwear with grip matters; the rock is uneven and slick when wet.
- Pack out everything you bring in. This is a wild place — keep it that way.
- You share these trails with wildlife. Read the wildlife guide before heading out.