Spectacular hiking, cycling, fishing, camping and more! Sooke to Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island is a fun adventure destination.
(20)
Sooke Potholes are currently OPEN up to the second parking lot!* This summer favorite is the perfect spot for anyone looking to enjoy the magic of nature in Sooke
** (as of information provided Aug 15th, we encourage visitors to check before they go)
Photo Credit:
Submit your photos to us via DM on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to be featured
China Beach: worth the drive! a beautiful walk down to a sandy beach that stretches on and on.
Photo Credit:
Submit your photos to us via DM on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to be featured
There are so many magical spots to discover in Sooke! This 'nature portal' was photographed near the bottom of the Sooke River this June. Beautiful!
Photo Credit:
Submit your photos to us via DM on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to be featured
They say the trees have eyes... literally, in this case! This walk through the woods to Sandcut Beach is truly magical.
📍Sandcut Beach Trail
📷 Photo Credit:
The Heritage Row Summer Block Party
Sooke, BC
A community event designed to bring people together for an afternoon of fun, food, and festivities.
The event is organized by local independent shops, showcasing the spirit of collaboration and community that makes Sooke a special place to live, work, and visit.
Event Details:
Date: August 21, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: 2054 Otter Point Road, Sooke, BC
We hope to see this event again next year!!
🌞 Join Us Today at Fred Milne Park for the All Sooke Day Family Picnic, hosted by the Sooke Community Association! 🎉
Enjoy a day full of family fun with a delicious pancake breakfast 🥞, bouncy castles 🎈, and tasty treats from food trucks 🚚 and so much more!
See you there!
Join us this Saturday!
We will be giving out free flat maps and visitor guides
The District of Sooke is sharing the following from the Capital Regional District regarding the park reopening, ongoing closures and related precautions in response to the Old Man Lake Wildfire:
The Capital Regional District (CRD) is re-opening official trails within Sea to Sea Regional Park as well as a section of Sooke Potholes Regional Park and Galloping Goose Regional Trail after closures took place in July due a wildfire in the area. The District of Sooke’s Potholes Gateway has also reopened as have BC Parks in the area.
📍Aylard Farm
Aylard Farm is popular with picnickers and those looking for easy excursions. A 5-minute walk through open fields leads to a short steep dirt trail down to pocket beach where you can discover intertidal life or watch river otters scurrying across the sand!
📷 Photo credit:
📍 Mystic Beach Trail
Mystic Beach is a beloved hiking destination known for its 2km (about 45 minutes) trail leading from the parking lot to the beach. This well-maintained path winds through a beautiful forest, with a highlight being the suspension bridge you’ll cross about halfway.
📷 Photo Credit: Jordan Humphreys
📍French Beach
A local favorite! With campgrounds and expansive pebble beaches, French Beach offers much in the way of relaxation as well as exploration for families and adventure seekers alike.
📷 Photo Credit: Cynthia P.
Wild By Nature News: Sooke Region Tourism Association Membership Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/822c045d4c77/wild-by-nature-news-13891616
Become a member of the Sooke Region Tourism Association and receive our monthly newsletter filled with local events, highlights, and association news!
⚠️ Wildfire Update for Visitors in Sooke ⚠️
The Old Man Lake wildfire has grown to approximately 575 acres (230 hectares) as of Saturday afternoon. Crews and aviation resources are making good progress containing the south and north flanks, especially along Sooke River, which is almost 100% contained. Incremental growth continues on the east flank, away from Sooke and the Capital Regional District Watershed.
With no current risk to the town or HWY 14, we would like to remind visitors that Sooke is open and safe to travel to and through! Your visit helps support local businesses and the community during this challenging time.
From charming shops to delightful eateries, Sooke's local businesses are open and ready to welcome you this weekend!
🚧 Area Closures:
Sooke Potholes Gateway
Sooke Potholes Regional Park (including Spring Salmon Campground)
Galloping Goose Trail accessing Sooke Potholes
Health Precautions:
Wildfire smoke can impact health differently for each person. For more information on wildfire smoke and health, visit Health Link BC.
For the latest updates, check the BC Wildfire Service and District of Sooke websites. Stay safe and informed.
For anyone travelling in BC, Know Before You Go:
Visit Destination BC’s Know Before You Go page at HelloBC.com /planahead for the latest updates, and links to official information sources to help keep you informed throughout your trip planning and travels.
At HelloBC .com, you’ll also find trip inspiration, travel ideas, planning tools and more to help you make the most of your trip.
Conditions can change quickly. Monitor official information sources (such as DriveBC and the BC Wildfire Service) regularly before and during your trip.
Download and allow notifications from Alertable, which delivers geographically relevant updates from sources like the provincial Alert Ready system, Environment Canada, and Drive BC.
Be a responsible traveller – obey road closures and any area restrictions in place to ensure the safety of you, communities, and first responders, and report any wildfires you see – even if you think they’ve already been reported – to either *5555 on a cell or 1-800-663-5555 toll-free.
Photo by Jaxon Castellan
Despite the closure of Sooke Potholes Regional Park due to a current Wildfire, Highway 14 remains open and unaffected.
Travelers can still enjoy a scenic drive to Sooke and surrounding South Island destinations during this time
While Sooke Potholes Regional Park is closed, consider exploring other nearby attractions such as East Sooke Regional Park, Whiffin Spit, and the local businesses of downtown Sooke!
Campers that have been displaced can contact our Visitor Center for information on alternative camping locations near Sooke!
Help Prevent Forest Fires:
- To report a forest fire or irresponsible behaviour that could start a forest fire in British Columbia, please call 1 800 663-5555 or (*5555 from a cell phone) as soon as possible. Information from the public is crucial to the effectiveness of the response.
🚨 Wildfire Alert for Sooke Area 🚨
Attention visitors and community members: As many of you know, there is an active wildfire in the Sooke region. Sooke Potholes Regional Campground has been evacuated as a precautionary measure and is not currently accepting campers until the situation changes.
We encourage people to stay informed by visiting the Vancouver Island Travel "Know Before You Go" page: https://vancouverisland.travel/2024/07/23/current-travel-advisories/
As well as accessing the Provincial DriveBC and WildfireBC resources:
https://www.drivebc.ca/mobile/events/index.html
https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/
As a proactive measure, we strongly encourage everyone to sign up for the Alterable alert system to receive critical alerts quickly. This system covers the entire Vancouver Island region for those with alerts turned on!
https://alertable.ca/signup/index.html
Stay safe and informed!
LAST UPDATED: July 23, 2024 11:00AM Closure of Sooke Potholes Park Due to Wildfire Activity North of Park Due to a wildfire located north of Sooke Potholes Park, the park is closed until further notice. Emergency crews, including mutual aid partners and BC Wildfire Service, are actively responding t...
🔺BREAKING: Sooke Potholes wildfire has grown 10x overnight from 7.5 acres to 75 acres🔺
An out of control wildfire burning at the northern fringe of Sooke Potholes Regional Park near Sooke rapidly expanded overnight, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
The fire, first reported yesterday afternoon, has grown from 3 hectares yesterday to 30 hectares this morning, or 7.5 acres to 75 acres.
The fire is human caused, the Wildfire Service says. The Potholes parkland is closed, as is the park’s Spring Salmon campground that was evacuated yesterday.
📍Sandcut Beach, Shirley
Known for its beautiful waterfalls, sandstone creek bed, and beautiful forested hiking path!
📷 Photo credit on Instagram
Happy Market Day! We’ll see you at 5pm-8pm @ the Sooke Region Museum!
Looking for something to do in Sooke July 20th?
📍 Todd Creek Trestle, Sooke
📷 Photo credit: Vancouver Island Bucket List
📍 Ed Macgregor park, Sooke, BC
Ed Macgregor Park, situated in downtown Sooke, features wheelchair-accessible oceanfront trails, a public pier, walled gardens, an events area, and an amphitheatre. Note that the pier is only wheelchair-accessible from one end, and that the other side has steep stairs.
📷Photo credit:
We are proud to announce that today we have released the very first issue of Wild By Nature News! our Sooke Region Tourism Association Membership Newsletter.
This newsletter aims to keep our members updated on our association's activities, event attendance, upcoming meetings, and more. Featuring images from our photobank and contributions from our membership, we hope this newsletter will serve as a valuable tool for staying informed about our efforts to promote tourism in the Sooke region.
If you are a member and have not received today's copy of Wild By Nature News, please email [email protected] to receive your copy.
Looking to become a member? Join now by heading over to our website and clicking "membership" in the top right hand corner!
Photo credit: Michael Matti
📍Sooke, BC
Discover countless adventures in Sooke, from whale watching and kayaking to thrilling wildlife tours!
📷photo credit: Featuring
.
📍Sooke Region Museum, 2070 Phillips Rd, Sooke, BC
Indoor exhibits include First Nations basketry and settler history featuring mining, forestry, maritime exhibits, as well as the popular All Sooke Day film. Outdoor exhibits include the Forestry Path, Servants Quarters, the Saga of the Lord Western and the Lighthouse from Triangle Island.
Their Visitor Center is your hub for local hiking tips and insights into nearby attractions, ensuring you make the most of your visit.
Don’t miss the Thursday Night Market—an iconic summer event in Sooke—where you can enjoy local crafts, food, and community spirit.
*Museum entrance by donation
📷 Photo Credit: Vancouver Island Bucket List
📍 Sunriver Nature Trail, access off Philips Road
A beautiful, lesser-known trail along the Sooke River full of wildlife and a few giant old-growth trees.
📷 Photo credit: Vancouver Island Bucket List
Box 155
Sooke, BC
V9Z0E4
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sooke Tourism posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to Sooke Tourism:
We are so excited to announce that our Share Vancouver Island Campaign won the Tourism Vancouver Island multi media marketing award earlier this month in Ucluelet! This campaign was a collaboration with Black Ball Ferry Line, Tourism Nanaimo and Tourism Tofino. Thank you to everyone who posted on Instagram using the #ShareVI hashtag, watched our commercial and visited our website! Also special thanks to all of the Instagram influencers who helped us reach a larger audience to promote Vancouver Island! We are currently working on another campaign to promote the Sooke region, a partnership with Distinctly Sidney, promoting the VI Circle Route. Check out www.vicircleroute.com to see how you can win some amazing prizes! #ExploreBC
There is so much to do on Vancouver Island! This video is just a snapshot of the activities in the Sooke to Port Renfrew region! #ExploreSooke #ExploreBC
