2 km - Sandcut Beach
Parking lot on the left side of the road, no signs. A 10 min. walk
through the rain forest leads to a sand and pebble beach with waterfalls and
sandstone rock
6 km - Jordan River
A pebble beach right along the highway. Popular with surfers and
kayakers.
10 km - Juan de Fuca Marine Trail
The
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail
starts from the China Beach parking
lot.
The 47 km hiking trail
along the Pacific coast line ends at Botanical
beach and offers rugged beauty and wildlife viewing.
10 km - China Beach Provincial Park
A 15 min. walk through lush West Coast rain forest gives access to beautiful sandy
China Beach
. On the west end of the beach is a hidden waterfall.
12 km - Mystic Beach
2 km past China Beach, just before the second bridge, parking on the
roadside or on a small parking lot on the other side of the bridge, no
signs. A steep 30 min. forest trail ends on an attractive sand beach with
sandstone cliffs, shallow caves and waterfall. This beach is also accessible
via the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.
28 km - Sombrio Beach
Sombrio Beach
is popular with surfers taking advantage of the huge breakers
coming in from the ocean. A winding gravel road (1.7 km) leads to a parking
lot and a 10 min. walk to a sand and pebble beach.
39 km - Parkinson Creek
Turn left on the access road (3.8 km) to the
Parkinson Creek Trailhead.
51 km - Botanical Beach Provincial Park
Follow the road to the very end, turn left past the Lighthouse Pub - 3 km
ahead is the parking lot. A 15 min. walk from the parking area leads to the
fascinating
Botanical Beach
with tidal pools rich in marine life, which can be best viewed
at
water levels of less than 1 metre.
51 km - Pacific Rim National Park
In Port Renfrew is the start of the
Pacific Rim National Park
with the
famous West Coast Trail, a 75 km backpacking route through
rainforest and along beaches with cliffs, waterfalls, and caves.
Overnight stays require a
permit ($ 127.50). The trailhead office
in Port Renfrew issues day permits without cost, but there is
a charge of $ 20.00 for the necessary boat crossing. Start early
in the day, as the last trip back to Port Renfrew is at 4.30 pm
(this information is for 2009, for more call in the summer months: 250 647 5434).
60 km - Red Creek Fir
Stay on Highway 14 for 43 km (3 km before Port Renfrew - just before the
Welcome sign), turn right and stay for 17 km on this very rough gravel road.
A 10 minute walk through ancient forest brings you to the largest Douglas
Fir in Canada - 241 feet high, 14 feet in diameter and 700 to 1,000 years
old.
Update: The gravel road is is in the moment not drivable.
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5 km - French Beach Provincial Park
French Beach
offers easy access. Wonderful breakers from the Pacific Ocean,
tide pools, picnic tables and lots of pebbles. Favorite feeding spot for migrating grey whales.
12 km - Muir Creek
Turn right to the parking lot before the Muir Creek bridge. Interesting
fossils are found on this pebble beach.
24 km - Whiffin Spit
Coming into Sooke turn right on Whiffin Spit Road.
Whiffin Spit
is a natural break water between the Juan de Fuca Strait and the Sooke basin. It offers nice views
of the harbor and the Olympic Mountains.
25 km - Ed MacGregor Park
Just before coming to the first traffic light in the town center of Sooke, turn
right in the small parking lot just beside West Coast Road. From
Ed MacGregor Park
you have access to the Sooke Rotary Pier and to the Marine Boardwalk, which offer
nice views of the Sooke basin.
29 km - Galloping Goose Trail
The
Galloping Goose Trail
is a former railway lane which starts in Victoria and stretches over 60 km to Leechtown, the site of a gold rush settlement in the Sooke
Hills. It is great for hiking, cycling and horseback riding. There are
access points from Sooke River Road and close to the Fuse
Restaurant.
31 km - Sooke Potholes Regional Park
Turn left after the Sooke River bridge and go to the end of Sooke River
Road. The
Sooke Potholes,
natural pools of the Sooke River, are popular for swimming. In the
fall spawning salmons can be watched.
37 km - Roche Cove Regional Park
After driving Sooke Road (Hwy. 14) 8 km from the Sooke town center towards Victoria,
take the turn off to East Sooke (Gillespie Rd., which is just before 17 Mile Pub).
Follow Gillespie Road for 3 km. Enjoy a hike on the Galopping Goose Trail or one of the other trails in
Roche Cove Park.
A seasonal trail also connects to the west corner of
Matheson Lake Regional Park
which features a
picturesque lake
surrounded by forests.
46 km - East Sooke Regional Park
At the end of East Sooke Road turn left into Pike Road. Hikers find many
trails in the
East Sooke Regional Park
(3,512 acres). Abundant wild life,
beaches, coves, a petroglyph and an abandoned copper mine offer much to
watch and to explore.
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