Best Things to do in Sooke for Outdoors Lovers
Are you thinking of visiting Sooke on Vancouver Island?
Dave and I have been to Sooke a few times now and stayed in some really gorgeous cabins. We are both obsessed with the area. It is so underrated and only around a 45 minutes – 1 hour drive from Victoria.
Sooke is a small coastal town located on the Juan De Fuca coast where you will find wild beaches with waterfalls that run into the ocean, misty forest trails, rockpools, whale watching and cute cafes and restaurants.
Read on for a list of my favourite cabin stays in Sooke, beautiful viewpoints and great hikes and swimming holes, as well as where to find the best food in Sooke (including the best pizza I’ve ever had)! This guide also includes some tips on how to get from Vancouver to Sooke, because I know it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out which ferry you should be taking to Vancouver Island.
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Quick Tips for visiting Sooke
Where to stay: Owls Perch Treehouse
Rental car: I recommend getting a car to explore Sooke more freely. To find the best deals, I use DiscoverCars.
Best time of the year to visit: Spring, when the waterfalls are flowing!
One place you cannot miss: Sombrio Beach’s Hidden waterfall
Best restaurant: – Stoked Pizzeria! We go here every time we visit and it’s SO GOOD.
Fun Things to do in Sooke on Vancouver Island
Sooke is a beautiful part of the world and is home to some of the most stunning coastline and marine life. It is most well known for the Sooke Potholes, which are a great place for a swim in Summer and which also have some nice trails in the area to take a walk.
For being so close to the major city, Victoria, Sooke is a great place to spend the weekend to get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.
Apart from the Sooke Potholes, there are loads of amazing outdoor activities from hikes to mountain biking trails to kayaking or even whale watching! Sooke has many natural hidden gems. Use the map below for directions to the best places to see in Sooke.
Top Things to do in Sooke (quick overview)
- Sooke Potholes Provincial Park for swimming and river walks
- Whiffin Spit Park for casual strolls and views of the Olympic Mountains
- Kayaking and whale watching tours from Sooke Harbour
- Local food and breweries
- Hike to Mystic Beach and its waterfall
- Cycle or walk sections of the Galloping Goose Trail
- Walk down to Sheringham Point Lighthouse to try to spot seals and whales
- Get a little adventurous with a ziplining tour
1. Sooke Potholes Provincial Park
Sooke Potholes Provincial Park is perfect for a swim or paddle in the Summer, or if it’s too cold, you could hike one of the trails or visit a waterfall. The park is located along the Sooke River with unusual rock formations that were formed by glacial ice millions of years ago.
When we were there in Spring, we did find that it was still too cold for swimming so I’d love to revisit in summer because the water was so clear and inviting!
There is also a campground here if you want to stay overnight. There are toilets located in the parking lots and dogs are allowed in the park but on a leash only.
The main hiking trail in Sooke Potholes Provincial Park takes you along the river and is a great summers day activity if you plan on swimming. Along the river, you will come to lots of swimming holes that are only accessible by foot. The trail is 8.8km return and will take you around 2 hours 20 minutes to complete if you choose to walk all the way.
This private tour takes you all of the way up to Port Renfrew, stopping at some of the best places including the Sooke Potholes along the way.
2. Walk Down to Sheringham Point Lighthouse
The Sheringham Point Lighthouse is a picture perfect lighthouse located near the town of Shirley, about 20 minutes from Sooke Town. The turnoff to the parking to the lighthouse is right next to Shirley Delicious Café. Be careful on this road as it does become quite narrow in sections!
If you are following the GPS directions, make sure you set your destination as per the map in this guide. Don’t type in Sheringham Point Lighthouse directly into google maps because this will take you to a gate at a private property residence which you cannot enter.
Once you have parked, the walk to the lighthouse is only 500m and will take you around 10 minutes. Start by walking down the forest trail. You will soon reach a road with a gated fence on the other side. Go through the open gate (open in daylight hours) and continue walking down the path. Once you reach the lighthouse, take some photos, have a break and watch for whales and seals. They are not uncommon here.
We were excited to see loads of whales in the distance when we visited in late October. It was very exciting!
3. Take a Day Trip up the Coast to Port Renfrew
If you have at least a couple of days in Sooke, I recommend spending one of those days driving up to Port Renfrew and back. It is just over an hours drive if you drive all the way from Sooke to Port Renfrew without stopping.
There are lots of amazing beaches to stop at as well as hiking trails as this area is where the popular Juan De Fuca Trail is. Juan De Fuca is a multi-day 47 km hike which takes you along the Southwest coastline of Vancouver Island.
Some must see beaches along the coastline are Mystic Beach, Sombrio Beach and Botanical Beach. All of these beaches involve a little walk from the parking lot to get to the water.
A common question that I get asked is, “Is the road from Sooke to Port Renfrew paved.” Yes, the entire road is paved, however, you might find yourself on some gravel roads depending on where you stop along the way. Sombrio Beach for example is down a gravel road but it wasn’t too bad. There were even a few evos that had made it to the parking lot there.
Stops you can’t miss along the road from Sooke to Port Renfrew!
French Beach
Located just past Stoked Woodfire Pizza, you have to pop over to French Beach for a couple of photos. It is so wild, beautiful and just perfect.
Sandcut Beach
The next place you need to stop at is Sandcut Beach. Sandcut Beach is one of a few special beaches along this coastline with beach waterfalls! The beach is about a 10 minute walk (400 metres) from the parking lot. The trail to reach the beach is quite rooty and has quite a lot of stairs so the uphill on the way back will leave you catching your breath.
If you want to find the beach waterfalls, you will need to add another 10 minutes one way onto your walk. Once you reach the beach, turn left, and continue for around 500metres until you reach a couple of small waterfalls flowing off the rocks and out into the ocean.
Mystic Beach
Mystic Beach is my favourite! It’s a muddy 4km roundtrip from the China Beach carpark down to the beach. The hike to the beach will take around 2.5hrs because of the mud and tree roots. Once you reach the beach, turn left and the waterfall is near the end of the beach.
Sombrio Beach
Sombrio beach has its very own hidden waterfall. I don’t think we had ever seen a beach quite so wild and beautiful. Trying to find the hidden waterfall on Sombrio Beach makes for a fun adventure but I have specific instructions in my guide here.
Botanical Beach
Botanical Beach is just past Port Renfrew and is famous for its beautiful tide pools where you can admire all varieties of marine life! Try to make sure you go at low tide so that you can walk around easily and look into the rockpools. Look but don’t touch! Don’t even put your hands into the water of the pools as touching the water in a tide pool with sunscreen on your hands can kill the creatures living there.
Reminder
Juan De Fuca Provincial Park is home to an abundance of marine life and wildlife, including black bears and cougars. Make sure you are up to date with your wildlife safety knowledge and carry bear spray with you at all times when hiking on Vancouver Island.
4. Go on a Whale Watching Tour
Head out to the Juan de Fuca Strait and search for Orcas, Humpbacks, Gray and Minke whales on a whale watching tour. The best times of the year for whale watching is from July to October.
In addition to the whales, you might also see Harbor Seals, Elephant Seals, Dall’s Porpoise, Harbour Porpoise, California Sea Lions, Stellar Sea Lions and bald eagles.
5. Take a stroll at Whiffin Spit Park
Whiffin Spit is a beautiful spot for a casual walk to enjoy the fresh air and being by the ocean. Whiffin Spit is located on the edge of Sooke Town and is a natural peninsula with a short 2.7km walking trail. From the peninsula, you can see the stunning Olympic Mountains in the USA rising up over the Juan De Fuca Strait.
It is a popular spot for photographers and bird watchers and is dog friendly. The walking trail is made from gravel and gives you views of the ocean on both sides. At the end of the trail, you will find a small lighthouse. Keep your eyes open for marine life as you gaze out across the ocean.
The parking lot is quite small and can get quite busy as it is a popular spot, but it also has high turnover so you won’t have to wait long for a park. There is a pit toilet available as well as a water fountain and bike rack.
6. Go Zip Lining in Sooke!
Soar over an incredible west coast forest on one of the scenic zipline courses at Adrena Line Zipline Adventure Tours. The tour runs for about 2 hours and includes an exhilarating 10-minute ATV ride to the top of the course!
7. Go Bike Riding along the Galloping Goose Trail
The Galloping Goose Trail runs through stunning forests and you can actually ride the trail all the way from Victoria to Sooke! The entire trail is 60km one way or you can choose to do little sections.
Fun Fact
The Galloping Goose Trail was formally a freight railway line built during the First World War.
8. Go on a Kayaking Adventure
Mystic Beach Adventures have a list of different kayak or sup tour locations to choose from! Book in a 3 hour adventure or rent a own kayak or sup to take out on your own!
9. Hiking in Sooke
One of the best places to go hiking in Sooke is in the Sea to Sea Regional Park. There are a couple of great trails in this park that take you up two different mountains, Mount Brule and Mount Manuel Quimper. From the top, you can see out all the way to the Olympic Mountains!
Mount Brule is a little shorter and overall easier that Mount Quimper. Mount Quimper takes you up to a fire lookout and is recommended to be hiked counter-clockwise.
Mount Brule: Distance 6km return Elevation Gain 308m Time 2-2.5 hours Dogs allowed on leash
Mount Manuel Quimper: Distance 10.5km loop Elevation Gain 478m Time 3.5 hours Dogs allowed on leash
If you are looking for an easier hike, the Galloping Goose trail is a great choice! The most scenic sections of the trail are near Sooke Potholes and at the Trestle bridges along the trail which make for some fun photos.
10. Mountain Biking in Sooke
Like the hiking trails, there are some great downhill mountain biking trails for all different experience levels located in the Sea to Sea Regional Park. Alternatively there is the Galloping Goose Trail which is more family friendly and great for beginners.
How to get to Sooke
You can drive yourself to Sooke from Vancouver using the BC Ferry system, or, if you are staying on Vancouver Island, I recommend booking this private tour which takes you through Sooke and along the coastline all the way to Port Renfrew, stopping at some of our favourite beaches on Vancouver Island.
How to get to Sooke from Vancouver
From Downtown Vancouver, it can take you around 3.5 hours to get to Sooke by car. The trip to Sooke does include a ferry over to Vancouver Island which we recommend booking in advance. The most efficient route to get to Sooke from the city centre is by getting the ferry from Tsawwassen to Victoria (Swartz Bay).
Alternatively, you can take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, however this route will end up taking you longer. These estimated trip times are based on leaving from downtown Vancouver. Depending on where you live, one ferry might work out to be the faster choice. Check this on google maps before purchasing your ferry tickets.
If you decide to take the ferry, make sure you get to the ferry terminal to check in more than 30 minutes prior to departure as they will give away your time slot to someone else if you are late.
Route 1 – Preferred Route from Downtown Vancouver
Vancouver to Tsawwassen (Driving time): 40 minutes
Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (Ferry Trip): 1 hour 35 mins
Swartz Bay to Sooke (Driving time): 1 hour
Route 2
Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay (Driving time): 25 minutes
Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo (Ferry Trip): 1 hour 40 mins
Nanaimo to Sooke (Driving time): 1.5 hours
You can also fly from Vancouver Airport to Victoria International Airport and hire a car from there or take the bus along the West Coast Highway 14. Personally, we always drive to Sooke so that once we are there, we can explore freely.
How to get to Sooke from Victoria
Sooke is only about a 1 hour drive from Victoria. If you are driving, you will take the BC Highway 17 and Trans Canada Highway before turning onto the Juan De Fuca Hwy BC14.
If you plan on catch the bus from Victoria to Sooke, use the BC Transit website for the most up to date bus timetable.
Sooke is also accessible from Victoria by bike if you ride along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail.
How to get to Sooke from Nanaimo
The drive from Nanaimo to Sooke is about 1.5 hours.
Alternatively, you can catch the bus but you will need to transfer a few times. You can use the BC Transit website for the most up to date bus timetable and to plan your trip.
Best Seasons to Visit Sooke
Sooke is great all year round, however we really love going there in Spring, when it has rained a bit more and we are in need of a cozy cabin weekend away. The reason for this is that there all of the beautiful waterfalls in the area will be flowing best in Spring.
Best Restaurants in Sooke
The Best Pizza Ever
I know you are dying to try the incredible pizza that I mentioned earlier. We have stayed in both Sooke and Jordan River on separate occasions and been back to this pizza place twice now because it is so delicious! The pizza restaurant is called Stoked and is mainly takeaway but they have some really nice outdoor seating for you to enjoy your pizza and a beer in the sun. Stoked Woodfire Pizza is located a 20 minute drive from Sooke.
Check Stoked’s website for their opening hours as they do close earlier than your average downtown Vancouver restaurant. Stoked also closes for the Winter season and opens again for the year in April.
Shirley Delicious
Shirley Delicious is a breakfast / brunch / lunch cafe located pretty close to Stoked so a 15-20 minute drive from Sooke. Their menu includes an amazing choice of hot breakfast options, Focaccias and of course coffee.
Route 14
Route 14 is a great place for lunch or dinner and is located in Sooke. Their menu consists of steak, burgers, seafood and more! Check out their menu on their website here.
Best Cabin Stays in Sooke
Sooke has loads of awesome cabin stays! For all cabin stays, you need to make sure you plan your trip and book well in advance as they tend to book up quickly. Some of the best cabin stays in Sooke are:
East Sooke Treehouse
The East Sooke Treehouse is located in East Sooke. East Sooke is actually about a 30 minute drive from Sooke but if you are looking for an awesome cabin to spend the weekend at, the drive is so worth it! This cabin has been actually built into the trees surrounding it, hence the name “treehouse.” It also has an outdoor bathtub and propane firepit. We were really impressed with this cabin. You could tell the owners look after it and it looked almost new!
Point No Point Resort
Point No Point is located 25km past Sooke with incredible views of the ocean! They have lots of different houses and cabins to choose from and are a great option if you have a big family to cater for. The cabins also each have their own private hot tubs and there is a restaurant on site where you can order take away.
Owl’s Perch Treehouse Unique Treetop Escape
Okay this treehouse is GOALS. It is next on my list!
Our Thoughts
Sooke is such a great place to get away to escape the busyness of the city. We absolutely love how close you are to nature there and the huge variety of outdoor activities that are available.
Another favourite spot of ours to spend the weekend in is Jordan River. Unlike Sooke, Jordan River has no cell reception so its truly a place to unwind and disconnect.
You might also enjoy these other Vancouver Island adventures:
- The Ultimate Jordan River, Vancouver Island Weekend Itinerary
- The Ultimate Weekend Itinerary for Tofino, BC
- Cox Bay Lookout: The Best Secret Viewpoint in Tofino
- Mystic Beach on Vancouver Island: Everything You Need to Know
- Unique Waterfalls on Vancouver Island That You Need to Visit
- 5040 Peak: The Best Overnight Hike on Vancouver Island
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