The Sooke Potholes are beautiful, polished rock formations carved into the natural bedrock of the Sooke River by ancient glacial activity. The river water is bright aqua-green, and cascades down through waterfalls into deep crystal-clear pools - a perfect place to cool off, rest, and regenerate in the summer months - especially during this gorgeous heat wave we've been having!
It's a very popular place with the locals, too - so be sure to come early to find the best spot, and bring a picnic lunch with you. Hiking can be a bit tricky with steep inclines to navigate and slippery river rocks, so good footwear is a must. Children should be well attended to, and diving is not advised. Directions: From Douglas Street in Victoria, travel west on Trans-Canada Hwy 1 towards the West Shore. Take Colwood exit 10 and travel for about 30 min on Sooke Road (Hwy 14). Keep on the lookout for Winks Convenience Store on the right (just past Edward Milne Community School) - Sooke River Rd is just beyond it (you may want to stop at Wink's for ice cream, or make a plan to come back here at the end of the day - we sure did!)
At Winks, turn right onto Sooke River Rd and drive for another 5 km - straight to the first parking lot. If you'd prefer to park for free, stay here, but if you don't mind paying $2.50 for the day (bring change), proceed to the 3rd parking lot and follow the map trails to find the first set of Potholes.
Enjoy - maybe we'll see you there next Sunday!
