Sooke, BC

Know the town

About Sooke

Sooke is where Greater Victoria starts to feel like the wild west coast. About forty minutes west of the city along Highway 14, the town sits on Sooke Harbour and Basin, surrounded by forest, rivers and rocky beaches. It is the traditional territory of the T’Sou-ke Nation, and it has grown from a fishing and logging community into a popular place to live for people who want space and nature within reach of the city.

Rivers and swimming holes

The Sooke River runs through a forested canyon just north of town, and the Sooke Potholes Regional Park, with its smooth rock pools carved by the river, is one of the region’s favourite summer swimming spots. In the fall, salmon run up the river, and the trails along its banks are beautiful year-round.

On the coast

Whiffin Spit, a narrow finger of land stretching across the mouth of Sooke Harbour, makes an easy, flat walk with water on both sides. East Sooke Regional Park, across the basin, offers rugged coastal hiking, ancient petroglyphs and lookouts where whales are sometimes spotted offshore. Further west, Highway 14 continues past a string of wild beaches toward Port Renfrew and a rugged coastal trail that runs much of the way there.

Around town

Sooke’s town centre along the highway has grocery stores, cafés, restaurants and services, and the waterfront boardwalk is a pleasant place for a stroll. The Sooke Region Museum and visitor centre tells the area’s logging, fishing and settlement history, and local markets and festivals keep things busy in the summer.

Getting here

Sooke is reached by Highway 14 from Langford, or by bike along the Galloping Goose Trail. Metchosin and Colwood lie on the way.

Next up: Sooke’s verified local businesses, plus events coming up around the harbour.

For council, permits, garbage and recycling, parks bookings and other local services, visit District of Sooke.