Park overview
Sooke Mountain Provincial Park was established in 1928 to protect wildlife, wilderness and scenic values close to Victoria. This mountain park was one of the earliest provincial parks established on southern Vancouver Island and is part of the extensive Sooke Hills greenbelt. The park protects the conservation values of the rugged rocky hills, lakes, forested slopes and the watershed near Sooke River, as well as provide recreation opportunities such as wildlife viewing, wilderness hiking, fishing, mountain biking and horseback riding in a wilderness setting. The park is also surrounded by other protected park areas and part of a larger wilderness corridor. The park is undeveloped, has no road access and no maintained hiking trails.
Advisories
Safety info
Stay Safe
- This park is essentially backcountry with no facilities. Be prepared for all kinds of weather and conditions.
- This is bear/cougar country – so be prepared and read the wildlife safety information.
Park Access
- There is no road access or motorized vehicle use in this park. Walk/hiking access is via Harbour View Road and visitors must be prepared to wade across Charters River as there are no bridges.
- Overnight camping is not allowed in the park due to concerns about the risk of fire and the absence of necessary facilities and services that would be required to allow for this activity to safely occur in the park.
Activities
There are no developed trails at this park. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey any posted signs. Shortcutting any designated trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Recreational fishing is permitted in Shields Lake, subject to current provincial fishing regulations. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Hunting is allowed in the park. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for specific hunting regulations.
Maps and location
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: June 25, 1928
- Size: 450 hectares
Nature and culture
- Conservation: The park fulfills a significant conservation role in protecting threatened ecosystems such as Garry oak and rocky outcrops. The creek and moist valley forest provides valuable habitat for amphibians, reptiles and birds. The park also protects some of the watershed for the important fish-bearing Sooke River.
- Wildlife: This park is one of the largest areas in the region for protecting large predator/prey habitat including Roosevelt elk, gray wolf, black bears and cougars. Grouse, songbirds and hawks are also ound throughout the park.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.