Park overview
Adjacent to the park is the Sooke River, there exists a series of deep, naturally carved and polished rock pools. A small parking area with facilities that is managed by the District of Sooke. This area is a favourite day-use destination for many local and regional residents.
Glacial action during the last ice age 15,000 years ago is responsible for the formations, as the moving, melting ice packs stripped the surface area and carved a path deep into the natural bedrock. Huge boulders carried along by the rushing river became lodged, were swirled against the canyon walls and consequently carved out the potholes that can be seen today.
The nearby Sooke River (not within the park) is an important coho and chinook salmon spawning river, and opportunities exist for catch and release fishing. Sooke Potholes Park provides an ideal location to view the annual salmon spawning run.
Advisories
Special notes
- Day-use only
- The District of Sooke provides parking, toilet and garbage can facilities on land within their jurisdiction, adjacent to the provincial park.
- There are no facilities available in the park
Activities
This park provides wildlife viewing opportunities along an important coho and chinook salmon spawning river.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
Maps and location
Sooke Potholes Park is located near Sooke on southern Vancouver Island. The park is accessed via Sooke River Road, 5km north of West Coast Highway 14.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: September 7, 1972
- Size: 7.2 hectares
Nature and culture
Conservation
Located within the Leeward Island Mountains Ecosection, the park protects remnant old-growth Douglas fir and associated sensitive plant communities that line Sooke River. The Sierra wood fern, a red-listed plant, is found in the park. The river itself is an important wildlife corridor for all species, including black bear and roosevelt elk, as it connects the Sooke Hills and Capital Region greenbelt.
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.