Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park

Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park is a vast, rugged 4,090-hectare park in Langford featuring challenging multi-use trails, scenic peaks like Mount Braden, waterfalls, and rich wildlife habitats.

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Location

Langford
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About

Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park is 4,090 hectares.
Surrounding and safeguarding the Greater Victoria water supply area, Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park is a vast and rugged natural escape.
The park has 16 named peaks. At its heart rises Mount Braden, standing 471 meters tall. It’s one of the highest peaks in the Capital Regional District park system. Mount McDonald stands at 439 meters.
Winding through this landscape is the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, part of both the Trans Canada Trail and the Vancouver Island Spine Trail. Designed for adventure, it welcomes hikers and cyclists, with select sections open to horseback riders.
The trail stretches across two distinct areas divided by the Goldstream catchment. The northern section opened in 2017, followed by the southern section in late 2020.
This 13-kilometer unpaved route offers an immersive journey through remote wilderness and thriving wildlife habitats.
Beginning at Humpback Reservoir, it travels north to the boundary of the Cowichan Valley Regional District, guiding visitors through a mix of open landscapes and shaded forest.
About 2.5 kilometers from the Humpback trailhead, a viewing platform reveals the stunning Waugh Creek Falls which is especially powerful during winter and spring. Just beyond, a 41-meter suspension bridge spans the Goldstream River, adding a sense of adventure to the journey.
In the northern section, sweeping views unfold including Finlayson Arm, and even glimpses of Greater Victoria in the distance. The climb is challenging, but the scenery makes every step worthwhile.
Horseback riding is permitted along a 4-kilometer stretch in the northern section, starting from the Cowichan Valley boundary.
With steep grades reaching up to 16 percent, narrow passages, and rugged gravel terrain, this trail demands respect. Travel within your limits, choose routes suited to your skill level, and always share the trail responsibly.
In the southern section, summiting Mount Braden or climbing Sugarloaf rewards you with panoramic views of rolling green hills. The park’s connected trail network links to nearby protected areas, including Sea to Sea Regional Park, Sooke Mountain Provincial Park, and Mount Wells Regional Park.
Scattered throughout the park are remnants of the past, including several old hunting cabins and homesteads along with others that are said to still be hidden in the surrounding wilderness.
Near the shores of Cabin Pond stands an aging structure that once served as a roadhouse, supporting horse-drawn carriage travel between northern communities and Victoria.
The landscape also holds traces of early infrastructure, with visible remains of dams and water diversion channels once used to provide drinking water to local residents (source)
Some of the birds you may find in the park include Golden-crowned kinglet, Red-breasted nuthatch, Fox sparrow, and Spotted towhee.
With multiple peaks and expansive trails, Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park offers endless opportunities to explore, challenge yourself, and reconnect with nature.

Lands

Xwsepsum (Esquimalt), Lekwungen (Songhees), Sc'ianew (Beecher Bay), and the W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples represented by the Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum, and Malahat Nations

Amenities