Sooke Potholes

Sooke PotHoles Regional Park is a swimmers paradise located on the banks of the spectacular Sooke River.Enjoy the views, explore the trails or take a refreshing dip on a hot summer day!Just a 30 minute car ride beyond the urban core, the Sooke potholes are one of the more popular swimming spots in the capital region.Pick any Sunday during the dog days of summer. Chances are it’s sunny, about 25 degrees outside and you wish you could peel your skin off to beat the heat. But instead of practicing your Robbie Robertson impersonations, why not just go to the beach instead. If you’re willing to travel somewhere picturesque, then the Sooke Potholes is where you should be headed. This cool swimming spot is a scenic half hour drive from the city centre. Most traces of Victoria disappear the closer you get to Sooke and are replaced with lush forests and single lane traffic each way along Sooke Road.The water is clear and cool, and the scenery looks a lot like a Tourism B.C. brochure photo shoot. But just because this place is tucked away off the Sooke River, and is at least half an hour outside of Victoria by car, that doesn’t mean it isn’t popular with locals. Parking can be a problem during the peak of summer. Either get down to the river early or be prepared to park further up the road.There’s more to the Sooke Potholes than just swimming. A small creek runs under a wooden bridge on the way from the parking lot. Further upstream along the creek, there is a modest, but photo worthy spot, complete with a waterfall, mossy rocks and shallow pools of clear water. Since most people will be heading for the beach, there’s a chance that you will have this waterfall to yourself for a while.