Adventure & Exploration
Whether you want to explore the beauty of rugged Pacific West Coast beaches, explore the multitude of lush forest and mountain hiking trails,
traverse the challenging West Coast Trail,
enjoy the exhilaration of a whale watching cruise,
experience a fishing adventure with one of the many charter companies,
or simply relax and enjoy your private Vancouver Island Glamping site
nestled on our rural farm,
Basecamp 3105 is “Your Base for West Coast Adventure and Exploration”.
Adventure
Adrena LINE Zipline Adventures
Sooke
17 km from Basecamp
Discover the thrill of flight at Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Park, located in Sooke!
Begin your adventure with our Guided Canopy Tour, a fully guided experience that lets you soar through the treetops at speeds of up to 60km/h. Glide 150 feet above the ground on eight scenic ziplines, ranging from 130 feet to an unforgettable 1000 feet, each offering breathtaking views of the lush coastal landscape. For the ultimate adrenaline rush, take on the Big Zip Experience! Race side by side with family or friends as you zip down one or both of our 2400-foot-long ziplines, reaching heart-pounding speeds of 70km/h over the stunning Sooke Basin. With professionally trained guides, this high-flying adventure promises thrills, stunning beauty, and unforgettable memories, making it the highlight of your Vancouver Island experience!
Sooke Whale Watching / Sooke Coastal explorations
Sooke
11 km from Basecamp
“An Exhilarating West Coast Marine Adventure that Will Thrill Your Senses, Led by Sooke’s Only Professional Whale Watching Team & Sooke's best value with their Whale Sighting Guarantee!*”
Offering the perfect balance of excitement, safety, and education. Their experienced, knowledgeable crew will take you on an open water excursion lasting up to 3 hours, exploring Vancouver Island’s south western shores.
Whale Watching Tours are 3 hours in length. June through October, are the ideal months to view Orcas (Killer Whales) in all their glory. The Juan de Fuca Strait is the perfect area to find the returning Humpbacks from June to November and with hundreds returning to their feeding grounds gives you ample opportunity to have your own close encounter of the deep. Some of most interesting encounters is of mammal hunting Transient Killer Whales that are now very regular visitors to our area. We also see an ever increasing amount of Humpback Whales and also the possibility of Gray, Fin and Minke Whales.
During peak months, their success rate for sighting whales is 97%.
*Whale Sighting Guarantee is during peak months (July through September) and allows for guests to return for another marine adventure. (when/if space is available)
Fishing Charters
Sooke has been long know as a hub for fishing carters, with locals and tourists from around the world coming to take advantage of the fertile fishing grounds off our coast. Hit the open water in the morning for a fishing adventure, then bring back your fresh caught salmon, halibut or crab to Basecamp for truly fresh Westcoast seafood meal. There are several Fishing Charter companies in Sooke.
Google “Sooke Fishing Charters” for a list of experienced, local carter companies waiting to make your fishing dream come true.
Langford Gravity Zone
Langford
28 km from Basecamp
With over 130 acres of forestland, Langford Gravity Zone is a premier destination for mountain biking enthusiasts. The park offers options for all skill levels from beginner flow trails to expert-level technical tracks with winding trails through towering trees and rugged terrain. Designed specifically for mountain biking, the Gravity Zone is the ultimate spot for thrill-seekers to experience the natural beauty of Langford while enjoying an exhilarating ride
Within the Gravity Zone is the Jordie Lunn Bike Park, a one-of-a-kind recreational cycling destination designed for riders of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, a beginner learning the ropes, or a family looking for an exciting outdoor activity, this park offers something for everyone, combining the best elements of dirt jumping, a pump track, a skills-building area, and cyclocross/mountain bike.
Exploration
BC Provincial Parks
SOOKE POTHOLES
15 km from Basecamp
Sooke Potholes is a series of deep, naturally carved and polished rock pools in the river and is a favourite day-use destination for many local and regional residents. There are three small pay-parking lots
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.
Sooke Potholes Park is accessed via Sooke River Road, 5 km north of West Coast Highway 14.
FRENCH BEACH
19.2 km from Basecamp
French Beach Park offers much more than just beautiful hiking trails through lush forests. A wide swatch of green lawn fronts this sand and pebble beach, where visitors can relax and enjoy a picnic or take a cool dip in the ocean. Offering fabulous views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains, the 1,600 metre beach at this park is an ideal location for exploring and whale watching. Roaming pods of resident killer whales can be seen offshore, as well as otters, seals, and sea lions. Magnificent gray whales pass by this park in the spring and fall. French Beach is also a good spot to observe bald eagles, ospreys, and a variety of seabirds.
French Beach Park can be accessed via Highway 14, 20km west of Sooke. Directional signs are posted. The park is located approximately 11km from Jordan River.
JUAN de FUCA PARK (China Beach, Mystic Beach, Sombrio Beach, & Botanical Beach)
Juan de Fuca Park offers scenic beauty, spectacular hiking, marine and wildlife viewing, and roaring surf in its course along the Pacific coastline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
There are four main areas to the park: the China Beach Campground, the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, the China Beach day-use area, and Botanical Beach.
A major feature of this park, the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, follows 47km of wilderness stretching along the western shoreline of the southern Island. Although most of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is designed for strenuous day or multi-day hiking and camping in this rugged and isolated area, some easy-to-moderate day hiking opportunities to the beach or along the trail are available starting from the trailheads.
Juan de Fuca Park extends from China Beach, just west of the community of Jordan River, to Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew. The park is accessed by vehicle at various points along West Coast Highway 14 between Jordan River and Port Renfrew.
CHINA BEACH & MYSTIC BEACH
34 km from Basecamp
China Beach day-use area is a spectacular spot for family outings and day trips.
Mystic Beach is accessed from the China Beach Trail Parking Lot
Second Beach is reached from a 1 km trail down from the campsite via stairs and a fairly steep gravel trail. The 15-20 minute hike (each way) through the mature forest of Sitka spruce, Douglas fir and Western red cedar leads visitors to the great rolling breakers of a tumultuous sea.
SOMBRIO BEACH
54.7 km from Basecamp
The large cobbled Sombrio Beach can be reached via a 250-metre access trail from the Sombrio Beach Trailhead parking lot, off Hwy 14.
Visitors can explore or hike east or west along the beach, enjoy a picnic or try their hand at surfing in this world-class surfing area. Sombrio Beach is part of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, so please respect trail hikers.
BOTANICAL BEACH
73.6 km from Basecamp
The Botanical Beach parking lot is the western terminus of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. This parking lot provides access to nearby Botany Bay and Botanical Beach itself.
Botanical Beach affords visitors with access to uniquely rich tide pools and shoreline trails with fantastic geological features. The extensive variety of marine flora and fauna in this colourful intertidal zone includes red, purple and orange starfish and sea urchins, white gooseneck barnacles, blue mussels and green sea anemones and sea cucumbers. Coralline algae, periwinkles, chitons and sea stars can also be seen at Botanical Beach.
A low tide of 1.2 metres or less is best for viewing these tide pools. Use Canadian Tide Tables “Port Renfrew” section. Remember to add one hour to the listed tidal times during May to October as Daylight Savings Time is in effect.
Regional parks
Sea to Sea Regional Park
Sooke
14 km from Basecamp
Sea to Sea is one of the largest CRD regional parks and offers stunning views from the peaks of Mount Manuel Quimper and Mount Brule.
Mount Manuel Quimper - Hike or bike 5.6 kilometer to the summit of Mount Manuel Quimper for panoramic mountain views and the former fire lookout built by the BC Forest Service in the 1950s.
Mount Brule - Take a shorter 3 kilometer trek to Mount Brule for spectacular views of Sooke Basin, East Sooke Regional Park, and the Olympic Mountains.
Lakes Section - Hike Empress Mountain, one of the highest peaks in the area, for a great view of Mount Manuel Quimper and Mount Brule. You can also explore the scenic Crabapple, Grass, Peden, or Shields lakes.
Mountain Biking - The mountain bike trails in Sea to Sea Regional Park range from easy to expert and are designed to take advantage of the park’s exposed rock formations, offering exciting features like drops and jumps.
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Jordan River Regional Park – Sandcut Beach
Jordan River
23.8 km from Basecamp
Jordan River Regional Park is a 187-hectare coastal forest park along the Juan de Fuca Strait. It's a favorite spot for locals and offers beautiful views of the Olympic Peninsula. A short walk through the forest on a trail and down a set of stairs takes you to Sandcut Beach, a long cobblestone shore along the Juan de Fuca Strait.
Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park
Langford
27.1 km from Basecamp
Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park features Mount Braden, which is 471 meters tall and one of the highest peaks in the Capital Regional District parks.
Please note: The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is challenging and is not an all ages and abilities route.
Mount Wells Regional Park
Langford
26 km from Basecamp
Mount Wells is a 123 hectare wilderness park featuring second-growth forest and fragile mossy rock outcrops, along with spectacular views and beautiful spring wildflowers and provides spectacular views of Juan de Fuca Strait, Victoria, the Sooke Hills and the Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt.
Follow the steep and challenging trail to the summit (352 m) for sweeping views of Juan de Fuca Strait, Victoria, and the Sooke Hills. The trail passes through Douglas-fir forests and sensitive Garry oak ecosystems, leading to open rocky hilltops with arbutus trees, hairy manzanita, and lush mosses. On your way to the summit, you might spot turkey vultures and band-tailed pigeons or hear the drumming of ruffed grouse. The park is also a vital wildlife refuge for animals such as black-tailed deer, red squirrels, and alligator lizards, which sunbathe on rocky outcrops.
East Sooke Regional Park
East Sooke
24 km from Basecamp
East Sooke Regional Park offers a true West Coast wilderness experience. Hike along the rugged, windswept coastline, traverse dry hilltops, and wander through dense rainforests to discover sheltered coves.
The park features spectacular views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Mountains. There are 50 kilometers of trails through forest, marsh and field, including the 10-kilometre Coast Trail that features pocket beaches, rocky bays and tide pools for exploring and scuba diving.
Aylard Farm
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The Aylard Farm access is popular for picnicking and easy hikes. A five-minute walk via open fields leads to a short, steep dirt trail down to a pocket beach where you can explore intertidal life and watch river otters. There are accessible toilets, a picnic shelter and a Picnic area.
Anderson Cove
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Anderson Cove is located on the Sooke Basin and is ideal for hikers heading to Babbington Hill and Mount Maguire. Trails at this access are mainly steep with uneven terrain, leading to hilltops where you can see bald eagles, turkey vultures, and red-tailed hawks, along with sweeping views of the Olympic Peninsula.
Pike Road
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Pike Road is the most westerly entry point to the park and the Coast Trail. The trail is an old logging road with a smooth gravel surface and gentle slope (less than 6%) that winds through forest to a meadow. From here, a short steep trail leads to Iron Mine Bay beach.
Roche Cove Regional Park
East Sooke
20 km from Basecamp
The ancient temperate rainforest around the sheltered cove offers a perfect chance for solitude and a connection with nature. You can hike along a cool creek during the day or paddle on calm waters in the early morning light at this serene West Coast park.
If you're looking for an easy hike, the Matheson Creek Trail follows the creek through a lush forest filled with bracken ferns and western red cedars, connecting to nearby Matheson Lake Regional Park. Roche Cove is also a great starting point for a day outing on the popular Galloping Goose Regional Trail.
Matheson Lake Regional Park
Metchosin
26 km from Basecamp
This 156 hectare park has a beautiful lake and offers various recreational activities along with sensitive ecosystems. It is next to Roche Cove Regional Park and the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, making it a great spot for nature appreciation, hiking, swimming, and fishing.
On a hot summer day, Matheson Lake is a great spot for a refreshing swim and a picnic at the sandy beach.
Matheson Lake is also an excellent starting point for a cycling day trip on the Galloping Goose Trail.
Galloping Goose Regional Trail
Colwood, Esquimalt, Langford, Metchosin, Saanich, Sooke, Victoria, View Royal
The Galloping Goose is a beautiful multi-use trail that used to be a railway line. It stretches 55 kilometers from Victoria to Sooke, passing through urban, rural, and wilderness areas. You can cycle, walk, run, or ride a horse in the rural sections. Whether you're commuting to work, enjoying a weekend stroll, or taking your time from Sidney to Sooke, the trail is there for you to enjoy and protect. Remember, dogs must be on a leash on all regional trails.
Originally built during World War I as a freight railway, the Galloping Goose is part of The Trans Canada Trail, which connects trails across the country.
Explore the best of the capital region, from urban streets to farmland and rugged wilderness, all within a day's trip from Victoria. You’ll pass by a quiet cove, a hidden lake, rocky outcrops, marshes, canyons, skunk cabbage swamps, tall Douglas-fir forests, Garry oak and arbutus forests, rural farmland, and waterways.
There are multiple access points to the Galloping Goose Trail throughout the Greater Victoria Area,(Saanich, Esquimalt, Victoria, View Royal) the North Shore, (Langford, Colwood, Metchosin) and Sooke.
For access here in Sooke:
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Sooke River Road Parking Lot: A parking lot is available at the Sooke River Road, which is a good access point for those wishing to explore Sooke Potholes Regional Park and the Spring Salmon Place Campground, as the trail leads directly to these locations.
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Sooke Connector: The recently completed Sooke Connector, which connects the Galloping Goose Trail to the existing multi-use network in Sooke, allows safe access to the town center. You can park at 2249 Sooke River Road (at the soccer fields) and take a short walk to the trail.
Points of Interest
Sheringham Point Lighthouse
Shirley
17 km from Basecamp
located in Shirley, British Columbia, the Lighthouse is owned, operated and cared for by the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society, a non-profit charity based in Shirley. The Lighthouse Site is open every day for the public to visit, enjoy and appreciate.
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About 18.3 km past downtown Sooke (18 minutes) turn left on to Sheringham Point Road (just past the fire hall, at Shirley Delicious Cafe);
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Follow the signs on Sheringham Point Road for 1.7 km to the Lighthouse Parking Lot;
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Take the trail from the parking lot to the Lighthouse Site gate (about 120 m).
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Caution: Be sure to use Sheringham Point Road to access the parking lot. DO NOT FOLLOW GOOGLE’S ON-LINE (VERBAL) DIRECTIONS TO THE LIGHTHOUSE, AS THEY DO NOT TAKE YOU TO THE PARKING AREA.
Jennie’s Trail connects the Lighthouse parking lot to the Lighthouse site, through the site and to the Lighthouse. It is approximately 500 metres. Easy going down, a bit strenuous (all uphill) coming back up.