Surfing, Seals & Sand, Oh My!

Sooke being on an island means that it is surrounded by many beautiful beaches and trails for all types of travellers. What could be better than spending your whole vacation exploring different beaches in the Sooke area?

Aylard Farm Beach has very crisp clear water, a nice sand bar, and is classified as an intermediate hike but the beach is so stunning that it is worth the hike. It also has some petroglyphs that date back thousands of years.

Iron Mine Bay is a short hike that will take you to a secluded beach that has a beautiful little island just off the shore. Depending on the tide you can even walk onto that little island and enjoy a view of the water from a different perspective than the beach.

Goodridge Road is a long stretch of land that has a mixture of sand and driftwood. It is a great place to take the dog for a walk or teach the kids how to skip rocks, depending on your skill level you can watch the rock jump for what seems like miles.

Whiffin Spit Park is a pretty popular peninsula for all ages to enjoy a nice leisurely stroll; it is a dog and stroller friendly park. The best part is that you do not have to get to the end of the trail to enjoy a beautiful view, throughout the trail you are surrounded by water and breath taking viewpoints.

French Beach is a great place to enjoy the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the mighty Olympic Mountains. This is also a great place to go when you want to reconnect with nature and wildlife. You can whale watch from shore! That’s right, just meters away from the shore you may see some local resident killer whales playing along. Grey whales have been known to pass through the area during their migration in the spring and fall. Nothing is cuter than seeing a sea otter try to open up a shell on a rock; this area is home to otters, seals, and sea lions. The eye in the sky also roams around the area with its upcoming prey in mind, so keep a close watch on small pets so the Bald Eagles and Ospreys don’t swoop down and scoop them up in their talons. Remember, the wildlife may be cute and fun to watch but never try to feed or touch wildlife.

 

Ella Beach is quite easy to get to; just a short walk from the parking lot brings you to this long stretch of beach that is surrounded by Douglas firs and Sitka spruce trees.

Muir Creek Beach is covered in driftwood which can be a fun opportunity to build forts with the kids or see what they might imagine up. If you go during low tide you should have a friendly competition to see who can be the first one to spot the Oligicence fossil.

Jordan River is a spot that is known for good surfing so wait your turn if there are a lot of people out there with their boards and surfs up! The shore is a great place to sit back and watch people on their board or strap up and join in.

China Beach is an easy half hour walk from the parking lot. This beach is one that has the best sand in town and is also known for orca and seal spotting.

Mystic Beach is an intermediate hike that takes an hour each way which includes a staircase that was made out of a fallen tree. This is a beautiful place to view the sunset as it sets right on the water.

Sandcut Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches around! This little nook is known to be a bit of a trek from the parking lot to the beach, but well worth it. There is so much beauty jam packed in it. The sun sets on the water and illuminates the waterfalls for a picturesque moment. Keep an eye out for the eyes on the trail… You’ll know what we are talking about when you go on that hike.

There are many great beaches to explore here in Sooke but only one place to stay. Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina is the perfect oceanside getaway! Start planning your vacation today and come explore the many breath taking beaches. Book your stay today!