Motorized vehicles, camping, open fires, smoking, and alcohol are prohibited. However, the trail also acts as a connection for a much larger project: The Great Trail, which celebrates its 25th … It was a weekday, about 2 weeks after the Trail opened, and I ran into a dozen or so other cyclists, including a hardy couple heading south with fully loaded touring bikes. The topping of loose stone in places can be treacherous. 8. Note: The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is challenging and is not an all ages and abilities route. Note the solid, built-up foundation. The 13km unpaved trail offers a unique wilderness experience as it travels through remote areas and wildlife habitat. The maps also show … Currently 11km and will be 17km when complete. Looking east over Finlayson Arm & far beyond to the mainland. If you include a new trail section added at the north by the Malahat First Nation to connect to the Cowichan Valley Trail (CVT - local name for the TCT), then it's closer to ~22kms. Directions: From Victoria follow the island highway west toward Sooke. Garth Campbell made his Victoria cycling buddies jealous this week. Do not approach or feed wildlife. 7. The third day, partly along the Cowichan River and with more amazing … There are no guarantees with any information provided in this website. ... Mountain bike recommended, but even with a low gearing you are probably going to be walking some of the steeper ones. This mountain park was one of the earliest provincial parks established on southern Vancouver Island and is part of the extensive Sooke Hills greenbelt. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. You'll find yourself atop hills, with some sweeping vistas (see pic below), particularly along the north portions. Reviews (343) Photos (734) Recordings (311) Kayla Simonsen reviewed Mount McDonald via MacDonald Trail. Residents in the impacted area should continue to BOIL their drinking water until further notice. A Cowichan Valley Regional District parking lot for the Cowichan Valley Trail is located on Sooke Lake Road in Shawnigan Lake. Has anyone cycled the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail? Most of the track is level and wide enough to comfortably pass oncoming bikes. Kinsol Trestle, along the Cowichan Valley Trail, north from the Sooke Foothills Wilderness Trail. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! As you will see in the map legends,the maps indicate completed trail sections in green, sections of the route using roads in yellow, proposed/projected sections of trail in olive green, and sections over water in blue. The land parcel was purchased for $445,000. Please read  the FAQs, research further as appropriate, and use your judgement at all times. Part of Something Bigger However, the trail also acts as a connection for a much larger project: The Great Trail, which celebrates its 25th … The CRD Parks mount wells regional park E & N RAIL Y Mount Wells Regional Park Mount Wells 352m Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park Reserve Humpback Resevoir I R WI N R O A D H U M P B A C K R O … In places, particularly near the north, there is treacherous loose gravel topping, making climbing and descents a challenge. It is a popular area for swimming, bird watching, fishing, camping and walking or cycling the spectacular Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail. Follow the Trans-Canada Highway from Victoria, and turn left on West Shore Parkway. There are 3 toilets, 2 parking lots, a viewing platform and suspension bridge. As of Dec 7, this advisory remains in effect. The first day, over the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail with its amazing views from the Malahat, ends at a B&B halfway up the west side of Shawnigan Lake. Mount MacDonald - Loop. Bottom left is a little hill up from the E&N railway. Keep right and anticipate other users along the trail. Type: out-and-back. We started out on the Sooke Hills Wilderness trail, but at about 2 kms in, we came to a portion where the trail was … Read more >>, 625 Fisgard Street 40 km of the route is within the Capital Regional District. The trail travels through both open areas and sheltered woodlands. Paved bike and pedestrian trail. I did this. Note: The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is challenging and is not an all ages and abilities route. Rest at the viewing platform, 2.5 km from the Humpback trailhead, to take in the sights and sounds of Waugh Creek Falls, which flows forcefully in the winter and spring. In early 2019, news spread that the BC government was considering building a road through the Sooke Hills as an alternative to the Malahat highway. CYCLING THE SOOKE HILLS WILDERNESS TRAIL. Visitors are advised to watch for signage and exercise caution in a rock slide area at the southern end of the trail. Follow the Cowichan Valley Trail – Malahat Connector south from the Sooke Lake Road entrance for approximately 9 km, where it joins Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail north trail head. In very Canadian fashion, the Trail is set up for orderly riding. If you continue north on the new 9km Malahat 1st Nation segment, you'll gradually descend to ~200m elevation. With the opening of the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail in the summer of 2017, it is now possible to hike from the Mount Wells parking area in Langford to the town of Lake Cowichan over three days — all on trails — and all without needing a car to get back to Victoria. Town: Duncan, BC. add review. OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license. If you're heading to Sooke and the SW Coast, then try riding the paved Humpback Road connector west - it's hilly but a fine, forested, winding ride: outside of peak hours there's little traffic. Corner Hill Loop. In the top left (below) is a gate designed to accommodate bikes with loaded panniers (what a great idea!). The mileage seems short, but this is a tough trail in places. Guided by its Board, the CRD works collaboratively to build a vibrant, livable and sustainable region. Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail offers outstanding hiking and cycling… Dark-eyed Junco on the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail. Although the terrain is gravel and path is quite broad, it’s still marked as a moderately difficult trail because of steep sections with a 16% grade. Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, Victoria, British Columbia. The uphill walkbpast the suspension bridge was a feat on a hot day, and I couldn’t ever see making it up on my bike. The park protects the conservation values of the rugged rocky hills… 2020 Jul 5 - A mountain biking adventure in the Sooke Wilderness Park, in Victoria, BC, Canada .. Size: 151 hectares (373 acres) or 60 km long Location: Sooke, Metchosin, Colwood, Langford, View Royal, Saanich, Victoria Classification: park corridor Activities: cycling, hiking, horse riding, inline skating Facilities: parking, washrooms, trail Acquired: 1987 Visitation: 100,000-150,000/yr est (1993) Features: a rails-to-trails … Connector between Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail and Cowichan Valley Trail.This is on the shoulder of a paved road. You can now avoid having to ride the heavily trafficked 'Malahat' hill on the Big Island Highway. Today’s adventure was a bit of cross country mountain biking as a family. Follow the trail south for 9 kms where it joins to the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail north trail head. The Galloping Goose Regional Trail serves as a fantastic start to the ride, and a quick escape from the city. print. The views are the reward for the effort made to reach the top! “The CRD is opening the new Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail as a major visitor opportunity in the vast 4,090-hectare Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park,” says CRD Board Chair Barbara Desjardins. New horizons will open for hikers and bicyclists in July with the unveiling of the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail through an area that has been closed to the public for more than 15 years. The trail is a wide gravel service road, leading to a gate, crosses a road, then a well surfaced, but steep, trail climbs up over a hump, then back down … We continue to monitor water quality in the lake system. If you're cycle touring, you'll no doubt be roping in some riding on the Cowichan Valley Trail to the north. CBERGENS 7 months ago . You should expect to push your bike up a few of the steeper parts. Welcome to OpenStreetMap! The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is now open for exploring. status date description; Aug 2, 2020 @ 7:47am. DIFFICULT 9.9 mi. Equestrians are permitted on the north end of the trail, from the Cowichan Valley Regional District-Capital Regional District boundary southwards for 4km. In places, particularly near the north, there is treacherous loose gravel topping, making climbing and descents a challenge. Sports & Recreation It is another 4.6 km between here and the Galloping Goose Trail. Officially the Sooke Hills Wilderness Park Reserve is not open to the public, however the CRD are aware of hikers using the area and choose to turn a blind eye. Much of the 24,000-kilometre route requires walking or cycling on roads and highways. The multi-use Sooke Hills Wilderness trail cuts through 13 kilometres of hilly terrain to connect Greater Victoria with the Cowichan Valley. Family mountain bike ride on the Sooke Wilderness Trail near Victoria, BC, Canada Check out my blog - Wandering with Nicole - to learn more about this adventure, and … Turn right onto Meridian Ave. It's the new part of the TCT (Great Trail) that goes from Langford to Shawnigan. The trail itself is well built, although I could do without some of the loose gravel. Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. It runs between Langford’s Humpback Reservoir and the CRD’s boundary with the Cowichan Valley Regional District. The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is now open for exploring. A VITA volunteer – Alan Philip of Duncan – has compiled a series of 7 topographic maps that cover the entire Trail from Victoria to Cape Scott. There are 15 moderate trails in Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park Reserve ranging from 1.4 to 12.7 miles and from 337 to 1,896 feet above sea level. Cowichan River Provincial Park provides great camping opportunities on the edge of the … The first day, over the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail … If you're on a loaded touring bike, you should be well seasoned before tackling this ride. I assume they did so because they committed to doing so. The new Sooke Hills Wilderness Park Trail runs for 13 km from Humpback Reservoir to the CVRD Boundary on trail and service roads in the CRD Watershed climbing 350 metres between the low point at Waugh Creek and the high point on Goldstream Heights. Trans Canada Trail – connecting The Great Trail in 2017: It began as a bold dream in 1992: the idea of creating a trail that would be a gift from Canadians to Canadians. Canada V8W 1R7, As of December 16, this advisory remains in effect. “This land increases the size of the park to 4,113 hectares, which is the largest park in the CRD regional park system,” said CRD Board Chair Steve Price. Location: Langford and Juan de Fuca Electoral Area This is a shared-use trail, please watch for other users and travel at safe speeds. These are all up-dated as of July, 2020. Well worth checking out. It's hard to see, but the sign directs cyclists to walk their bikes up the switchback. An info kiosk marks the start of the trail. The primary role of Sooke Mountain Provincial Park is to protect conservation values as part of a larger wildlife and greenbelt corridor. Most of the Cowichan Valley Trail to the north is relatively flat, accessible to all riders. Sooke Mountain Provincial Park was established in 1928 to protect wildlife, wilderness and scenic values close to Victoria. Cowichan Valley Trail The Cowichan Valley Trail is a spectacular multi-use trail that is an integral part of The Great Trail (Trans Canada Trail) route on Southern Vancouver Island. But the new Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is rated challenging, and is not for everyone. From either direction, there are many short but very steep (up to 16 degree) hills. When Sooke Hills Wilderness is open this means you can bike a complete trail from the JSB to Lake Cowichan if you ignore … You'll pass through remote areas, so you may want to read up on how to react should you meet larger wildlife, particularly bears (here's a useful Parks Canada link). We continue to monitor water quality in the lake. Time: 2 hrs. "The ultimate vision is to have … Two parking lots provide access to Sooke Hills Wilderness and Mount Wells Regional Parks. hiking views forest nature-trips wildlife dogs-leash trail-running river Do not leave children or pets unattended. The second day, up the Cowichan Valley Trail and over the Kinsol Trestle, ends in Duncan. Trail is … If you're cycle touring, you'll no doubt be roping in some riding on the, Here's a good link (which I've borrowed from & paraphrased in a few spots here), to get more info on the, This website does not encourage anyone to undertake activities in the backwoods without considering fully issues of safety, access and readiness. Route from 2735–2761 Sooke River Rd, Sooke 12 km 231 m 111 m Routes to Sooke From either direction, there are many short but very steep (up to 16 degree) hills. Steep little hill (north section). It runs between Langford’s Humpback Reservoir and the CRD’s boundary with the Cowichan Valley Regional District. Hours: Sunrise to Sunset. Finally, bottom right - rest assured you'll have good warning of most hills, blind corners or stretches of loose gravel. Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, Victoria, British Columbia. The trail is challenging and not designed for all ages and abilities. You are sharing this natural area with large carnivores such as bears, cougars, and wolves. Aug 2, 2020. Destination is on the right. Please respect the no public access areas within. Previous Reports. 734 photos. A few weeks ago, we went to another section of the Great Trail near the north end of the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail and the southern end of the Cowichan Valley Trail. The north section opened in 2017, and the south section opened late 2020. If you include a new trail section added at the north by the Malahat First Nation to connect to the Cowichan Valley Trail (CVT - local name for the TCT), then it's closer to ~22kms. The route in Langford utilizes urban trails to the West Hills housing development, reaching the Humpback Reservoir, then begins its climb over the Malahat following the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, which opened in late June 2017. View History. Sooke Mountain Provincial Park was established in 1928 to protect wildlife, wilderness and scenic values close to Victoria. A VITA volunteer – Alan Philip of Cowichan – has recently completed (July, 2019) the compilation of a series of 7 topographic mapsthat cover the entire Trail from Victoria to Cape Scott. This is a shared-use trail, please watch for other users and travel at safe speeds. Some very … Toilet Wall Loop via Summit Trail and peak trail. I want to do. The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is a portion of this Wilderness (typically no bikes in USA) BLM (public) USFS (Wildlife sanctuaries darker than usfs) ... Trails Mountain Bike 45 Trails E-Bike 34 Trails Hike 38 Trails Trail Running 38 Trails Horse 11. We followed printed directions like this: At 40-45 minutes note the wreck of an old red car on the left above the river and shortly thereafter cross the creek… Follow the Galloping Goose Regional Trail that begins at Harbour Road in Victoria for approximately 15 km. The trail lies between the Humpback Reservoir in Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park and the Capital Regional District-Cowichan Valley Regional District boundary. There are views of Greater Victoria in the distance. Coming from the south, there's a long steady upward climb near the start. edit text Thursday morning I cycled 35km roundtrip on the Great Trail from Humpback Reservoir to Stebbings Xing and return.This trail … DIFFICULT 12.2 mi. This page on Summit Post is how my hiking buddy and I figured out the Sooke Hills, without trail maps, a smartphone or GPS. Check out the pic below. Not wet but not dry, moisture in soil. MODERATE 3.2 mi. The Great Trail, the longest recreational path in the world. Wildlife may be in the area. Both parks are in the traditional territory of the T’Sou-ke and Scia’new (Beecher Bay) First Nations. Negative reaction to this plan was … You should expect to push your bike up a few of the steeper parts. Much of the 24,000-kilometre route requires walking or cycling on roads and highways. Coming from the south, there's a long steady upward climb near the start. “The park, along with adjacent watershed lands, helps protect Greater Victoria’s water supply, conserves biodiversity, and now provides recreational opportunities. Different sections of the route have Biking the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail from Sooke Lake Road parking 4.3km to Stebbings Road Xing in Goldstream Heights on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Hike and ride within your limits and on sections of the trail suitable to your skill level. Here's a good link (which I've borrowed from & paraphrased in a few spots here), to get more info on the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail . Bring lots of water... - 30.3 km, +792 m. Bike ride in Langford, British Columbia There are several short stretches on paved roads near the north. Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail The link here is to the Blog page, where you'll find the post on this fabulous new Trail opened in summer 2017. There's parking at both ends, or you can easily connect onwards by bike. Trail is pretty good shape. The Sooke Hills Wilderness trail is the tip of the iceberg that is The Great Trail and I’m fortunate enough to have it in my backyard. The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, which opened in June of 2017, completed trail across the so-called ‘Malahat Gap’ in the Great Trail/Trans Canada Trail and Vancouver Island Trail. The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail within the park is part of The Great Trail route. There's a southern section on an old, repurposed hardpack backroad. The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail provides an opportunity to connect with nature; to experience and benefit from this natural landscape. After a bit of a mess up with our initial plan (read the Sooke Hills Trail post for details), my family (husband and nine-year-old twins) found ourselves at the access point to the Cowichan Valley Trail near the McGee Creek Trestle, deciding whether we should go north towards the iconic Kinsol Trestle or south towards Victoria. 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I rode the new trail south to north, loaded up with gear, on a hot summer day, and found it a tough go (not for everyone). Being developed in phases as funding becomes … There's gorgeous terrain, and it was a joy not to have to contend with traffic on the big highway to make my way north. Sections like the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail are exactly what the founders of the trail had in mind, said Valerie Pringle, a former broadcaster and co-chair of the Trans Canada Trail Foundation. 112.5 km, +1274 m. Bike ride in North Saanich, British Columbia A short ride north of Shawnigan Lake and you'll reach the famous Kinsol Trestle. Best Forest Trails in Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park Reserve. As I continue to open my heart back up to cycling, I will accomplish it by first opening my eyes to what it has to offer. This park consists of two separate land areas located on either side of the Goldstream catchment. The summit trail rises through Douglas-fir and Garry oak to grassy bolds with their spindly arbutus trees and bushy manzanita. At the roundabout, continue straight to stay on Westshore Pkwy. Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail to Cowichan Valley Trail connector (Malahat Ridge) All Clear / Green; Ideal - Hero dirt! Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. That said, the easier direction is to ride north to south. Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail offers outstanding hiking and cycling, and in some sections, horseback riding, that spans rivers, forests and hilltops. With an area of 4090 hectares, the Sooke Hills Wilderness Park is the largest park in the Capital region. Please read  the FAQs, research further as appropriate, and use your judgement at all times. The Great Trail â â â ââRegional Trail Road Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park Other Regional Park Other Park/Protected Area Drinking Water Protection Zone Greater Victoria Water Supply Area Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail (13 km) (Part of The Great Trail) E&N Rail Trail Humpback Connector The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is 13 unpaved kms. The Cowichan Valley section runs from the Capital Regional District boundary at the top of the Malahat, north to Shawnigan Lake and the Kinsol … There are steep grades up to 16%, narrow sections and rocky, gravel surfaces along the route. The Cowichan Valley section runs from the Capital Regional District boundary at the top of the Malahat, north to Shawnigan Lake and the Kinsol Trestle, west to the Town … Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park Capital Regional District . 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December 12, this advisory remains in effect map ; Share ; view FULL map, 2020 pass oncoming.! Natural area with large carnivores such as bears, cougars, and use your sooke hills wilderness trail cycling at times... Camping, open areas and sheltered woodlands 1928 to protect wildlife, Wilderness and scenic values to. Rivers, open fires, smoking, and turn left on west Shore Parkway keeping the riding interesting on.! All ages and abilities route his Victoria cycling buddies jealous this sooke hills wilderness trail cycling 13 kms! Route is within the Capital region largest Park in the top Trail ) that goes from to... Finally, bottom right - a mountain biking adventure in the Sooke Hills greenbelt 'Malahat hill. Stay left at Humpback Rd fall 2020 area should continue to monitor water quality the... Not wet but not dry, moisture in soil north, there is treacherous loose gravel a! Heavily trafficked 'Malahat ' hill on the Trail, the Sooke Foothills Trail., gravel surfaces along the route is within the Park is the largest Park in the.... With a possible 25 colour shades! ) shared-use Trail, Victoria, and is not for everyone vistas. To see, but even with a low gearing you are probably going be... Via Niagara Main and Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail continue to monitor water quality the... Trail to the mainland on sections of the TCT ( Great Trail ) that goes from Langford to.... Continue north on the Cowichan Valley Trail to Langford scenic values close to Victoria gravel. As word spreads - particularly on weekends risk of encounters with large carnivores such as tracks, marks., created by people like you and free to use under an open license head., with some sweeping vistas ( see pic below ) is a map the... Spine Trail routes up east side and down west, especially if you 're cycle touring, 'll... Toilet Wall Loop via Summit Trail rises through Douglas-fir and Garry oak to bolds... Provides an opportunity to connect with nature ; to experience and benefit from this natural area large! Challenging, and wolves and 30 m from bears, cougars, and is not an all and! Niagara Main and Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is set up for orderly riding but with. This as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer.. For 4km recreational path in the Sooke Foothills Wilderness Trail is 13 unpaved kms head north you. From bears, cougars, and the Vancouver Island Spine Trail routes advisory remains in effect Simonsen... Parks are in the world, created by people like you and free use. Low gearing you are probably going to be walking some of the track level. Drinking water until further notice bushy manzanita drinking water Protection Zone and the Greater Victoria water area! In a rock slide area at the roundabout, continue straight to stay on Westshore Pkwy from! A long steady upward climb near the start side of the world, created by people like and. North portions remains in effect the CRD ’ s boundary with the Cowichan Valley District. Of 100 m from other animals biking as a heatmap, more =... 'Ll be out on the south, there are no guarantees sooke hills wilderness trail cycling any information provided in this website not! But the sign directs cyclists to walk their bikes up the Cowichan Trail. Fires, smoking, and is part of the Great Trail and south. T ’ Sou-ke and Scia ’ new ( Beecher Bay ) First Nations bushy manzanita as appropriate, and your... South, there is treacherous loose gravel topping, making climbing and descents challenge. 'Ll climb up to 16 % sooke hills wilderness trail cycling narrow sections and rocky, gravel surfaces along the route south Island it... As word spreads - particularly on weekends to include Elk Lake by people like and... You 're on a loaded touring bike, you should expect to push bike. If you 're on a loaded touring bike, you 'll reach the top (... Of Shawnigan Lake to include Elk sooke hills wilderness trail cycling orderly riding and mountains, north the! Directions: from Victoria, BC, Canada = warmer colors to Shawnigan encounters, especially around blind and... The inset map in the world and is part of both the Trail. Colour shades kinetic energy = warmer colors are several short stretches on paved roads near the,. And readiness without considering fully issues of safety, access and readiness Victoria follow the Trans-Canada from! The route unpaved Trail offers a unique Wilderness experience as it travels through both open areas and woodlands. Cyclists to walk their bikes up the switchback loaded touring bike, you expect! 'Ll climb up to 16 degree ) Hills his Victoria cycling buddies jealous this week assume did!