Sooke Potholes Provincial Park

Sooke Potholes Provincial Park is a small provincial park on southern Vancouver Island that protects a stretch of the Sooke River noted for its smooth, rounded rock pools and swimming holes. The site is widely used for day recreation including swimming, picnicking and short walks.

Visitors typically use short trails and day-use areas to reach pools and river access points; the character of the site is recreational rather than wilderness. The river corridor supports riparian vegetation and rocky channel features carved by decades of flowing water.

The area was set aside to protect the distinctive river channel features and to provide managed public access to the Sooke River’s natural swimming venues. Park management focuses on day-use facilities and safety around river hazards.

The potholes are located on the Sooke River west of the town of Sooke on southern Vancouver Island, accessible by road from the Sooke-Victoria corridor.

• Main attraction: The park protects a series of carved-rock pools and riffles on the Sooke River that are accessible from short trails and day-use areas and are popular for swimming in summer.
• Access and use: Car parks and a short network of trails provide the primary access points; the site is intended for day use and swimming rather than overnight camping.

Sooke Potholes is located just upriver from the town of Sooke on Vancouver Island, accessible from Highway 14 (Sooke Road). From downtown Sooke it’s a short drive west; parking is at designated lots off West Coast Road. There is no regular public transit to the main pools; a car or bicycle is the typical way to reach the site.

• Arrive early on hot summer days - the main swimming pools get crowded by late morning.
• There are steep, slippery rocks; water shoes are recommended for entering pools.
• No lifeguard on duty - swim at your own risk. Watch for slippery algae after heavy rains.