Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, Nature reserve on Vancouver Island, Canada
Sooke Potholes Provincial Park is a nature reserve on Vancouver Island protecting a series of deep rock pools carved along the Sooke River. The pools form a chain of natural basins and channels cut directly into the bedrock, which visitors can walk along on foot.
The rock pools formed around 15,000 years ago when glaciers moved across the land during the last ice age and scoured deep channels into the bedrock. After the ice retreated, the Sooke River took over and continued to shape the stone over thousands of years.
The Sooke River draws local fishers and nature watchers each year when Chinook and Coho salmon return to spawn in its waters. This seasonal event is a familiar part of life for people living in the surrounding communities.
Two parking areas give access to the river and the trails that run through the park. The ground near the water tends to be rocky and slippery, so sturdy footwear with good grip makes a real difference.
Along the riverbanks, rare plants such as Sierra wood fern and streambank lupine grow beside old Douglas fir trees. This mix of uncommon species is rarely found together elsewhere on the island.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
