Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, Provincial park on Vancouver Island, Canada
Sooke Potholes Provincial Park is a 7.28-hectare provincial park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, bordering the Sooke River. It provides access to a series of water-carved potholes in sandstone, formed about 15,000 years ago after the last ice age. The park has no visitor facilities and is intended for day use.
The potholes were carved about 15,000 years ago after the last ice age, when flowing water eroded the local sandstone; swirling eddies then ground the holes into the rock. The park was established on 8 August 1972, when it measured 6.8 acres (about 2.75 ha), and its boundaries have been redrawn several times since, growing to roughly 7 ha.
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.
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