Sooke to Jordan River, Canada: Planning Your Way to an Unforgettable Experience
When to Visit
Whether it is a day trip or a weekend away, one of my favourite spots to visit is Sooke. In less than an hour, we can be on the beach hunting for treasure. Our family typically heads out to Sooke for some combination of hiking, beachcombing, and visiting our favourite food spots.
Weather
The weather is always a little cooler in Sooke than in Victoria. Check before you go and bring layers even in the summer.
Getting There
The Municipality of Sooke is located on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island about 40km from Victoria. Although close to Greater Victoria, Sooke is accessible by a single road and can be a bit tricky to reach. From Victoria, by car, it takes about 45 minutes and by bus just over an hour.
Location, Location, Location
Types of Accommodations
There is something for everyone in and around Sooke. From high-end cottages overlooking the ocean, to hotels, vacation rentals, glamping and camping. Here are a few favourites that we’ve tried:
- French Beach Campground, which has a beautiful beach and great facilities
- Mystic Beach Backcountry Camping along the Juan de Fuca Trail
- About a 2km hike from the parking lot at China Beach, Mystic Beach has pit toilets, tent platforms and lock boxes for your food.
- Cloud 9 Glamping in Shirley
- After getting to experience my first glamping in Haida Gwaii, my daughter decided we all had to do it, so I set about trying to see what I could find on Vancouver Island. I stumbled across the website for Cloud 9 and booked it to surprise the family. The grandparents joined us and the six of us rented both cabins, the Cedar and the Hemlock. The hosts were so welcoming, we enjoyed the outdoor kitchen, roasted marshmallows over a fire and were spoiled with a hot tub and infrared sauna. The beautiful wood cabins were tiny -just big enough to sleep. It felt like they were built right into the forest under the stars. Our hosts brought homemade baking and beverages to our deck each morning for breakfast and we set about exploring some recommended local spots. Such a great alternative to camping (much less packing required) and very reasonable.
- The Cedar House: Everett and Aletheia Suites
- We celebrated our anniversary in the Aletheia Suite and it was beautiful, amazing views, gardens, room and host, we truly didn’t want to leave. They have bikes you can borrow if you want to check out the regional bike trail, use of a BBQ, and so many extras -jet tub, double-sided fireplace, a breakfast nook stocked with goodies.
- Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina
- We rented a 3-bedroom cottage with a kitchen during spring break a couple of years ago and found we were able to explore so much more than on our usual day trips. The resort had an outdoor hot tub and a pretty view of the water and marina.
- Point No Point
- Although we haven’t visited recently, we spent many a weekend away at the cabins at Point No Point. It is a great spot to unplug, you can sit in your hot tub on the deck, enjoy a glass of wine and listen to the waves. They have a great restaurant on-site, check the website for seasonal hours.
Getting Around
If you want to explore the nearby beaches and hikes you will need a vehicle as most aren’t served by public transit.
Day Trips
If we only have a day to spend in Sooke we usually pick a beach we want to visit and combine it with a hike and food stop. Get some inspiration in the post on the Top 12 Experiences in Sooke.
If you are looking for a longer adventure, keep going on the Pacific Marine Route and head to Port Renfrew (about 2 hours from Victoria). The drive is stunning with ocean vistas, forests, and beaches. The road is windy and not always in the best repair, snow tires are required in the winter months and there is little to no cell reception-but that’s what makes it an adventure.
