Why hike at a regional park? We read that the Coastal Trail at East Sooke Regional Park on Vancouver Island is one of the best day hikes in Canada. We were skeptical. After all, we’d hiked at many National Parks and never thought trails at a regional park could compare. We were wrong.
Our first day started off with a day hike down to the beach on a stretch of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Exhilarating! The sun, wind, smell of the salt water, waves crashing dissolved our cares.
Our cousin, Susie, lounged on the log while we hunted for rocks, our “souvenirs”, to add to our collection.
After that first day, we only hiked at East Sooke. We walked to Iron Mine Bay and the Pike Point viewpont. We took the Coast Trail and saw a petroglyph on the rocks attributed to the Salish people. Another hike was to Beechey Head. The scenery varied: partly deep forest, some open field, mostly on a high path overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. To hike on such scenic trails always presents us with something new or different to see at every turn in the path.
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I have drawers full of souvenir beach pebbles from this hike, heaven knows what I’m going to do with them all!
We had boxes full from different hikes. Held a GAGA (going away give away) at our apartment and these were a hot item.