Since the late 1800s, the uniquely carved series of polished rock pools and tunnels in the bedrock of the Sooke River – known locally as the Sooke Potholes – have been an attraction for local residents.
Although historically the area was once called the Devil’s Potholes, it would seem that the name lost favour when folks acknowledged there was nothing demonic about a relaxing dip in the cool water on a hot summer’s day while surrounded by a breathtakingly beautiful landscape.
And, of course, there’s nothing supernatural about the way the Potholes came into being.
The fascinating geologic formations are, in fact, the result of glacial action some 15,000 years ago when meltwater from receding glaciers left great rocks and boulders behind which, in time, were carried along by rushing water to form the polished “potholes” in the river valley’s sandstone.
Even though the area has long been an attractive destination for locals, its popularity with visitors has grown significantly since an Order in Council established the Sooke Potholes Provincial Park in 1972.
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Today, the park is a popular destination for swimming, picnicking, hiking, fishing, wildlife watching and all manner of other recreational activities. The Capital Regional District and T’Sou-ke First Nation run an adjacent tent and RV campground from May to September, and, for day visitors, there are parking lots, toilets and garbage facilities.
Sooke River is an important coho and chinook salmon spawning river, and opportunities exist for catch-and-release fishing within the park. It’s also a great place to view the annual salmon spawning run. It generally takes place between late September and the end of November, so it tends to fall beyond the swimming season – probably best for humans and salmon alike.
And it’s not only salmon that visitors are likely to encounter. The river is an important wildlife corridor for everything from black bears to elk who may wander by under the park’s old-growth canopy of trees.
Another interesting relic of the past is still visible in the park, prompting many curious speculations from first-time visitors who tend to be surprised at what appear to be the ruins of some ancient building adjacent to the site.
The truth is a wee bit less romantic.
What they’re seeing are the remnants of a failed resort project launched in the 1980s. The Deertrail Resort was to include some 200 guest rooms, a pool, spa, shopping centre, conference facilities, winding stone staircases, a giant wood-burning fireplace and a rustic timber lodge.
The construction began, using loads of natural stone and local timber, but the project ran out of funding and was abandoned. The property was taken over by the park in 2004 and stripped of everything but its stonework, which probably explains the confusion about the ruins’ age. They do look a lot older than they are.
The ruins have been fenced off to prevent injuries to visitors with a propensity for climbing through the old structures.
Still, despite the fact that Sooke Potholes Provincial Park doesn’t actually house ancient ruins of a lost civilization (although it might be fun to pretend that it does), the attraction is unquestionably deserving of a visit. Bring your swimming gear, a blanket and a picnic lunch and lie back in the sunshine.
READ MORE: New Sooke visitor experience coming to one of Canada’s oldest farms
The park is conveniently located 5 km north of West Coast Highway / Highway 14 on Sooke River Road, a few minutes from downtown Sooke.
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