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| The start of the hike near Aylard Farm on the south end of the trail. |
Living on Vancouver Island, I’m pretty spoiled when it comes
to hiking. There’s a wide variety of scenic hikes I can do year-round within a
20 to 60-minute drive from my home in Victoria and they all offer something a
little bit different, depending on my mood.
But one of my favourite day hikes on the Island is only a
40-minute drive from Victoria.
Stretching a distance of 10 kilometres, the Coast Trail in
East Sooke Park is challenging even for an experienced hiker and it’s one of
the few hikes I’ve discovered thus far that runs entirely along the ocean — a
delightful treat for a prairie girl.
I’m not a big fan of doing the same hike twice, but this one
continues to impress me with its beauty and solitude. After 10 to 15 minutes on
the trail, there’s usually nobody around, which I always find odd considering
it’s not far from a city packed with outdoorsy people.
You can begin the Coast Trail at either Aylard Farm on the
south end or Pike Road at the north end, which usually has less people and
involves a 20-minute hike through the forest to reach the rugged shoreline.
Aylard Farm, however, plops you almost instantly into the action, starting at a
white sandy beach where I once saw a large seal sunbathing.
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| Ocean views are constant along the Coast Trail. |
The first section from Aylard Farm to the petroglyphs at
Alldridge Point is relatively flat with yellow markers showing where to go and
plenty of tree roots to trip over. Views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains
across the Strait of Juan de Fuca are constant, along with clusters of fishing
boats bobbing in the sparkling blue water.
After Alldridge Point, the trail at times veers away from
the water, taking hikers briefly through the lush forest dotted with arbutus
trees, sitka spruce and a variety of shrubs. But the ocean is always a
stones-throw away; the soothing sound of the waves crashing against the rocky
shoreline in the background as my feet pound the uneven trail.
This is where the trail gets rugged, transforming into a
roller coaster ride of ups and downs across exposed rocks with windswept pines.
Eyes glued to the trail, I’m careful where I place my footing in between the
maze of tree roots that occasionally grabs hold of my feet.
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| Yellow markers guide hikers along the rocky trail. |
It takes about 40 minutes to reach the stunning views on the
bluffs at Beechy Head and that includes several stops to snap photos along the
way. After Beechy Head, the trail becomes even more beautiful and rugged,
placing hikers on jagged cliffs overlooking small coves with clear emerald
green water — the kind of views that make me feel lucky to live here.
At times the rough and winding trail hugs the side of small
cliffs, then plunges into a dark rainforest with moss-covered trees and endless
rows of ferns in a lush ravine. It’s hard to resist discovering what’s around
the next corner.
About 10 minutes from Beechy Head is a lovely open area
along the rocky shoreline that offers sweeping views of the ocean and always
has a refreshingly cool breeze. It’s also where hikers have the option of
taking a 1.9 km trail through the forest back to Aylard Farm or continue
another 2.3 km to Cabin Point, which is basically the halfway point.
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| The bluffs at Beechy Head are seen in the distance. |
On this particular hot summer day, I’m constrained for time
so I find a sunny spot along the water to plop down and read my book before
heading back to the city. My eyes, however, continually scan the water, looking
for any signs of marine life playing in the waves.
Whether you hike the entire trail or just a few hours of it,
the Coast Trail is a fantastic place to unwind from the hectic pace of life and
experience a slice of the rugged West Coast. It’s easy to see why it’s
considered one of the premier day hikes in Canada.