Sooke Mountain Provincial Park in Sooke BC
Located in the Sooke Mountains, Sooke Mountain Provincial Park is a rugged, undeveloped natural area with no facilities or maintained trails. For the experienced mountain biker and backwoods hiker, this park is an unspoiled wilderness playground.
A short 8 kilometer drive northeast of Sooke, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, the access point to the park is found at the
end of an un-maintained logging road that is an extension of Harbourview Road, off Sooke Road (Highway 14). The road is often closed during the summer due to dry conditions, and is best accessed with a 4x4 vehicle.
Several remote freshwater lakes, connected by a network of old skid trails, are accessible through Sooke Mountain Park and are popular, but lesser-know fly-fishing spots:
Shelids Lake
- The largest of the Sooke Mountain Provincial Park lakes
- Hike-in access only from the Harbourview Road gate
Crabapple Lake
- Crabapple Lake is difficult to find, so good directions and/or an accurate map are essential
- This small, shallow lake boasts excellent fly-fishing for both rainbow and cutthroat trout
- Hike-in access only from the Harbourview Road gate
- Features rustic campsites
Grassie Lake (or Grassy Lake)
- Official park name is Grass Lake
- Hike-in access only from the Harbourview Road gate
- The lake is located 2 km past Crabapple Lake
- Features rustic campsites
Peden Lake
- Named for Victorian Olympian Torchy Peden
- Occasionally considered a part of Sooke Mountain Park because there is no vehicle access from Sooke Potholes Regional Park, though the lake is much closer to the potholes
At various times, several of the lakes have been stocked and yield excellent rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. A fishing license is required to fish at these lakes.
