Mount Maguire

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Overview

The hike to Mount Maguire is located in the northern section of East Sooke Park and can be done as a loop that provides scenic viewpoints of the region as well as sweeping coastal views. The route to complete this challenging hike as a loop starts from the Pike Road parking lot and follows the Anderson Cove Trail to Mount Maguire, before taking the Coppermine Trail to the water, following the Coast Trail to Iron Mine Bay, then returning via the Pike Road Trail.

East Sooke Park is a large park with multiple trails and routes to explore. The route to Mount Maguire begins from the Pike Road parking lot but the hike to Mount Maguire can also be done from the Anderson Cove parking lot area as well. We recommend that you print out the PDF map of East Sooke Park from the Capital Regional District and take it with you.

From the parking lot area, walk down along the wide Pike Road Trail, following the easy route through the beautiful west coast rainforest. After about 10-minutes, look for a trail on your left that is well marked with a wooden sign pointing to the Anderson Cove Trail and Mount Maguire. Most trail junctions throughout the park are well marked with these wooden signs, making it easier to find your route. Go left and follow the Anderson Cove Trail as it heads uphill into the forest.

Not far along the Anderson Cove Trail, you reach a junction with a trail that takes you to the coast. Go left and continue along the Anderson Cove Trail towards Mount Maguire. The trail continues for quite some distance as you gain elevation and pass between sections with bushes on either side of the trail. The trail will reach points where you hike over smooth rock through a brief clearing but the views will be limited to the scenic forest around you. Eventually, the trail heads down a steep section and dips into a small canyon before climbing up the other side and continuing. Not much further and you reach the junction on your left with the Mount Maguire Trail.

Make sure to watch closely for the Mount Maguire junction as the wooden sign and bridge to the left are sometimes surrounded by overgrown bushes (if you reach a point where the trail widens or a junction with the Coppermine Trail, you've gone too far). Cross the small wooden bridge and begin hiking up the steep hill towards Mount Maguire as the trail makes its way over loose rock. Through a couple of switchbacks and up over a couple of larger rocks and the trail begins to level. Keep going right to the end where there is a wooden bench at a scenic viewpoint that looks out towards the Juan de Fuca Strait over the forest of East Sooke Park.

After enjoying the view at Mount Maguire, hike back down the steep hill, returning to the junction with the Anderson Cove Trail. Go left and continue along the Anderson Cove Trail as it widens and you quickly reach a major intersection of several trails. To continue the loop, take the wide trail furthest to the right called the Coppermine Trail (some signs say Coppermine Road). The Coppermine Trail is wide with a gentle downhill slope to the coast, as it was once used by vehicles to access the resource rich area. With this terrain and depending on your pace, you should pass through this area quite quickly and reach the Coast Trail in 35 - 45 minutes.

Along the Coppermine Trail, there are a couple of points of interest. First, you will pass a swamp area with a few minutes of leaving the trail junctions. The swamp is not that noticeable as the only view you get is looking over some bushes to your right. A little further down the trail is the old iron mine site that was operated from 1863 until the 1970's. Only a sign next to a heap of rock and dirt remain at the site but offer a reminder how the area was once bustling with miners and industry actively searching for minerals within East Sooke Park.

As you continue hiking down the Coppermine Trail, the ecology begins to change as you get closer to the coast, with the forest becoming cooler and the trail being surrounded by ferns. When you reach a junction where a sign points to the Coast Trail via both routes, take the route to the right and continue along the trail (note: there appears to be a small trail that crosses a wooden bridge to the right at this junction. Do not take this trail, it does not appear on any park maps). The trail continues through an area with lots of ferns, rich in west coast style rainforest until you reach another junction. Although you are not quite at the coast, you have reached the Coast Trail.

Go right onto the Coast Trail and walk down the short hill, crossing the wooden bridge at the bottom. The trail then climbs steeply over a short section of rock, where you will need to use your hands to help with balance. Once at the top, the first view of the coast is breathtaking. Continue along the trail where there are plenty of incredible views from high above the rocks looking down along the shores of Juan de Fuca. This section of trail is fairly rugged as you make your way up and down, over several rocky sections that can be slippery. After about 10 - 15 minutes of hiking, the path becomes more defined and a bit easier all the way to Iron Mine Bay.

Just before reaching Iron Mine Bay, you will pass a trail wooden shelter and a trail junction that points to Mount Maguire. Continue along the Coast Trail and at a path on your left, walk down it to the beach area of Iron Mine Bay. The view from the beach is incredible and a popular place for families to walk to as the trail from the parking lot is very easy. You can climb up onto the rocks on the left for a scenic view but don't get stuck on them during high tide.

There is an additional viewpoint that you can hike to by walking up some stairs on the far north side of the beach (the right side when facing the water). Just at the top of the stairs and a short trail, go left onto another trail and this takes you out to Pike Points where there are even more scenic views of Juan de Fuca Strait. Return along the same trail but pass the trail that you came up from the beach. Go right at the next junction and continue to follow the narrow trail through the forest until it eventually crosses a small wooden bridge and meets with the Pike Road Trail. Go left and follow the wide Pike Road Trail, passing the junction you took earlier to the Anderson Cove Trail, and returning to the parking lot.

If you do not wish to hike to the the Pike Point viewpoint, you can simply walk back up the trail you took to the beach and pass the outhouse. Follow the wide Pike Road Trail towards the parking lot as you pass the Viewpoint Trail junction on your left and then the Anderson Cove Trail junction to your right before reaching the trailhead where you began.

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Driving Directions

The Pike Road area of East Sooke Park is located in the northern section of the park. To drive from the downtown Victoria area, make your way to Douglas Street and head northbound as you leave the city and Douglas turns into Highway #1. Take Exit #14: Langford / Sooke and stay in the left lane after you exit following the exit route as it loops around onto Veterans Memorial Parkway heading southbound.

Continue driving for about 3km and turn right onto Sooke Road (Highway 14) heading towards Sooke. Follow Sooke Road for about 13km and watch for signs for East Sooke Park or Gillespie Road. Turn left onto Gillespie Road and follow the windy route until its end where it meets with East Sooke Road. Turn right onto East Sooke Road and drive for about 8km along the narrow, windy route. Turn left onto Pike Road and drive into either the upper or lower gravel parking lot areas.

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Additional Information

Dog-Friendly

Dogs are allowed in East Sooke Park but must be kept under control at all times. From June 1st - September 15th, dogs are only allowed on the beach area at Iron Mine Bay on a leash and can only pass through and not stay. Please ensure to pick up after your dog and remove all excrement from the park.

Toilets

Pit toilets are located at the Pike Road parking lot area near the start of the trail and near Iron Mine Bay. There are no other toilets along the Anderson Trail, Mount Maguire Trail, or Coppermine Trail.

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