This is one of my 12 Vancouver Island bucket list hikes for 2019. Checkout the full list here.
Fast Facts
Access:Â 3030 Humpback Road near Langford
Distance:Â Â 14.18 kilometres
Difficulty:Â Moderate -- wide gravel path, with steep sections
Highlights:Â Goldstream River suspension bridge, Waugh Creek Falls (in the rainy season)
Slow Facts
We had the privilege of joining Tourism Vancouver Island and The City of Langford at a Great Trail Instameet for the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail. These Instameets are an initiative put on by the Great Trail to educate Canadians, get more people outside and bring us all together on the trail.Â
What I learned from this event is that the Great Trail stretches 24,000-kilometres, through 15,000 communities across Canada. This makes it the longest multi-use recreational trail in the world. It makes sense that it would hold that title, considering how massive our country is, and yet when I heard that stat, I was still surprised.Â
The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is a 14.18-kilometre section of this incredible pathway. It links Langford with the Cowichan Valley and beyond. Although the terrain is gravel and path is quite broad, it’s still marked as a moderately difficult trail because of steep sections with a 16% grade. Features include the Waugh Creek Falls (best viewed in the rainy season) and the Goldstream River suspension bridge.Â
It’s an easily accessible trail that dives right into the forest. You can be in downtown Langford and get into the woods in less than 15-minutes. I think that is the gift of the Great Trail, it makes the wilderness something everyone can experience. This trail is well marked and wide, so even if you know nothing about the outdoors (as long as you check the weather, stay on the path, are aware of wildlife and your own physical abilities), you can easily experience nature. Â
Other Vancouver Island Hikes