Please contact us if you notice any trail conditions we should be aware of.
Please note that you should always be prepared and compfortable for any outdoor activity.
Difficulty Level
Caveats:
[1] While we try to verify the information presented by actual hiking and observation, we cannot guaranty the accuracy of our information. By using this information you agree to save harmless the JDF Community Trails Society and use this information at your own risk.
[2} The JDF Community Trails Society does not necessarily verify access restrictions, if any, to any trails described. While efforts are made to follow traditional and established trail routes, some trails may involve trespass on private property or other restrictions. Routing information provided by the Society does not imply permission.
This trail is good for hikers and mountain biking.
Access: From Otter Point Road turn up Burr Rd, then left onto Petemar, right onto Blanchard. Parking is available at the top of Blanchard Street.
Difficulty: Level 3 to 4
Time: numerous trails of approximately 3 hours
The views of the whole Sooke Basin and Strait of Juan de Fuca can be seen. The house of Calhoun Grant and John Muir is visible as the Woodside Farm. This is Ground Zero for the Broom infestation. However, despite the name Broom Hill, there are beautiful fir forests including numerous old growth trees on the south facing slope.
This trail is ideal for hikers and equestrians. It is one of the few places where sight lines allow horses to canter in safety.
Access: Otter Point Road accross from Farmer Road, with parking on the side of the road. This trail is also accessed from from Kemp Lake Road.
Difficulty level 1- 1.5 hours.
Time: 1 to 2hours.
Important Notes: please ensure water levels on King Creek are passable before crossing.
This trail is for hikers.
Access: This trail is accessed from the Pike Road trail head in East Sooke Park.
Difficulty: Level 2
Time: 1.5 hours
This is a loop trail. Proceed down the main trail to Iron Mine Bay. This is an easy section suitable for nearly everyone. The forests are remarkable and are an excellent showcase of our West Coast Rain Forest. To continue the loop proceed along the coast trail at Iron Mine Bay for about 100 meters until the sign for the Mt. Maguire Trail is reached. Follow the Mt. Maguire trail uphill and inland and continue the loop in accordance with the trail description. The beginning of the Mt. Maguire trail is quite steep but only for a little while.
Priest Cabin to Matterhorn
Trail Description
Distance: 9 Km
Elevation Change: 460M
Difficulty level: 3 out of 5
A few issues ago we described the route to the Matterhorn from Eagle Light Store on Tieulie Place However current logging operations have obscured the Eastern segment of the trail below the power line leading to the General Store. The Matterhorn can still be reached from Juan de Fuca Rd
This is a moderately difficult level 3 hike. The trail head is at the end of Juan de Fuca Rd (N48 23 52.7, W123 58 10.4; elevation 65M). The map shows a clockwise direction ending at Tieulie Pl at Eagle Light General Store. It is best to budget approximately 5 hours and be prepared for a 460 meter climb, although in stages. Wear good boots and dress for the weather.
The trail from Juan de Fuca Rd to the Priest Cabin turn off is quite steep following an eroding gravel road. After the first climb you will reach a relatively flat part. There is a road cutting in from the right. Do not turn here but continue straight. There are two tracks coming in from the left, stay right following the main track. Eventually it turns sharply uphill to the left. The footing here is precarious as the road bed is washed out and it is all rocks. The elevation change is about 120 Meters over a relatively short distance of 1.1 km. Good views of the Straits of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains characterize this leg. The Priest Cabin turn off is a washed out road to the right about 50 meters after the hairpin turn. One can take a side trip into Priest Cabin Community Park. The trail is currently quite visible; it takes off at 90 degrees into the tree line. The trail is short but the woods show considerable blow down. The highlight of this Juan De Fuca Electoral Area park is the magnificent view of the Olympic Mountains and the entire Strait of Juan de Fuca. The park takes its name from the remains of a log cabin which was once the summer retreat of a priest.
The Matterhorn Trail continues on the gravel road past the Priest Cabin turn off to a gate and enters into second growth fir, hemlock and cedar forest. Through some quirk of wind & weather these woods show little evidence of blow down The trail follows an old logging for 700 meters reaching the power line at elevation 270M. Cross the power line corridor and the next section is severely washed out, very rocky trail proceeding uphill in a North Easterly direction. It levels out and soon (at 2.6 Km, elevation 320M) you can hear the rush of Jacob’s Creek and glimpse the creek at the bottom of an impressive canyon. The woods open out as you come to a junction. Take the overgrown trail to the right and follow this in an Easterly direction for about 1.0.Km. it is relatively flat old logging road, skirting a wetland. On June 2009 some work was done clipping the brush, your clipping would help. This section comes to a Tee at a well defined, old logging road. Turn right at the logging road and proceed downhill for about 120 M.
At Milestone 106; N48 24 44.4, W123 56 47.9; elevation 345m), the Matterhorn Trail comes off this road via a sharp hairpin turn to the left. It is now a single track forest trail proceeding north western for a while and then reverting to an easterly direction. This part is the “Enchanted Forest” and consists mostly of planted second growth fir. The trail winds and dips but soon imposes an increasingly steep ascent. At elevation 420 meters the trail flattens somewhat and proceeds to the Matterhorn turn off at milestone 105 (N48 24 48.4, W123 55 33.4, elevation 467M). The Matterhorn turn off is flagged. Turn right off the main trail and proceed about 153 meters to the Matterhorn promontory (N48 24 44.1 W123 55 31.0, elevation 492 M). The reward is a spectacular view from Race Rocks to Cape Flattery. Spend some time here.
Until logging is complete and the trail is reestablished, it is recommended you return the way you came.
This trail is for hikers.
Access: The trailhead is at a parking lot, on Highway 14, approximately 6.4 km past French Beach Provincial Park, and just past the Sandcut Creek bridge. Coordinates are: [48:25.05N; 124:01.00W].
Difficulty: Level 2
Time: Round trip 45 minutes to an hour.
The trail itself is a short walk through a pleasant, mostly spruce and cedar forest. The last stretch is steep, leading to a beautiful cobble beach. There is something here for everyone including a waterfall where Sandcut Creek drops to the beach.
Access: The trail is accessed from the
Difficulty: Level 3 to 4
Time: Round trip is approximately 5 hours
Set aside approximately 5 hours for this trip and be in reasonable shape as it is quite a climb. In the warmer months, bring you bathing suit and swim among the red, white and pink water lilies that populate the lake.