Sheilds Lake via Sooke Mountain

A hike to Sheilds Lake (not a typo) in the Sooke Hills, via West Rampart and Sooke Mountain.

This is a 6+ hour hike, distance will be about 16km. Pace will be moderate. We will have breaks on Sooke Mountain, at Sheilds Lake, and as requested. Sheilds Lake is a good swimming lake if the weather cooperates. The section around West Rampart is a maze of real and abandoned flagged routes, and some bushwhacking is probable.

Please note: This is a hike in a hilly forest environment, partially on flagged routes. There will be uneven, rocky, gravelly, slippery, and steep sections. Balancing on logs over creek crossings, and/or class 2-3 scrambling may be required.

What to bring: Hiking boots, hiking poles, water (2 liter minimum), snacks, sunscreen, layered clothing, a raincoat. Please bring the 10 essentials if you have them. Feel free to bring a weighted backpack if you are training for overnight hikes, we will accommodate your pace.

Where: We will meet at the parking lot by the water treatment plant on Sooke River road, by the Juan De Fuca Salmon hatchery. There is a parking area for hikers right after turning off Sooke River Rd, please don't park further in at the Salmon center.

Yearly membership for VOC is $25 per year. You can pay by e-transfer to victoriaoutdoorclub@gmail.com or in person. *Drop in fee is $2.
*Anyone who hasn't already needs to read and sign the club waiver once in 2025. I will have copies on hand at the event! (We are still doing paper waivers as there is a complex system to set up safe storage of online waivers).
*IF you are not able to come, reservations close at noon the day of the hike - if you can't come, please take your name off the list so someone else can. If you are on the waitlist, it's a good idea to check if you've been added before you leave work/home for the hike! (The system adds people last minute). It is unlikely we will ever get 20 people on a hike, but I've set this limit as we do get last-minute cancellations.
*Please make sure you have your meetup profile set up with our club before attending an event. We use the meetup profiles to keep track of who has signed their waiver for 2025.