Humpback Sooke Flowline Green Space – Sooke is in the seaside community of Sooke, one of thirteen communities that form the Capital Regional District of British Columbia. This green space accessible from the Sooke Mountain Park Road in the Saseenos neighborhood of Sooke, B.C.
The green space is a thirty meter wide right of way with a trail along the top of the one and half meter diameter pipe. Built to supply water for the growing City of Victoria in the early nineteen hundreds, the flowline has historical importance to the region. The water pipe, which was forty four kilometers long, was disconnected in nineteen seventy and now makes for a fun yet precarious walk of about thirty eight kilometers in the community of Sooke. If you are in Metchosin or Langford, I’ve written about those sections separately. The section of the trail lies within the borders of Sooke from the margin of Metchosin near Connie Road to near Leechtown. This is a wilderness hiking trail that provides a unusual walk in your back yard.
The water pipe was used to transport water from the Sooke Reservoir to help create the balancing Humpback Reservoir in nineteen fifteen. Sections of this green space are enclosed within the Greater Victoria Water Area, Sea to Sea Regional Park, Allman Park, Sooke Potholes Park and Sooke Hills Park Reserve. Much of the pipe line is moss covered and becoming part landscape of the Douglas fir and arbutus trees. On both sections of the flowline, tread with care and caution. Private property surrounds most of the flowline.
The section of the trail from Glinz Lake Road to Leechtown is about thirty eight kilometers and can be broken into smaller segments. Glinz Lake Road to Harbourview Road is a straightforward and well-trodden segment to hike and passes close to many private properties. It is about four kilometers with a couple of ravines to cross. These trestles cross small ravines and creeks that are part of the Allman Creek Watershed. The flowline passes though the Sea to Sea Park and along the edge of Allman Park. Power lines cross overhead at one point and there is small gravel pit that is seen close by.
From Harbourview to Charters Creek the flowline passes through the Sea to Sea Mountain Bike Park and several private properties. There are several large Douglas fir trees, arbutus tree groves, moss meadows and viewpoints along this section. The ravines that are crossed are now in the Sooke River watershed. Charters Creek is near the disinfection facility along Sooke River Road. There is a small parking area for the Galloping Goose Trail about a kilometer downhill from the creek. Uphill is the Sooke Potholes Provincial Park with a small parking area.
From Charters Creek to Leechtown the flow line pipe is slightly more exposed to the sun although there are still large ferns and shrubs along the trail. This segments has a couple of well-trodden sections and lies close to the Galloping Goose Trail. This section is easily accessed from the parking lot for upper Sooke River.
Geographical location N48º 24’ 52” W123º 39’ 56” from Harbourview Road
Humpback Sooke Flowline Green Space can be reached from the Trans-Canada Highway. Take the Langford Parkway exit and follow along to reach Sooke Road (Hwy 14). Follow Sooke Road and as the road descends around the Sooke Basin turn right onto Harbourview Road. Continue along the narrow road to the parking lot for the Sea to Sea Park. Find the large map sign at the east end of the parking area. Walk up the Sooke Mountain Trail about a kilometer to reach the flowline. This green space is about a forty minute drive from Victoria. There is a city bus stop on Sooke Road near Harbourview Road. It might be useful to coordinate with other hikes, if you are planning to walk to the end of the flow line in either direction. A second vehicle could be placed along Glinz Road or near Charters Creek along Sooke River Road.
Walks in Your Backyard 