March 22, 2025
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating—when there’s too much snow in the mountains, the Sooke Hills offer a fantastic alternative for logging kilometres and racking up elevation gain! With their dense, mossy hills, beautiful glades, and a network of trails ranging from well-maintained paths to forgotten routes, these hills are a playground for adventurous hikers looking to stay conditioned through the shoulder season.
I’ve done this exact route before, but in the opposite direction. This time, we set out from Monument, winding our way past the serene waters of Grass Lake, then climbing to Mary’s Peak before continuing on to Puzzel, Fleetwood, and finally, Empress, where we stopped for lunch. Along the way, the soft carpet of moss underfoot and the towering trees created a sense of solitude, while occasional openings in the forest revealed glimpses of the landscape stretching beyond the hills.
Our lunch stop at Empress was a bit chilly, but with the sun breaking through the clouds, we could feel the promise of warmer days ahead. The cool air kept us moving, and as we descended, we picked up the return route through Screen Hill, Larkspur North and South, before making our final push back to the vehicles.
What I love most about this route is the contrast—it blends well-travelled, well-maintained trails with forgotten paths where nature is slowly reclaiming the land. Covering 21 km with 1,400 metres of elevation gain, it was the perfect way to spend the day, shaking off the winter slowness and gearing up for those long summer hikes ahead!