Mosaic Forest Management will open three previously closed gates in the Sooke area to weekend public recreation beginning October 3, a pilot the company will run through the end of December. The gates will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays, allowing cycling, walk-in and licensed highway vehicle access to roughly 42,000 hectares of Mosaic land and 2,000 kilometres of roads north of Sooke. Off-road vehicles, including ATVs and dirt bikes, are permitted only through Sooke and Cowichan Valley ATV clubs, which manage access for their members. Gates may close on short notice for wildfire risk, operations, or other safety or environmental reasons. These are working forests, and the closures keep the public clear of hazards. The pilot follows a 2025 public survey on recreation and access that drew more than 7,600 responses, in which gates and access ranked as the top concern.