Victoria BC parks & trails
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Parks, Trails & "Points of Interest" in and around Victoria,
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

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Parks and trails near Victoria

Beacon Hill Park: A garden park located in downtown Victoria since 1882 near the Inner Harbour. Beacon Hill Park is often the highlight of many naturalist who visit Victoria, BC. The 200+ acres is a well landscaped floral garden with ponds and two lakes. beacon Hill Park is meticulously cared for with groomed walking trails throughout the park crossing over bridges looking out over over lakes and ponds.
[ more information on Beacon Hill Park ]

Elk/Beaver Lake Park: Two lakes attached at the hip. Elk/Beaver Lake Park has a beach, some shaded picnic areas, a wheel chair accessible dock and some 15 km ( 9 miles ) of casual walking, jogging and horse back trails. Kayakers, canoes and fisherman use the lakes regularly. Elk Lake is the home to the Canadian Rowing Team. Ya... go Canada! Elk/Beaver Lake Park is located, just, north of downtown Victoria BC in Saanich off Hwy #1. [ more information about Elk/Beaver Lake Park ... ]

Roche Cove: Roche Cove Regional Park is comprised of 117 hectares of cedar forests, fallen underbrush and marine landscapes. The park's cedar scent from the trees escapes into the air consuming your every breath. The 7 kilometre Roche Cove Trail winds its way along a creek bed attracting small wildlife to the wooded shorelines and many to the skies above. [ more information about Roche Cove ... ]

Galloping Goose Regional Park Trail. Previous a railway route but today the Galloping Goose is Victoria's best commuting trails to see the city of Victoria and many of its parks and municipalities by foot, bike or horseback. The Galloping Goose Trail covers 55 kilometres from Sooke to Sidney, BC. The trail received its name because the route use to be used by a Passenger car transporting people from Sidney to Sooke in the 1920s. The Galloping Goose Trail has many access points between Sooke and Sidney.
[ more information about Galloping Goose Regional Park Trail ... ]

Goldstream Park: A park which is home to the annual Salmon spawning run. Goldstream Park has trails and an Interpretive centre located north of Victoria on the #1 Hwy towards Duncan. At Goldstream Park, past the old wooden bridge and up the road is the trailhead to the Mount Finlayson Trail. The trail leads up to the top of Mt. Finlayson with views of Victoria and Shawnigan Lake. Goldstream Park is located off of Hwy #1 north at 697 Goldstream Avenue, Victoria,BC.
[ more information about Goldstream Park ... ]

Dallas Road: Walk, bike along the paved trail or take a scenic drive along the roads following the shoreline, beaches of Dallas Road which starts in James Bay. In the warm months Dallas Road it is a popular area for kite flying, jogging, biking, sun tanning and wind surfing. During the colder winter months the Dallas Road breakwater starts pounding the shores because of the storms making for great storm watching weather. Dallas Road takes you from Beach Drive to Ross Bay, into the Oak Bay Community. Dallas Road is accessed by many connecting roads. Head for Beacon Hill Park and you are close to the south end of Dallas Road.

Inner Harbour, Downtown Victoria: The hub of activity in Victoria BC. The Inner Harbour is home to some of the most popular attractions in Victoria, BC. The Inner Harbour is also home to our BC Provincial Parliament Buildings. The Inner Harbour in the summer months, turns into an artists and musician exhibition along the bottom walkway on the sea wall and is also the location of the landing point for some of the US bound ferries. The marina at the harbour has often many yachts and sailboats to admire. Just down the road are the unique shops on Government street. The Inner Harbour is located downtown Victoria. Just follow the ocean.

Greater Victoria Parks, recreation, hiking, outdoors

Mount Work Regional Park: One of the largest regional parks at 536 hectares with over 11 kilometres of walking trails leading to the summit of Mount Work overlooking Victoria and Saanich. There are three fresh water lakes, Durrance, Fork and Pease Lake, with some waterfall views in the right season . Durrance Lake is easiest to access and ideal for picnics, swimming and fly fishing. Mount Work Heartland is a separate area for mountain bikers. The Summit Trail of Mount Work travels along the whole park north to south. Mount Work Regional Park is located at Willis Point Road in the Highlands, Victoria, BC.

Bear Hill Park: 114 acres of hiking, jogging and horse back riding trails. Hilltop trails made of some of the oldest geological formations on Vancouver Island, BC. Bear Hill Park has colors galore when the flowers bloom in spring and early summer. Bear Hill Park is located in North Saanich, BC.

Gonzales Hill Regional Park: In the middle of Victoria, BC is the 2 hectare parkland of Gonzales Hill Park established in 1992. The views up on the hilltop of Gonzales Hill span out over Victoria, the Juan de Fuca Strait, The Olympic Mountains and Sooke Hills. It is one of the highest points on the south of Vancouver Island. There are Gerry Oak trees and wildflowers plus the heritage building of the Gonzales Hill Observatory. Located on Dennison Road, off of Beach Drive, Oak Bay, BC.

Mount Douglas Park. Some of the best views of Victoria, Saanich and the US Olympic and Cascade Mountains. The trails are lined with Douglas Fir trees and Cedar Trees as it works it way up to the summit at 227 metres. Some trails are elevation trails while others are level walking beach view trails. The trek is well worth it as the views are 360 degrees. Mount Douglas Park is located off of Royal Oak Drive next door to Haro Strait, Cordova Bay Road or Glendenning Road.

Lone Tree Hil: At the summit of this small park, stand beside a line bonsai-like Douglas fir and view the Malahat, the Highlands, Victoria, and the distant Olympics. Discover rare and beautiful plants nestled in the steep, dry rock faces. For the birders you have Home to Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures riding the winds.

Francis/King Regional Park. 113 hectare park loaded with over 11 kilometres of gentle groomed trails for all ages and abilities. Frances/King Regional trail also has a naturalist information centre onsite with a meeting room. The Francis/King trail system connects to the Thetis Lake trails and park. The Francis/King trail is filled with lush forests and wildflowers. Francis/King Regional Park is located on Munn Road in Saanich, BC. 13 km west of downtown Victoria.

Bear Hill Park: 114 acres of hiking, jogging and horse back riding trails. Hilltop trails made of some of the oldest geological formations on Vancouver Island, BC. Bear Hill Park has colors galore when the flowers bloom in spring and early summer. Bear Hill Park is located in North Saanich, BC.
Colquitz River Park: A Riverside park with gentle sloping river trails following through forests along the Colquitz River in Saanich, BC. Flowers in the spring and plenty of bird wildlife to observe. Colquitz River Park is located in Saanich, BC.
Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse: The mariners lives have been preserved and shipwreck folk lore is still documented at the marine museum called the Fisgard Lighthouse. The Fisgard Lighthouse is the oldest west coast lighthouse built in 1860. The original gun batteries are intact that were used to protect the navy base at one time. A self guided tour with interpretive signs, audio displays and programs. The view at Fisgard Lighthouse is worth the trip by far !
Lochside Regional Trail: Formally another railway line connecting municipalities, the Lochside Trail today is used by naturalist interested in walking, jogging and biking the trail to view its scenery. Explore the countryside on Lochside Regional Trail enjoying ocean views, farmers fields, beaches, and swamplands. The trail is a mix bag of gravel and paved trails with some points having to share the road with vehicles. The trail meanders from Sidney to Saanich with many different access points along the route.
Mill Hill Regional Park: Often shaded trails through 60 hectares of forests following Millstream Creek with an abundance of wildflowers and wildlife in the spring and summer months. Hiking the Mill Hill trail takes you through forests of Douglas Fir, Gerry Oak and Arbutus Trees on your way up to an elevation of 200 metres to some spectacular views of Victoria, BC and Esquimalt Harbour. Mill Hill Park Trails is located on Atkins Avenue in Langford, BC.
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary. Swan Lake is surrounded by 47 hectares of parkland with walking, jogging trails, a floating boardwalk and 2 wharfs. The 11 acres of hilltop park at Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is abundant with beautiful Gerry Oaks. An ideal park for bird watchers and wildflower naturalists. Swan Hill and Christmas Hill Nature Park are located at 3873 Swan Lake Rd., Saanich, BC.
Thetis Lake Regional Park. Here it is... the first official nature sanctuary of Canada established in1958. Thetis Lake Regional Park is a whopping 778 hectares of well groomed 47 km of trails from easy to hard. Explore the distinct swamp and lake natural ecosystems. The Upper and Lower Thetis Lake trails take you around the lake with two hills to explore in Seymour and Scafe Hills which produce views of the lakes and surrounding forests. The sandy beach area is great for swimming, canoes and/or a picnic at the lake. The summer season is busy and populated at Thetis Lake. Thetis lake Regional Park is located at six mile road in View Royal and Langford. The park is visible from the Hwy #1 leaving Victoria to Duncan.
Malahat Look Out Scenic Drive: On this portion of the Hwy #1 drive between Duncan, BC and Victoria, BC ( otherwise known as the Malahat drive) there is a pull over stop behind a huge rock wall at the peak of the mountain. Here, many vehicles stop to take in the beautiful ocean views overlooking Brentwood Bay and all the marine traffic, the community of Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula. It is approximately a 30 minute drive north of Victoria on Hwy #1 (Malahat Hwy).

Parks more than 50km from Victoria

French Beach: A very popular beach for families and locals in the summer time just located outside of Victoria near Port Renfrew, BC. Many families and groups take advantage of the short trail from the parking lot to the beach for an opportunity to go swimming and spend a day in the sun. All year people come to French Beach to watch wildlife change with the seasons. There are often photographers and bird watchers with binoculars hoping to catch a sighting of their favourite marine moment.
[ more information about French Beach ... ]

Sidney Spit Marine Park: Sidney Spit Provincial Park is a marine park with long sandy beaches, a shallow tide with a ton of marine wildlife surviving in their natural habitat supplying hours of wildlife watching enjoyment. Sidney Spit covers 223 hectares of foreshore and 177 hectares of upland landscape. Because the Spit is a marine park it is a popular destination for boaters, kayakers and beach wilderness campers.
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Ruckle Park: Ruckle Provincial Park is one of the rocky shoreline parks of the southern Gulf Islands. A short BC Ferry ride away, Ruckle Park is located on one of the nearby islands. It is an experience for the soul well worth the trip. An opportunity to explore the 480 plus hectare park observing the marine world of the Pacific Ocean. Ruckle Provincial Park spans out over 7 kilometres along the coastline of Salt Spring Island overlooking Swanson Channel. The rocky clefts, the abundance of tidal pools and the echoes of waves crashing the shores is enough to bring a smile to anyone's face.
[ more information about Ruckle Park ... ]