Victoria Things To Do

East Sooke Regional Park

The natural setting of 1,436-ha (3,548-ac) East Sooke Regional Park is always spectacular yet endlessly variable. Depending on the path you choose and how far you go, you can encounter rocky bays, pocket beaches, quiet meadows or pristine forests. Wildlife sightings are common - the park is a particularly good place for birding.

There are three starting points in East Sooke Regional Park: Aylard Farm for easy excursions and picnicking, Anderson Cove for hilly hikes and views and Pike Road for longer hikes through forest, meadows and beaches.

East Sooke Regional Park is a one-hour drive west of downtown Victoria via Highway 14.

A word or two on safety:

• The Coast Trail is subject to sea swells - caution should be exercised during inclement weather

> East Sooke Park website.

Witty's Lagoon Regional Park

There are over 5 km (3.1 mi) of trails around Witty's Lagoon. They pass the lagoon, a waterfall, a marsh and thread through forest on the way to a sandy beach. Be sure to visit the Nature Centre before you set off on a trail. Staff can answer your questions, while the interpretive displays bring the lagoon's fascinating natural and cultural history into sharp focus. This regional park is an excellent place for picnicking and birding. Some days, seals can be observed playing or basking in the sun. The best months of the year to visit are March through October.

Witty's Lagoon Regional Park is a 35-minute drive west of downtown Victoria via Highway 1A.
> Witty's Lagoon Park website.

Beacon Hill Park

Beacon Hill Park is Victoria's oldest municipal park. It features paved and cedar-chip walking trails that wind past manicured lawns, picturesque bridges, quiet lakes and ponds as well as themed gardens, which are in full bloom from mid-May through October. Trees in the park include Garry oak, arbutus, Douglas-fir, western red cedar, birch, willow and maple, as well as a number of exotics. At 75 ha (200 ac), this urban park is large enough to support many bird species and other wildlife, so buff up those binocular lenses!

The recreational venues at Beacon Hill Park are many: soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a putting green, a 100-year-old cricket pitch, a petting zoo, spray pools and playgrounds.

Beacon Hill Park is within easy walking distance of downtown Victoria.
> Beacon Hill Park website.

Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park

These two lakes are actually one body of water divided by a shallow, marshy inlet, with Elk Lake to the north and Beaver Lake to the south. The park is a popular spot for water sports, picnics, cycling, hiking and horseback riding. Picnic under the weeping willows at the water's edge or take to the trails in the surrounding Douglas-fir forest. Some of this park's trails are designated multi-use, while others are for hikers only and wonderfully tranquil.

Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park is a 20-minute drive from downtown Victoria via Highway 17.
> Elk/Beaver Lake Park website.

Mount Douglas Park

A lovely year-round destination, 182-ha (449-ac) Mount Douglas Park is at its best during springtime when native wildflowers blanket its hills, meadows and forest floor. A steep, winding road leads 213 m (758 ft) to the summit, where you can enjoy a 360-degree view of Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula and the Malahat. On a clear day, you can enjoy magnificent vistas of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains as well as the Gulf and San Juan Islands. If you prefer not to climb, take a leisurely walk along the sandy beaches of Cordova Bay or lunch at one of the many picnic tables near the playground.

Mount Douglas Park is a 20-minute drive from downtown Victoria.
> Mount Douglas Park website.

Island View Beach Regional Park

Island View Beach Regional Park hugs the eastern shore of the Saanich Peninsula. True to its name, it offers panoramic land and ocean views. Because much of this 41.7-ha (103-ac) park is marshland, it's a prime location for birding. Seabirds and shorebirds, some of them endangered, land at Island View Beach during migration times in the spring and autumn. The park is also a good place for picnicking, swimming or boating.

Explore the park along Circle Walk. Start by taking the beach trail north, then join one of the access trails through the fore-dunes before returning by way of the inland trail.

Island View Beach Regional Park is a 30-minute drive north of downtown Victoria via Highway 17.

A word or two on your excursion:

Watch your step - some seabirds lay their eggs in sand or on rocks
> Island View Beach Park website.

Sidney Spit

Sidney Spit is a popular day trip for Victoria visitors and residents who want to swim, sunbathe, beachcomb or watch marine life. Part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, the spit, at 177 ha (437 ac), comprises the northern third of Sidney Island. It's well equipped for camping and boating, with many well-marked walking trails as well.

Large numbers of shorebirds populate Sidney Island during the spring and fall migrations. Indeed, the largest Blue Heron colony in the southern Gulf Islands resides here.

Downtown Sidney is a 30-minute drive north of downtown Victoria via Highway 17. Boat, kayak or take the seasonal ferry from there to Sidney Spit. The spit is open Mid-May through the end of September.
> Gulf Islands Park website.

Goldstream Provincial Park

Goldstream Provincial Park protects a number of endangered species of flora and fauna. It also plays a major role in conserving the Goldstream River salmon run. A network of nature walks and trails lead past the many delights of this 477-ha (1,179-ac) park, such as 600-year-old western redcedars, gold-mine shafts from the 1800s and salmon spawning streams. The Mount Finlayson Trail, a steep two-to three-hour hike, winds through Douglas-fir forest and arbutus and oak groves before emerging onto views of Juan de Fuca Strait and Victoria.

If you're interested in salmon spawning, visit the park from late October through November. You can view Bald Eagles from mid-November through January (December is the peak month for this). A video camera and telescopes at the Visitor Centre allow for a good view of the action.

Goldstream Provincial Park is a 25-minute drive northwest of downtown Victoria via Highway 1.
> Goldstream Park website.