Make the most of Victoria in the great outdoors and wander along some of the many trails and scenic walks. Check out the 6 best walks in Greater Victoria below.
Map of Best Walks
The following map shows the locations of the best walks in Victoria BC.
1. Mount Douglas
Mount Douglas or “Mount Doug” is a local favorite and consists of 188ha of urban forest and 21km of trails. Tucked into the far corner of Gordon Head you can access the extensive trail system from multiple entrances, each trail marked with a difficulty rating system from easy (green) to difficult (black). Keep it easy with a loop around the base or tackle the summit – 2250m of elevation.
It takes an average of 30 minutes to summit from the main parking lot off Cedar Hill Road. If you’re not feeling up to the hike but still want the views there is a paved road leading to the top. Gates are open from 12pm-10pm most days.
2. Dallas Road & Ogden Point
Dallas Road is a A 7.1km trail along the ocean with expansive views south to Port Angeles and Mt Olympus. There is beach access fronting most of the walk and dog friendly areas towards the east end. A recent upgrade with a 3m wide paved biking path makes this walk a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
This is an easy, relatively flat walk for all to enjoy and great for people watching with ample parking. On a windy day the east end is a hot spot of water sports, catching the kite surfers, wind surfers, and paragliders.
3. Cedar Hill Park
Looping around the Cedar Hill Golf Course is the Cedar Hill Recreation trail. With approximately 3.5km of safe and well maintained trail consisting mostly of bark mulch it is good for all skill levels.
There is a parking lot and public toilets near the south end at the Cedar Hill Rec Center. The trails are well marked and moderately trafficked with runners, walkers and dogs on leashes.
4. Swan Lake & Christmas Hill Trail
Located in Saanich, Swan Lake is an easy accessible 2.6km loop trail and nature sanctuary good for all skill levels. Since it is a nature sanctuary there are no dogs allowed. There are several access points with parking at each plus lot of bird watching!
Head to their website to view their volunteer opportunities.
5. Beacon Hill Park Loop
Approximately 1km from downtown Victoria, Beacon Hill Park boasts 740,000 sq.m of parkland. The loop is a dog friendly, easy 4.3km with only 40m of elevation gain.
Check out the gardens, playgrounds, outdoor entertainment areas, petting zoo and wildlife including peacocks!
6. Songhees Walkway
Also known as the West Bay Walkway, this mostly paved 4.8km walk offers a pleasant view of the Victoria Inner Harbour over to West Bay in Esquimalt. If you are visiting and staying downtown you can start at the Johnson Street bridge and follow the walkway along the water. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and sea otters!
If you’re looking for a quick bite or a beer Spinnakers Brew Pub and Boom + Batten are on the way and both are worth a visit. Bathrooms are available at the Esquimalt end.
