Region abounds with nature getaways
Summertime arrived right on schedule this year, with temperatures rising and a breeze chasing the clouds away on June 20.
The good weather made for an opportune start to Victoria’s Canada 150 celebrations. Kicking off on Wednesday evening, more than 100 live performances over 11 days can be viewed in the Inner Harbour area. It ends with fireworks next Saturday, July 1. (See schedule details at bit.ly/2rCNmxJ.) It’s busy. It’s exciting. But what if you want to celebrate away from the crush?
The region offers many opportunities to fold yourself quietly into forest byways, oceanside parks and hilltop hideaways — too many to describe or even list here.
However, take inspiration from the four trails described below to plan short nature getaways of your own in the area.
Summer might be here, but that’s no excuse for being irresponsible. Prepare for changing conditions by bringing enough food, water and layers of clothing to keep you going in case you end up spending longer than planned on the trail. Packing a decent map and first-aid kit is always recommended. Be sure, also, to let somebody you trust know where you are headed and when you expect to return.
This groomed trail wanders from Latoria Road, north of the Royal Bay development, south alongside the creek through verdant coastal forest. Although short, it ends not far from the junction of Metchosin and Duke roads, allowing hikers to access the Duke Road trail to Tower Point Park overlooking Juan de Fuca Strait. Picnic tables, toilets and water are available at Tower Point.
You can continue on the residential Olympic View Drive to access the north end of Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park. Trails pass through Douglas fir and cedar forest, along boardwalks over salt marsh, to lookouts over Sitting Lady Falls. Continue along the lagoon to reach the beach picnic area, with its views across to the Olympic Range.
Budget a couple of hours of walking time each way.
Watch widgeons and ring-necked ducks feed near the floating boardwalk, or see eagles hunt gulls over the lake. Swan Lake/Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary provides excellent wetland and forest birding opportunities in the heart of urban Saanich. The lake trail is an easy 2.5 kilometres long, but if you take the corridor trail across McKenzie Avenue and climb to the summit of Christmas Hill, you can extend your walk by another three kilometres and include some of the region’s rare Garry oak meadow.
This is a nature sanctuary, not a park — leave pets at home.
Passing through Douglas fir forest, Garry oak meadows and exposed, rocky slopes, this moderately challenging trail climbs up and down four hills of increasing height alongside Saanich Inlet. Excellent views of the inlet, the Malahat and northward up the Saanich Peninsula reward your efforts. Small trail-loop options exist. However, signage at some junctions has been known to disappear, leading unsuspecting hikers to an additional one-kilometre-return detour down to Millstream Road on the Emma Dickson Trail.
Give yourself three to four hours to hike the 10-kilometre-return route.
Whether you start at the east end, the west end or from one of the midtrail connecting points, the 10-kilometre East Sooke Park Coast Trail winds in and out of varied terrain along Juan de Fuca Strait.
The eastern section, from Aylard’s Farm to Beechey Head, tends to be fairly busy. The western end, from Iron Mine Bay (accessed from Pike Road trailhead) to O’Brien Point, sees fewer hikers. The O’Brien Point–Cabin Point stretch is the least busy and the most rugged.
The trail goes up and down exposed rocky cliffs west of Beechey Head, requiring sure footing, scrambling and tolerance for heights. Ocean breezes keep the heat at bay even at the height of summer.
Combine Coast Trail sections with inland routes to loop back to your trailhead. Due to the challenging, technical footing along parts of the trail, allow one hour hiking time for every three kilometres.