East Sooke Park- A Coastal Hike

A great place for day hikes near Victoria on Vancouver Island is East Sooke Regional Park.

The view across the water at East Sooke Park 

 About a 45 minute drive from downtown Victoria, this large park has many trails for whatever type of hike you are looking for, rugged or easy, coastal or rainforest, short or long.

An easy entry point with a large parking lot is at Aylard Farm.

Trail down to beach at Alyard Farm

Walk down the path about 5 minutes until you reach the sandy beach.

Flowering Meadows at Alyard Farm

Sun yourself on the beach and check out the hidden coves just over the rocks.

When you are ready, walk along the coastal trail. Make sure you have good shoes as the trail can be a little rugged. I walked as far as Alldridge Point and back to the parking lot, which was about one hour, but you could walk farther as there are many trails and entry points at this park.

Coastal views from the trail 

At Alldridge Point are some ancient petroglyphs carved into the rock. This is a provincial heritage site and shows some of the history of the Coast Salish people in this region.

Petroglyph 

Look for wildlife along your walk and check out the different types of trees along the coast. Many trees tend to be shaped interestingly by the wind and the likely strong storms that can pound the coast. There are also many colourful red arbutus trees.

Arbutus trees abound on the coast 

Once you are ready to turn back, go back along the coast for a bit, and then look for the trail on your left that will lead you back through the forest to the parking lot. This wide trail will take you through a bit of the coastal rain forest filled with lush ferns and salal.

Rainforest trail leads you back

There is lots to explore at East Sooke Park.

Waterfront Stroll in Sidney- Boats and Breezes at All Bay

A short stroll to do on a sunny day is along the waterfront and coves in Sidney, BC starting near All Bay Marina. Park near the marina or near Resthaven Park and walk along Harbour Road to the end of All Bay Road. There are a few water access points and viewpoints with scenic vistas over the ocean.

Then head back towards Resthaven Park where there is a nice pathway to walk along the waterfront.

Check out the view of the boats at All Bay Marina and the other areas. This is a popular spot for boats as it is sheltered in this bay, yet close to a lot of the gulf islands for great sailing.

Walk along the waterfront to the point and back.

Enjoy the nautical atmosphere!

Walking Ogden Point Breakwater- To The Edge and Back

An easy and fun stroll is along the waterfront in Victoria. The breakwater, located along Dallas Road at Ogden Point is a favourite destination.

Ogden Point Breakwater

The breakwater is approximately 800 metres in length and is a great way to enjoy the waterfront. On a clear day you can see across to the Olympic mountains of Washington State, but it is a nice walk even when it's more cloudy too. 

Look for scuba divers on the the side of the walkway, as this area is a favourite dive spot in Victoria.

Keep an eye out for wildlife while walking. Quite often seals can be spotted in the sheltered waters of the breakwater, feeding on fish there. I saw two seals on my walk , a mother and a baby seal.

Seals Are Often Seen On Walk

Enjoy the beauty of the waterfront.

Fall Forest Hike- Tod Inlet

Out for a scenic but easy hike, with lots of fresh air and some water views? I tried the hike to Tod Inlet in Central Saanich. The trail is located off Wallace Drive, near Butchart Gardens and Benvenuto Road.

The trail is wide and easy, with a gentle slope down to the water. It was very peaceful and calm down by the waterfront. The trail roundtrip is about 4 km.

There are some picnic tables and a small dock. It seemed a very popular hike with quite a few people enjoying the trails and the day. Only after I got home, did I see an advisory online about a cougar spotted recently in the area. But that goes with the territory in these areas, it is a forest after all.

The area used to be a cement factory about one hundred years ago, and you can still see signs of its industrial past with some old rusted machinery or remnants of old buildings nestled into the forest. I also saw signs of restorations efforts, with new native plants and trees being planted and invasive brambles being cleared away. It's always nice to see signs of renewal in these beautiful, natural areas.

It was also nice to see some of the fall colours on the trees.

Fall Colours 

I did see a wildlife tree that looked like a woodpecker had been going crazy on it. Lots of little openings for birds and creatures to live in it now. I saw a Stellar Jay bird hanging out on its branches.

Home for Many Birds? 

Lush Moss Curtains Hang From Branches 

Enjoy the walk through the forest.

Alpine Wilderness at Lake Helen McKenzie- Mt Washington

A good walk to do on Vancouver Island is the Lake Helen McKenzie and Battleship Lake Loop in Strathcona Provincial Park. It is approximately 8km long and will take about 2 hours, with not too much elevation change. It's easily accessed by driving up to Mt Washington Resort and then turning left onto Nordic Lodge Road and parking at the end where the Raven Lodge is located. There are numerous maps along the way, so it's easy to follow the trail.

There are lots of boardwalks through the meadow areas. Check out the wildflowers in the summer. On my walk, there were tons of wild blueberries too, very delicious. 

This is a great walk to do with just about anyone, young and old. 

Looking towards Mt Washington Ski Hill

Alpine Meadows

The path leads then through wooded forest towards Lake Helen McKenzie. Stop at the lake for a rest, but watch out for the Gray Jays. The ones here are very aggressive and tried to fly at me while I ate my lunch by the water, trying to grab it out of my hand. Better to eat somewhere else or be prepared to be harassed! Still it's a very beautiful setting. There are even some campgrounds here for tents. 

Lake Helen McKenzie

This is a great hike for a taste of the alpine wilderness on Vancouver Island.