6 amazing hikes in Victoria

Victoria has many urban attractions, but some of its greatest assets lie in the city's fringes, surrounding mountains, coastline and forests.

This quick access to the outdoors is why I moved here years ago. Today, it enthusiastically guides visitors to its many spectacular hiking trails that lead to pristine rainforests, rocky coves, secluded beaches and towering mountains.

Not long range. It takes about 20 minutes from the city to the wilderness. You can have breakfast on the patio overlooking the Inner Harbour, picnic his lunch on a mountaintop overlooking the fjord, and enjoy a cup of tea on your way back to town.

Whether you've visited downtown Victoria or it's your first time, consider his six treks below.

The hikes listed are easy to do on your own. If you prefer a professional tour guide, Rainforest Tours offers private or small tours to popular hiking destinations. We do group tours. Many downtown hotels offer picnic lunches to add a gourmet touch to your outing. The same goes for local eateries such as Picnic Too, . Roast Sandwich Shop, Red Barn Market or Luxury For Epi Organic bakery.

Gold Mine Trail (19 km from Downtown)

This hike in Goldstream Provincial Park is one of his most popular hikes in Victoria. And in the fall, there's the Salmon Run, which brings in bald eagles.

The parking lot is on the other side of Highway 1, so head into the tunnel and safely cross the road (do not try to cross the highway itself) until you reach the rocky river bed where Niagara Falls flows. increase. Please stretch your neck. The waterfall he is 47.5 meters, slightly shorter than the famous eastern waterfall of the same name. Climb up a muddy road parallel to the cascade to reach the summit and an abandoned railroad trestle.

The trestles, part of the decommissioned Esquimalt and Nanaimo railroad, span a dizzying canyon. Some people dare to try, but this is not recommended. The dilapidated trestles located outside the park boundaries are private property and have no railings. You can extend this short hike by walking the

Upper Goldstream Trail to the tiny Goldstream Falls. The approximately 10km round trip passes through old mine shafts, a remnant of the region's brief gold rush in the 1860s.

Goldstream is one of the few parks where fires are allowed, so you can enjoy a picnic around the crackling fire pit.

Mount Finlayson (19 km from downtown)

I like Victoria's steepest hikes. Its worth the training and one of the best viewpoints in town. Climb up to 419 meters in 2 kilometers.

Starts from the same parking lot as the Gold Mine Trail, but heads in the opposite direction. Concrete stairs are an option for a short distance, then a natural staircase of sorts of large gravel, rocks and tree roots. You may pass by a parent with a toddler (and stroller) and turn back in defeat. The access to the Finlayson Trail is steep, slippery and steep and not suitable for small children.

Massive western red cedar and 600-year-old Douglas firs inspire the slopes below, shrouded in darkness. This is pure pristine rainforest. And suddenly it pops out over the treeline onto sunlit rocks. The roads are narrow and sometimes difficult to find, and the scenery is dizzying. Vultures and eagles pass under you. If you don't scramble on all fours, you'll have to go through several sections of rock, and the footing can be dangerous in wet weather.

Feel like you're on top of the world with 270-degree views of the Finlayson Arm, neighboring hills, remote inner harbors, offshore islands and snow-capped islands at the Bold Crown Become. The Olympic Mountains and the white cones of Mount Baker are 130 kilometers apart.

Matheson Lake Regional Park (28 km from downtown)

The family-friendly Matheson Lake Loop is a relatively easy four-kilometer circuit that starts at a sandy beach and end point. Pass by a large magical cave of giant ferns. One of my favorite picnic spots is at the top of the grassy cliffs on the north side of the lake. It's about 3 kilometers clockwise.

Sit in a grassy rock natural lounge chair and enjoy lunch overlooking the sun-drenched lake and the rugged forest walls that surround it.

Joselyn Hill (20 km from downtown)

The ridge trail to the heights of Jocelyn Hill is a marvel, with an aerial view of the 24-kilometer-long Saanich Cove. can do. A fjord on the east coast of Vancouver Island. You'll be standing 438 meters above the water, but the Caleb Road car park and trailhead are already at a high elevation, so getting there isn't much of a challenge.

The only challenge is the final climb to the top of the open ridge, with wide-angle views up and down the fjord.

Black bears and cougars are occasionally seen here, but the trails are popular with hikers and dogs, so large animals tend to avoid them. 

The route is 4 km each way with many ups and downs. It takes about 4 hours, including time to unpack lunch at one of the many vantage points.

East Sooke Coast Trail (33.7 km from Downtown)

The 50-kilometer course is vast and rugged East. It's a walk. It doesn't sound far, but the terrain is very rugged, with frequent undulations over rocks and headlands, and walking the entire length can take him eight hours. A full one-way trip is one of the most beautiful (and rewarding) trips on the island, and he requires two cars, one at each end.

A popular and comfortable alternative is the 6-kilometer round trip from the Eilard Farm car park to Beachy Head. The terrain is less challenging in this section as it passes through sandy beaches and rocky coves. Seals and sea lions are more likely to be spotted near the shore, and if you're lucky you can see killer whales further afield.

At Alldridge Point, stop by the historic Salish petroglyphs. A keen eye is required as it is nearly erased by the elements. Don't be fooled by troll-carved imitations.

Beachy Head itself is a looming rock headland offering breathtaking views above and below the rugged coast. Cologne marks the spot, and the smooth granite rock warmed by the sun is the perfect place to refuel with a snack you've brought with you.

Thetis Lake Regional Park (10.2 km from Downtown)

Some of the most pleasant country walks are within city limits. Tetis Lake Regional Park was established in 1958 as Canada's first nature reserve as a hedge against post-war sprawl. Most popular is his 4.5-kilometer circuit that encircles Lake Tethys, like his two lakes connected by a narrow channel.

Some climb hills. For the best views, start at the sandy beach, go anti-clockwise, then turn right onto the trail that climbs Seymour Hill.

In contrast to the main trails, some of the quirky paths are not well defined and properly labeled. My friend has seen a cougar here. More than one pedestrian has spent the night lost in the park, despite civilization being minutes away by flying ravens.

But it is Victoria. The city and the wilderness are side by side.

If you go

Check out: bcparks. ca; Tourism victoria. com; rainforesttours. ca; crd. bc. ca;