Victoria and Area

An Overview

Victoria Inner Harbour & Empress Hotel - Photo by George Klein.

Start of Trans Canada Highway - Photo by George Klein.

Selkirk Trestle, Gorge Waterway - Photo by George Klein.

Goldstream Provincial Park - Photo by George Klein.

Victoria is the largest city on Vancouver Island and is the capital of British Columbia. The region includes many municipalities that have grown together into an area known as Greater Victoria. Victoria is a popular tourist spot, famous for its "British" character, gardens, and moderate climate.

For years, there has been strong support for cyclists and pedestrians and as a result there is an extensive system of paths, multi-use regional trails, and cycle lanes on city streets. Much of the Trans Canada Trail in the Victoria area follows established regional trails.

Trail Description

This is a brief description of the Trans Canada Trail route in the Victoria area. The description includes references to the markers shown on the map below. An excellent description of the route is contained in the book Trans Canada Trail - the British Columbia Route.

The unofficial start of the Trans Canada Trail is at present "Mile 0" of the Trans Canada Highway [1]. This is located on the Victoria waterfront in Beacon Hill Park. Most of the completed Trans Canada Trail in the Victoria Area follows the Galloping Goose Trail, a regional trail that starts at the west end of the Johnson Street Bridge [2].

There are many ways to get from Mile 0 to the Johnson Street Bridge. The route shown on the map follows Dallas Road, Belleville Street and Government Street to travel along the waterfront to the picturesque inner harbor area where the Parliament Buildings and famous Empress Hotel are located. Continue to Wharf Street and on to the Johnson Street Bridge.

The trail follows an abandon railway line along the shore of the Gorge Waterway to the Selkirk Trestle [3], a railway bridge rebuilt for trail use. The trail travels north to the Switch Bridge [4], a new trail bridge built to cross the busy Trans Canada Highway. At the north end of the Switch Bridge, the trail meets the Lockside Trail [5], another regional trail. The Trans Canada Trail continues west along the Galloping Goose Trail to the Luxton Fair Grounds [6].

From this point to the Sooke Lake Road [10], an interim trail route is shown on the map. Plans are underway to develop a permanent trail route through this section. The interim route from the Luxton Fair Grounds follows Glen Lake Road, Glen Lake Trail beside the Glen Lake School, Leigh Road and Goldstream Avenue to the Trans Canada Highway.

Goldstream Provincial Park [8] is well worth exploring. It offers spectacular scenery with moss covered old growth forest and a salmon spawning river sandwiched between two steep mountains.

At the Shawnigan Lake Road [9], the interim trail leaves the Trans Canada Highway.

The description of the trail route north continues on the Cowichan Valley and Area page.

Trail Map Details

Click HERE for larger version of map.

1. Mile 0: This is the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway, and at present serves as the starting point for the Trans Canada Trail. It is located on the waterfront in Beacon Hill Park.
    
2. Johnson Street Bridge: The Trans Canada Trail follows the Galloping Goose Trail which starts at the west end of the Johnson Street Bridge.
    
3. Selkirk Trestle: A 300 metre long railway trestle bridge has been rebuilt exclusively for trail use. It is a good example of the trail building work in the Victoria area. The Trans Canada Trail pavilion is located at the south end of the trestle.
    
4. Switch Bridge: A new trail bridge constructed to provide a crossing over the Trans Canada Highway. After crossing the bridge, the Trans Canada Trail continues west along the Galloping Goose Trail.
    
5. Lochside Trail: One of the major regional trails in the Victoria area. It connects the BC Ferry terminal at Swartz Bay, the Washington Ferry terminal at Sidney, and the Victoria International Airport to downtown Victoria.
    
6. Luxton Fairgrounds: This is where the Trans Canada Trail leaves the Galloping Goose Trail. From this point to Shawnigan Lake road an interim trail route is shown on the map.
    
7. Galloping Goose Trail: One of the major regional trails in the Victoria area. It follows an abandoned railway line connecting Leechtown, a deserted mining town, to Victoria.
    
8. Goldstream Provincial Park: Spectacular scenery with moss covered old growth forest and a salmon spawning river sandwiched between two steep mountains.
    
9. Shawnigan Lake Road: The interim trail route leaves the Trans Canada Highway.
    

Links to Related Web Sites

• BC Ferries
    http://www.bcferries.com/
• Blackball Transport
    http://www.cohoferry.com/
• Capital Region Parks
    http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/
• Galloping Goose Trail
    http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/galloping_goose.htm
• Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition
    http://www.gvcc.bc.ca/index.htm
• Saanich Bicycle Touring Route
    http://www.saanich.ca/visitor/cycletour.html
• Saanich Centennial Trails
    http://www.saanich.ca/resident/community/centennial/trails.html
• Saanich Trails (General)
    http://www.saanich.ca/resident/parks/trails.html
• Tourism Victoria
    http://www.tourismvictoria.com/
• Victoria Clipper
    http://www.victoriaclipper.com/marketing/homepage.shtml
• Victoria Express
    http://www.victoriaexpress.com
• Washington State Ferries
    http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/