Nugget Park

Nugget Park is in the Mill Hill neighborhood of Langford, B.C. There are post boxes at the base of the park with landscaped split-cedar fencing, grass and street trees. The exposed granite and metamorphic rocks are topped with arbutus trees and small Douglas fir trees. This steep park lies on one tenth of a hectare and has enticement for free climbing with its rocky slopes. Of course this is prohibited. The view from the top of the park, access from Goldstone Heights, is of the peaks in the Sea to Sea Regional Park Reserve and Mount Wells Regional Park which lie to the west. Ruby Court Park, Mill Hill Regional Park, Crystalview Elementary School Green Space, Crystalview Park, Edwards Park, Tanzanita Park and the Galloping Goose Trail are nearby.

 

Geographic location N48° 27’6” W123°28’32”

 

Nugget Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway also called Hwy1. Turn at Millstream Road and turn south onto Veterans Memorial Parkway. Turn left onto Hoffman Avenue then right onto Winster Road and left onto Atkin Road. At the four way stop, make a soft turn onto Silverstone Way and continue up the hill past the school yard to the junction of Nugget Terrace with Ruby Court. Turn left to continue a short distance up the hill along Ruby Court. The park is behind the post boxes which are on the right side of the road. City busses travel along Atkins Road.

Crystalview Elementary School Green Space

Crystalview Elementary School Green Space is in the Mill Hill neighborhood of Langford, B.C. Surrounded by Douglas fir and Garry oak forests, this two hectare green space is formed by a sport field, play areas and a playground. The grass field is a flat outdoor space in this rather steep sloped neighborhood and is a great place to toss a Frisbee or kick a ball around. The playground is set on wood chips with a slide, monkey bars and climbing apparatus. The play areas are asphalt with white paint outline hopscotch and four corner games. This property is part of the Sooke School District 62 and has limited access during school hours. The green space borders on Mill Hill Regional Park and Millpond Park. Ruby Court Park, Mill Hill Regional Park, Crystalview Park, Nugget Park, Tanzanita Park and the Galloping Goose Trail are nearby.

Geographic location N48° 27’11” W123°28’40”

Crystalview Elementary School Green Space can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway also called Hwy1. Turn at Millstream Road and turn south onto Veterans Memorial Parkway. Turn left onto Hoffman Avenue then right onto Winster Road and left onto Atkin Road. At the four way stop, make a soft turn onto Silverstone Way and continue up the hill to find the yellow gates and sign for the school grounds at 2662. There is limited parking near the school during school hours. City buses travel along Atkins Road.

Millpond Park

Millpond Park is in the Mill Hill neighborhood of Langford, B.C. This park borders on Mill Hill Park and Crystalview Elementary School Green Space. A second growth Douglas fir and

garry oak forest lies on the southeastern side of the hill at about one hundred and fifty meters above sea level. A small ephemeral pond is found in the park. A gravel footpath in Millpond Park connects to the school grounds and Mill Hill’s Auburn Trail. Crystalview Park, Nugget Park, Tanzanita Park, Galloping Goose Trail and Selica Park are nearby.

Geographic location N48° 27’9” W123°28’43”

Millpond Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway also called Hwy1. Turn at Millstream Road and turn south onto Veterans Memorial Parkway. Turn left onto Hoffman Avenue then right onto Winster Road and left onto Atkin Road. At the junction of Atkin Road with Millwoods Court turn left to head up the hill. Take the left side to continue on Millwood Court and look for the park and trail between homes 2667 and 2671. This park can also be accessed from Crystalview Elementary School Green Space. City buses travel along Atkins Road.

Mill Hill Regional Park

Mill Hill stands two hundred and two meters above sea level and has most of its parkland in City of Langford, B.C. Part of the park also lies within the Town of View Royal, B.C. This park is about seventy one hectares in size and encompasses a second growth forest of Douglas fir, arbutus and Garry oak trees. The terrain is mostly rocky and steep although Mill Stream flows through the southwestern edge of the park where its narrow flood plain lies. The Capital Regional District for British Columbia has administration over this parkland which hosts several buildings, used as headquarters, within a chain-linked fence area. There is limited access to this part of the park. The main parking area and trails are in Langford, B.C., where the formal trails, Auburn Trail and Calypso Trail, to the top of the hill skirt the south and western slopes. The Auburn Trail is the most direct route up to the summit and is about two thousand meters long. The gravel trail is wide and has several switchback sections though rocky Garry oak meadows. The meadows contain wildflowers that bloom in the spring. A minor trail, The Mill Pond Trail, is found a short distance along the Auburn Trail. This trail leads to the right and heads downward   toward a small pond and the playground at Crystalview elementary school (with separate write-ups). The Auburn Trails also passes through groves of arbutus trees near a rough rocky area just before the summit. You may notice that some rocks show signs of glacial striations. As this pathway was the original road to the fire watch tower keep an eye out for small paved sections. Near the summit the trail branches to the left and right. The left branch leads to the cairn and concrete foot posts of the fire tower while the right branch leads to a bench with a wooden platform that overlooks Esquimalt Harbour, Portage Inlet and the communities to the south. On a clear day Mount Baker in Washington State, USA, can be seen to the east and the Olympic Mountains to the south across the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Salish Sea. Flowers that are found in this park include the common camas, white fawn lilies, tiger lilies and calypso orchids.

There are benches, a privy and picnic tables found near the parking lot.

The Calypso Trail has three sections. A lower section, accessed from the parking lot, includes a route on the floodplain of Mill Stream while the upper section provides an alternative route down from the summit. This trail also continues down the northeast side of the hill with a trail access near Thetis Lake, which can be read about here (include link to page). The east side of the park is bordered by Edwards Park and several large private properties.

Geographical location N48° 27’ 10” W123° 28’ 55” parking lot; consult the CRD website for a map of the trails and facilities in the park

Mill Hill Regional Park can be accessed from the Trans Canada Highway, Hwy1. Exit onto the Island Highway and turn right onto Six Mile Road. Turn left onto Atkins Road and continue along to reach the park entrance on the right. There is a large gravel parking area near the park building’s chainlink fence. City buses travel along Atkins Road.

There are many articles and papers written about Mill Hill Regional Park.

Mill Stream South Park

Mill Stream South Park is in the Mill Hill neighborhood of Langford, B.C. Douglas fir trees, western red cedar, sword ferns, deer ferns, mosses and lichens form the second growth forest found in this nature park. The park is part of the riparian area of Mill Stream in Langford, B.C. Mill Stream, or Millstream Creek as it is often called, is the main waterway in a watershed that starts in the Gowlland Tod range of the Highlands and includes seven lakes and numerous ponds. There is about five kilometers of Mill Stream that lie within the City of Langford. Mill Hill Regional Park and Leggett Park are across Atkins Road. Savory Elementary School Green Space, Crystalview Park, Mill Pond Park and Crystalview Elementary School Green Space are near by

Geographic location N48° 27’2” W123° 28’ 54”

Leggett Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway also called Hwy1. Turn at Veteran Memorial Parkway/Millstream Road and turn south. Continue along the parkway to turn left onto Hoffman Avenue. Follow Hoffman Avenue to Winster Road and onto Atkin Road. The park is on the right near the driveway into Mill Hill Regional Park. This is limited parking on Atkin Road and limited access to this parkland.

Cornerstone Park

Cornerstone Park is located in the Mill Hill neighborhood of Langford, B.C. This small park has playground with a low black chain link fence, several benches and concrete area for beginner bicycle riders. The playground, set on a wood chip base, has bars, ramps, slides and swings. This is a wonderful place to enjoy an afternoon. The park is landscaped with rock, grass and a few trees. Hoffman Green Space is beside the park. Mill Hill Regional Park, Selwyn Falls Green Space and Selwyn Fall Park are nearby.

Geographic location N48° 27’ 1” W123° 29’ 21”

Cornerstone Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway also called Hwy1. Turn at Veteran Memorial Parkway/Millstream Road and turn south. Continue along the parkway to turn left onto Hoffman Avenue. Follow Hoffman Avenue to the junction with Cornerstone Terrace. The park is located near the junction of the two roads. There is limited parking on Cornerstone Terrace or Hoffman Avenue.

Hoffman Green Space

Hoffman Green Space Park is located in the Mill Hill neighborhood of Langford, B.C. This small green space has a thirty meter long gravel footpath that connects the east and west ends of Hoffman Avenue. It borders on Cornerstone Park. Scotch broom plants and some grasses are part of this green space. Several well placed large rocks prevent vehicles from driving through the area. There is a yellow gate on the west side while the east side the green space has a couple of steel posts. Cornerstone Park, Mill Hill Regional Park, Savory Elementary School Green Space, Leggett Park and Millstream Creek South Park are nearby.

Geographic location N48° 27’1” W123° 29’ 21”

Hoffman Green Space can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway also called Hwy1. Turn at Veteran Memorial Parkway/Millstream Road and turn south. Continue along the parkway to turn left onto Hoffman Avenue. Follow Hoffman Avenue to the end of the road where the trail is found. There is limited parking along Hoffman Avenue.

Selwyn Falls Park

This post is updated here.

Selwyn Falls Park

Selwyn Green Space

This post is updated here.

http://walksinyourbackyard.com/2019/07/06/selwyn-green-space-2

Leckfield Park

Leckfield Park is in the Mill Hill neighborhood of Langford, B.C. A serpentine hundred meter long gravel foot pathway leads up the slope from Leckfield Avenue to Rainville Road. The pathway is shaded by arbutus trees and several Douglas fir trees in this quiet neighborhood. Mill Hill Regional, Cedarvale, Jeannine and Selwyn Falls parks are nearby as are several green spaces.

Geographic location N48° 27’19” W123° 29’ 16”

Leckfield Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway also called Hwy1. Turn at Veteran Memorial Parkway/Millstream Road and turn south. Take the first left onto Strandlund Avenue and continue left onto the avenue. Follow the roadway then turn right onto Selwyn Road. Take the first right past Mill Hill Road to turn onto Leckfield Avenue. The park is between houses 525 and 511. There is roadside parking along this street. City buses travel along Selwyn Road.