Matheson Lake Regional Park

Matheson Lake Regional Park is partly within the District of Metchosin, a coastal community in the Capital Regional District of British Columbia.  Matheson Lake Regional Park is 1620 square km area that became a Capital Regional District park in 1993 when it was acquired from the province of British Columbia.  The lake is surrounded by trails with some excellent views over the lake and surrounding areas.  The Galloping Goose Trail –Metchosin passes by the lake shore on its north side; there is access to the parking lot and toilet facilities near the eastern end of the lake.

Matheson Lake Park is bordered by Roche Cove Regional Park on the west border and there is a pathway that follows the course of Wildwood Creek to the ocean. Wildwood Creek forms in the wetlands of the surrounding hills and enters Matheson Lake on its eastern end. Wildwood watershed covers about seven hundred and sixty nine hectares. with about three percent of the watershed covered by impervious surfaces.

The parkland is composed of young trees as most harvestable trees were removed in the early nineteen hundreds. That said, there are several large old trees to admire for their tenacity and resilience. Hemlock, cedar, Douglas fir compose more of the main slopes of the lake shore while big leaf maples and cottonwood fill in the new growth. The lake is a pleasant paddling destination for those seeking a serene, cloistered environment. There is a small island in the land to circumnavigate. It’s a short walk from the parking area to the beach, where hand-carried boats may be launched. Launch your canoe, kayak or paddle board to explore the small indentations and island that characterize the lake. The park has wonderful excellent swimming areas and hiking trails.

A trail from the park leads rough southward up to Caines Way. This is a very steep slope route that ascends about one hundred meters along its three kilometer course. This route connects through Roche Cove Regional Park and eventually leads to Mount Matheson. With an elevation of 267 meters, Mount Matheson is located outside the perimeter of Metchosin in the community of East Sooke.

Trails along the north side of the park connect with the Galloping Goose Trail from Metchosin and include La Bonne Trail, La Bonne-Matheson Lake Trail, Wayne’s Rock Trail, Wildwood Creek Trail, Bob Mountain Park.

Geographical location N48º 21’ 37” W123º 35’ 40”

Matheson Lake Regional Park can be reached from Highway 1 when you exit at the Millstream /Veteran Memorial Parkway exit. Head south along the Veteran Memorial Parkway to reach Latoria Road. Turn right onto Latoria Road and continue along to reach Happy Valley Road. Turn left onto Happy Valley Road then right onto Rocky Point Road. Matheson Lake Road will be on the right just past the sign that indicate a parking area for the Galloping Goose Trail – Metchosin.

Price Road Green Space

The Town of View Royal, BC, has some unique waterfront beach accesses with views of forested areas, watery reefs and the Olympic Mountains of Washington State in the distance. This is one of those amazing places although the view changes considerable depending on the tide. Price Bay is a shallow bay that forms a shallow estuary for Millstream Creek. The bay is part of Esquimalt Harbour. The pathway includes two sets of ten concrete staircases that lead from the roadside leads to the muddy beach. The route passes a pump station. It would be possible to launch a kayak, paddle board or personal water craft when the tide is high. A stroll along the beach about fifty meters to the left leads to Price Bay Park. Duckrill Road Green Space and Waters Edge Walkway are nearby.

Geographical location N48° 27’ 30” W123° 27’ 19”

Price Road Green Space can be accessed from the Trans Canada Highway, Hwy1. Exit onto the Island Highway and stay to the left to merge with traffic going under the freeway and railway overpasses. Turn to the left onto Price Road, the very first left turn. If you miss that one take the next left onto Duckrill Road and double back. The green space is at the end of the road. There is limited roadside parking. City buses travel along the Island Highway.

Portage Park

Enjoy a stroll through an urban Douglas fir and Garry oak forest to see the inspiring views of Richards Island, Fisgard Lighthouse and the distant Olympic Mountains in Washington State in Portage Regional Park, View Royal, B.C. This park lies along the north shore of Esquimalt Harbour and is along the portage route between the harbour and the Gorge Waterway. The portage route encompasses several roadways although the distance is about six hundred meters from shore to shore. This six point two hectare community park is bordered by residential homes and businesses on its east and west sides while the northern perimeter is formed by the Island Highway. Thetis Cove beach and Esquimalt Harbour are on the south side.

 

The CRD Rail Trail lies beside the VIA rail tracks and divides the park into an eastern and western portion. The western side of park is larger and has the majority of the trails as well as the playground and beach. The pedestrian pathways form about two kilometers of trails through the Douglas fir, Garry oak and woodland shrub forest. Enjoy the thimbleberry, blackberry and snowberry bushes as well as salal, ferns and mosses. Many bird species use this parkland as well including great blue heron, turkey vultures, common ravens, northwest crows and northern flickers. This makes it a popular place for local birders as well as dog walkers, hikers and those who enjoy a stroll in the urban forest. Richards Island is part of the parkland and is accessible by private vessels, like kayak, paddleboards or canoes. There are shallow rocky reefs around this island that has small Garry oak and Douglas fir trees. Thetis Cove has an average depth of about a meter with the deepest water along the western side of the cove near Dyke Point.

 

The partial paved and gravel trail to the beach starts near the town hall building and is about one hundred and seventy meters. The washrooms are also near here. There is a flight of about twelve steps down to the dirt and wood chip trail which branches south to the Thetis Cove beach and east toward the Rail Trail. The beach trail crosses over an ephemeral stream during its one hundred meter length. Thetis Cove beach is a mud flat beach area and is best accessed at higher tides. The eastern woodland trail also has some with steep stairs that makes wheelchair access difficult although the Rail Trail can be used with relative ease. A fire hydrant in the forest marks the junction of the trail which branches to the beach and to the Island Highway. There are benches and picnic tables in several locations in the parkland.   A shell midden was revealed by a seasonal storm several years ago. A sign marks this location where the organic debris may depict over five thousand years of periodic usage by humans. Thetis Cove beach, at low tide, is a mud flat with a few small areas of fine sand. A secondary access directly to the mud beach is from Thetis Cove Green Space using a steep fifty meter long trail. This green space is found along View Royal Road between homes 101 and 95.

 

Geographical location N48° 27’ 06” W123° 26’ 1”

 

Portage Regional Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway also called Hwy 1. Turn south onto Admirals Road at the McKenzie Avenue-Admirals Road junction. Continue along Admirals Road across the bridge over the Gorge Waterway. Turn right onto the Island Highway and pass under the railway bridge and take the next left onto View Royal Avenue. The Four-Mile Pub and Restaurant is located at this intersection. The main entrance and parking area for this park is on the west near the View Royal Town Office on View Royal Avenue. Additional routes in the park are from along the Island Highway and from the CRD Rail Trail. The eastern side is accessible from Glentana Street near Ethos Place, Falstaff Place, Aldersmith Place and Hallowell Road. City buses travel along the Island Highway and View Royal Avenue.

 

Several documents have been produced for the Town of View Royal about this park and provide a worthwhile read.

Helmcken Centennial Park

Helmcken Park is known as the ball park for fastball and home to the View Royal Fastball teams. This is community athletic park as well as a wonderful family and toddler friendly park in View Royal, B.C. Helmcken Centennial Park has three fenced fastball diamonds, a basketball or multi-purpose court and a tennis court in its two and half hectares. There is also a batting cage and storage shed. The park borders on an indentation of Portage Inlet which is a migratory bird and wildlife area. This tidal area also has a ephemeral creek that drains from the surrounding area. Signage near the White Pine pathway describes the colonial activities on Portage Inlet and the Gorge Water front. This would be an okay site to launch a paddle board, kayak or canoe at high tide as the wetland area can be wide.  The playground has slides, swings, a long tube and climbing apparatus on a gravel base for children of all ages. This is good place for parkour. There is a seasonal concession, a meeting room and toilets in a building that is maintained by the ball team. Native plants along the shore of Portage Inlet include snow berries and rose plants as well as several different grasses to help maintain the integrity of the tidal wetlands. White Pine Road Green Space has a footpath into the park from Werra Road. The green spaces at Stillwater Road, Seabird Place, Thomas Park Drive, Polly Place, Crane Place and Tidewater Road are nearby.

 

Geographical location N48° 27’ 42” W123° 25’ 48”

 

Helmcken Centennial Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway Hwy1. Exit off Hwy1 onto the Helmcken Road and turn south. Victoria General Hospital is to the north along Helmcken Road. At the traffic circle, exit east toward Helmcken Park and Kingham Place. Stay on Kingham Place to reach the small parking lot beside the park. A second parking area is accessed from further along Helmcken Road closer to the buildings. City busses service the Helmcken Park and Ride parking area near Helmcken Road.

St. Giles Easement Green Space

A long narrow grass covered area between two properties forms the green space of St Giles Street in View Royal, B.C. This four hundred square meter area borders along Portage Inlet and provides access to the water. It would be a good site to launch a kayak, paddle board or canoe to explore this wide inlet. There is a bench near the shoreline which is shaded by a large arbutus tree. The east side of the park is bordered by a wooden fence along the property line while the west side has a partial cedar tree hedge and various shrubs along its property line. This is a good place to get outdoors in your backyard.

Geographic location N48° 27’ 44” W123° 25’ 38”

St Giles Easement can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway, Way1. Take exit #8 onto Helmcken Avenue and head south. At the traffic circle continue around to exit near Helmcken Park and the Park and Ride parking lot. Continue onto Kingham Place then take the first left onto St. Giles Street South. The park is in the cul-de-sac turnabout on Chancellor Avenue. The road continues to Portage Inlet Linear Park which is at the end of St. Giles Street South. City buses stop at the Park and Ride near Helmcken Avenue.

 

Russell Street Green Space

This post is updated here.

Russell Street Green Space

Braemar Avenue Beach, North Saanich

This is a wonderful beach to view the sunset from the comfort of your car located. Braemar Avenue Beach is in the Ardmore neighborhood of North Saanich. Ardmore is a Gaelic term meaning to “large headland” which relates to “homes beside the sea” whereas braemar refers to the “upper part looking to the sea.”  Since the road stops within meters of the water this is also a great place to launch a kayak, paddle board or canoe. The curved staircase leads down a dozen or so steps to the lovely shale and sandy beach. This is popular site.

Geographic coordinates  N48° 38′ 2″ W123° 28′ 38″

You can get to Braemar Avenue Beach from Pat Bay Highway.  Leave the highway at Exit 26, the McTavish Interchange, an unique and confusing series of roundabouts that make a multi-circle roadway overpass. Take the third exit onto McTavish Road then take the second exit to stay on McTavish Road. Continue along McTavish Road through the East Saanich Intersection until  you reach West Saanich Road (BC 17A N). Turn right onto West Saanich Road then take the first left onto Ardmore Drive which is also at the golf course. Stay on Ardmore Drive as it curves past the golf course and turns to head northward along the waterfront homes. Braemar Avenue Beach is the second left. There is roadside parking.

Briarwood Place Beach, North Saanich

Briarwood Place Beach faces westward and is a great place to enjoy summertime sunsets. This is also a terrific place to launch a kayak, paddle board and canoe. The broad pathway leads to a short concrete staircase and a ramp to the sand and rock beach. The beach provides good place for swimming in the summer months once the water warms up a little. This beach is just south of Patricia Bay and north of Coles Bay.  While this beach is surrounded by private residential homes of this North Saanich neighborhood, it is quiet and serene.

Geographic coordinates  N48° 38′ 50″ W123° 27′ 39″

Briarwood Place Beach can be reached from Pat Bay Highway.  Leave the highway at Exit 26, the McTavish Interchange, an unique and confusing series of roundabouts that make a multi-circle roadway overpass. Take the third exit onto McTavish Road then take the second exit to stay on McTavish Road. Follow McTavish Road past the East Saanich Intersection and continue until you reach West Saanich Road (BC 17A North) turn right onto West Saanich Road. Follow along this road until you reach Frizell Road. This intersection will be to the left as West Saanich Road curves to the right. Frizell Road is short and curves to become Gleneig Avenue. Turn right onto Glynnwood Park Road as the road curves left. Brairwood Place Beach is the first left. There is limited roadside parking.