Atkins Chilco Pathway

The Atkins Chilco Pathway is a pedestrian walkway under the Via Rail track in View Royal, B.C. Decorated with eleaborate images, the the nineteen-sixteen tunnel connects Atkins Road with Chilco Road near Thetis Vale Green Space. Chilco Park, Duffus Trail Park, Edwards Park, Robin Hill Park, Thetis Lake Regional Park, Atkins Road Green Space, the Galloping Goose Trail and Mill Hill Regional Park are nearby.

Geographical location N48° 27’ 31” W123° 28’

Atkins Chilco Pathway 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 right onto Six Mile Road then left onto Chilco Road. Look for the first pedestrian crossing on Chilco Road to find this outdoor art deco. City buses travel along Atkins Road.

Kelvin Grove Park, View Royal, B.C.

Kelvin Grove Park is a one hectare forested area along Mill Stream in View Royal, B.C. A sixty meter long trail from Atkins Road leads to a wooden platform that provides view of the ravine for Mill Stream. 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. A visit to Kelvin Grove Park provides views of cedar trees and sword ferns along the slopes of the ravine. The wetlands near the stream have skunk cabbage and other riparian plants. There are no formal trails in this nature park and the viewing platform is along the steepest part of the parkland. Wilfert Park is on the south side of Mill Stream. Duffus Trail Park, the Galloping Goose Trail, Parson’s Access Park, Mill Cove Park, Burchill Park, Mill Hill Regional Park, Thetis Lake Regional Park are nearby.

Geographical location N48° 27’ 10” W123° 28’ 5”

Kelvin Grove Park 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 right onto Six Mile Road and then left onto Atkins Road. The park is on left near Creekside Glen townhomes at 199 Atkins Road. There is limited roadside parking along Atkin Road although city buses travel along this roadway.

Duffus Trail Park

Duffus Trail is along the northwest side of the floodplain of Mill Stream in View Royal, B.C. The gravel and grass trail is also bordered by residential homes and a split-cedar fence. The trail from the road is along a twenty meter long concrete pathway between two homes. Then take the four flights of wooden stairs: two with ten steps and two with fourteen steps to the shoreline and pathway. The three hundred meter long gravel and grass pathway follows the shoreline of muddy tidal estuary area of Mill Stream. 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. A visit to Duffus Trail Park allows you to enjoy views of cedar trees and sword ferns along the southern slopes of the stream. The wetlands near the stream are bordered by several plants like scotch broom and alder trees. Maureen Duffus is an author known for local history of Southern Vancouver Island and raised her family in the area. There are benches along the walkway which makes it a good place to observe local and migratory water birds such as Canada geese, widgeons, gadwell, herons, cormorants, loons, mallards, mergansers and gulls. Burchill Park and Parson’s Access Park is nearby as it is Mill Cove Park and the Galloping Goose Trail.

Geographical location N48° 27’ 18” W123° 27’ 55”

Duffus Trail Park can be accessed from the Trans Canada Highway, Hwy1. Exit onto the Old Island Highway and stay to the left to merge with traffic going under the freeway and railway overpasses. Turn onto Six Mile Road and continue to Atkin Road. Turn left onto Atkin Road then left again onto Anya Lane, marked as a private road. The lane is narrow and winds through the private homes and past the Pollock Farm to reach Anya Court. The park access is between homes 302 and 305. There is limited roadside parking along Anya Court or Anya Lane. City buses travel along the Atkin Road.

Chilco Cheam Green Space

Chilco Cheam Green Space lies on the north side of Chilco Road near Cheam Road in View Royal, B.C. This is a protected area has two rock walls that form terraces beside part of the road. The upland area has arbutus, Garry oak and Douglas fir trees. Salal, ocean spray and Oregon grape plants are found in the understory of this small green space. The area lies to the northeast of Mill Hill Regional Park in the Chilco Neighborhood of View Royal. The Calypso Trail of Mill Hill Regional Park lies to the north of this green space. Edwards Park, Chilco Park, the Galloping Goose Trail, Thetis Lake Park, Nursery Hill Park, Garry Oak Meadows Park and Kelvin Grove Park are nearby.

Geographical location N48° 27’ 30” W123° 28’ 10”

Chilco Cheam Green Space can be accessed from the Trans Canada Highway, Hwy1. Exit onto the Island Highway and turn right onto Six Mile Road. Turn left onto Chilco Road, which is just past the overpass for the Galloping Goose Trail. Although this road continues start turn right on Chilco Road and follow as the road curves around the neighborhood, past Chilco Park. The park is near the junction with Cheam Road. There is limited roadside parking along Chilco or Cheam Road. City buses travel along Six Mile Road and Atkins Road.

Robin Hill Park

Robin Hill Park is a rocky Garry oak area in View Royal, B.C. At one and a half hectares this park is mostly steep rocky outcrops of granite covered with thick beds of mosses, lichen and ferns. There are some large Garry oak and Douglas fir trees and several moss cover stumps in this park. It was selectively logged in the early twentieth century. Robin Hill Park borders along the paved walkway on Chilco Road, along the turn-a-bout of Kaleigh Avenue and between homes 42 and 27 Carly Lane. Robin Hill Park is immediately east of Edward Park. Tread with care along the trail, that includes several staircases and steps, in this parkland as there is much to be enjoyed. Mill Hill Regional Park, Edwards Park, Chilco Park, the Galloping Goose Trail, Thetis Lake Park, Nursery Hill Park, Garry Oak Meadows Park and Kelvin Grove Park are nearby.

Geographical location N48° 27’ 30” W123° 28’ 10”

Robin Hill 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 Chilco Road, which is just past the overpass for the Galloping Goose Trail. Stay on Chilco Road and follow to the end. The park is at the end of the road on the right side of the trail. There is limited roadside parking along Chilco Road. City buses travel along Six Mile Road and Atkins Road.

Chilco Park

Chilco Park is parkland that has a terrific playground and a large grass field to enjoy in your backyard of View Royal, B.C. Set in a wood chip base, the playground has two parts. The small set has stairs, ladders and wobbles steps to reach a low area with a short slide. The larger play set has various climbing apparatus to platform with a slide. This is a great park for parkour too. Benches and picnic tables add to the leisure of the area. The large grassy field makes up most the half of a hectare of the parkland. A trail connects from the homes bordering the west side of the park. Mill Hill Regional Park, Edwards Park, Robin Hill Park, the Galloping Goose Trail, Thetis Lake Park, Nursery Hill Park, Garry Oak Meadow Park and Kelvin Grove Park are nearby. Parson’s Bridge Park, Burchill Park, Mellor Park, Garry Oak Meadows Park, Jalan Park, Atkin Road Green Space, the Galloping Goose Trail and Trans Canada Trail as well as Thetis Lake Park are also nearby. The park is part of Nursery Hill Trail Loop described by the Town of View Royal.

Geographical location N48° 27’ 33” W123° 28’ 4”

Chilco 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 Chilco Road, which is just past the overpass for the Galloping Goose Trail. Turn right onto Chilco Road, which also continues straight. The park is on the left near the junction with Cahilty Lane. There is limited roadside parking along Chilco Road and Cahilty Lane. City buses travel along Six Mile Road and Atkins Road.

Thetis Vale Green Space

Thetis Vale Green Space is landscaped grass covered area near Chilco Park in View Royal, B.C. A concrete sidewalk curves through the grass beside Chilco Road which lies on the southside of the green space. The green space is divided by the quiet street named Thetis Vale Crescent; this name also applies to the neighborhood. There is a bench near the mail boxes in this green space. The park has several trees including birch and maple trees. Parson’s Bridge Park, Burchill Park, Mellor Park, Garry Oak Meadows Park, Jalan Park, Atkin Road Green Space, the Galloping Goose Trail and Trans Canada Trail as well as Thetis Lake Park are nearby. Thetis Vale Green Space is part of Nursery Hill Trail Loop described by the Town of View Royal.

Geographical location N48° 27’ 32” W123° 27’ 59”

Thetis Vale Green Space can be accessed from the Trans Canada Highway, Hwy1. Exit onto the Island Highway and turn right onto Six Mile Road. Turn left onto Chilco Road, which is just past the overpass for the Galloping Goose Trail. Turn right onto Thetis Vale Crescent and look for the pedestrian access between homes 109 and 111.There is limited roadside parking along Chilco Road and Thetis Vale Crescent. City buses travel along Six Mile Road and Atkins Road.

Atkins Road Green Space

Atkins Road Green Space is a small area useful for parking when the parking lot at Thetis Lake Regional Park is full. It is also a site to access the Galloping Goose Trail although the main trail head with water and washrooms is five hundred meters east along Atkins Road. It is even an excellent space to explore on its own. Immediately to the north of this green space is the Via Railway Track. A couple of tall pine trees, Himalayan blackberries and other small shrubs fill the area. Parson’s Bridge Park, Jalan Park, Parson’s Access Park, Mellor Park, Nursery Hill Park, Garry Oak Meadow Park, Burchill Park, Chilco Park, the Galloping Goose Trail and Trans Canada Trail as well as Thetis Lake Park are nearby.

Geographical location N48° 27’ 31” W123° 27’ 50”

Atkins 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 onto Six Mile Road and continue along the road just under the bridge overpass for the Galloping Goose Trail. Turn right onto Atkins Road and look for the green space to the left. There is no roadside parking along Six Mile Road. City buses travel along the Island Highway and Atkin Road (on the west side).