Mount Grant Preserve was everything I could ask for and more. There is road access to the summit of…read morethe mountain with different hours the gate is open depending on the season. The San Juan County Land Bank's website provides more details about gate hours if you want to know when it is going to be open in advance of your visit. Driving west on West Valley Road the turn-off to parking for Mount Grant Preserve is on Richard Lee Lane. 'No Parking' signs along the road and parking area explicitly label where not to park. There are a few parking spaces to the right of the mailboxes (facing the mailboxes) and behind the mailboxes where you can park before you reach the main gate. The day I visited the gate was not open, this meant non-motorized (I chose foot) access to the summit. I did not know if I would make it to the top or not. I injured my knee about two months ago and this was the first trail I was attempting summit and back. The hike starts off along a paved road. There are a few different trails you can hike in the Preserve, I chose to take the Greywacke Trail and then the Lawsonite Trail to the summit of Mount Grant. My knee wasn't bothering me by the time I got to the non-motorized trail, so I decided to continue on. The Greywacke Trail was comparatively flat and the signage provided some information on the rock called greywacke and why the trail was named after the rock (I am a geologist so I loved this). The Lawsonite trail branches off from the Greywacke Trail and is steep in places. I stopped to take pictures, which also allowed me to catch my breath. Nearing the top of the hike to the summit you start to pass views out over the surrounding through the tree branches. This is a very beautiful place with gorgeous scenery. I reached the summit without my knee bothering me (the first time this has happened for a steep trail since my injury)! At the summit the foot trail reconnects with the motorized access road to the summit. There are some short walking trails around the summit so you can fully take in the scenery. These trails are flat, which is perfect if you want to bring a grandparent here who struggles with hills and uneven terrain. There are also a number of benches and picnic tables in addition to a very clean restroom (port-a-potti). I decided to go back down the Lawsonite and Greywacke Trails on my way down the mountain though you could have also walked down the road if you wanted to that day. A bicyclist had made it to the summit while I was walking around and exploring. I encountered one other group pulling in and parking as I got back to my car to depart for the day. My knee had been giving me pain/discomfort while going down steep inclines before this hike, but on this hike I didn't even have slight discomfort. Hooray for successful knee strengthening! If the hike had been longer, I am not sure if the results would have been the same. I hiked about 2-3 miles (there are almost 5 miles total) of the trail system with about 700 feet of elevation gain. I found this to be a satisfying hike in length and intensity. A quiet hike with great rocks, plants, and the potential to see some neat wildlife.

Mount Douglas Park and renamed the indigenous peoples name, Pkols is a beautiful park that a…read morerelative of mine recommended to our group of four. We drove to the top and took in the beautiful view near the parking lot which you can get a view of Victoria and the Straight of Juan De Fuca. We then proceeded up a trail that took us even higher and got a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding area of Vancouver Island. Entrance is free so it's definitely worth pursuing as far as sightseeing goes. Where we went to the top it's a manageable trail that you can do in casual shoes but if you want to climb up rocky trails it's probably best to have more rugged hiking shoes. At any rate this is a "must stop" while exploring the Victoria area.

Get your nature fix here in the Victoria area. There's easy hiking trails through the forest and a…read morenice little beach as well. The park is well maintained, with free parking, bathrooms, and even some EV charging stations. In no time you'll be refreshed and ready to face the city again.

This is a nice and beautiful lake to walk around. There are a few trails you can take, either to…read morego around the lake, or go to other areas like the Upper Lake, another loop that is a little steeper, etc. The lake is calm and there are some animals in the lake. I was up high so couldn't see tell if they were beavers or another animal. I assumed they were beavers as they can't be otters. There were 3 swimming by the inner rock in the middle of the lake and it looked like they were playing. I wish I had brought my camera but only had my phone. It was quiet when we went and it looks like you can kayak or canoe on the lake. No gas or electric motors on the lake.

We stayed in Langford when I visited Victoria, and this wonderful lake park was recommended. It's a…read moregorgeous and clean lake! There is a trail that goes around the lake and I've heard the lake is about a couple miles long. The lake itself is pretty big and is not circular like the main trail. I saw there are other trails that leads you to other parts of the lake. You can kayak the lake to see the size and see more views, like upper Thetis Lake. The trail is super easy to walk on and can be finished in like 30 minutes if strolling. The lake itself is very pretty and can get quite deep. It's very clean looking and you and see very clearly. It's definitely big enough to float around on a float and enjoy the hot weather. The lake can get pretty populated during the summer time. I went on a Monday and it can get quite full on the beach portion of the lake. There's also a West beach and I've noticed more dog owners go there. On the Main Beach, there is a bathroom, benches/tables, foot washing station, and water fountains. You can also walk around the lake and find a little cove for more isolated and away from the crowd. In the more isolated areas, there are nice rocks that you can sit up on or dirt covered areas. In the other areas, I've seen people diving off cliffs. There are signs around the lake that warns people of cliff diving. No alcohol is an allowed ($200 fine) and parking is around $2.25 until sunset. There are over flow parking lots as well.

My four-year-old daughter and I LOVED Fort Ebey State Park. We went on a sunny August day and had…read morethe best afternoon. Coming from out of state, we easily purchased a $10 Discovery Pass day ticket and parked in the lot. Using our flashlight on our phone, we explored the actual fort, built during World War II as a coastal defense. The fort is preserved well and you can go inside all the rooms and tunnels. There are also trails along cliffs lined with meadows and forests, offering beautiful views of the water. There are public restrooms near the parking lot.

Ebey's Landing is a great place to start exploring Whidbey Island because this is where Colonel…read moreIsaac N.Ebey started his exploration of the island and also died here during a revenge killing. He died at the hand of Hatain native men. He was the first non native resident of the island. Today it is a great place to enjoy a picnic, stroll the beach, skip rocks, explore whatever is brought out by the tides, and just have a great time.

Super busy park - when I went last month, it was difficult to find parking on the south end of the…read morepark. There are two entrances so maybe the north end was better? Anyway, I went to Goldstream Falls and saw a huge group of salmon trying to jump up the falls. I'm not sure if any of them made it as it's very tall... The hike took a leisurely one hour, with the steepest part being right before the falls as there is a staircase leading down to the falls. There are huge trees and cool-looking fungi that dot alongside the trail. The trail follows the stream for a good bit so you hear the bubbling stream. The toilets are the composting/septic tank toilets without water, so be prepared. I wanted to go to Niagara Falls, but ran out of time. Maybe next time! At the time of this review, it looks like the trail to Niagara Falls is washed out and so inaccessible.

Beautiful! Maps made…read moreus drive an extra 5 miles when it was unnecessary, but we parked right off of 1 south in a tiny pull off (no official parking lot or even signs) and it was less than a 5 min walk to the falls. Just beautiful.

Gorgeous park with rocks, fields and benches to rest and stare out at the water…read more Right off of the highway, gives you views of San Juan Islands, Mt. Baker, Mt. Newton, Senanus Island, Brentwood Bay and the Victoria airport.

East Sooke Regional Park is a magical coastal setting with fields, rocky coves and most strikingly…read morefor me, a forest full of fairies, dwarves, enchanted glades...and the occasional cougar, bear and shipwrecked fisherman. I never get tired of walking here, but it is rugged and subject to rapid weather shifts - hot to cold, dry to wet, and back. Despite all the trails, it is not hard to get lost and it can be get dark in the woods very fast. So do bring a pack, something warm, something to keep you dry, water, snacks, a fully-charged GPS phone and a headlamp with fresh batteries in case you are out later than expected. And if you run into a fairy that grants you three wishes, make that last wish that this place is still here, enchanted as ever, for our kids' kids.

This is a little gem with forested trails and then you can end up at the beach with a great view…read more The trail is short probably about 2-3km only but you can still work up a sweat. Value 5/5 atmosphere 5/5 service 4/5 quality 5/5 19/20

A nice way to get around Victoria on foot without having to brave the busy streets / concrete…read morejungle. The area around the foot bridge with the Selkirk Trestle is the best part of the trail from Uptown to downtown. I'd like to explore more of the trail on bike next time. I saw a seal basking with its belly up right before it dived. It was so relaxed. Lots of bikers and families taking walks on this trail. The bikers like to go fast. They will ring the bell when they pass people on foot. Best to keep you leash short on any pets you will be walking and keep young children close in hand. A really pleasant discovery!

Awesome trail connecting Victoria all the way to nearby towns for walks or biking. Wonderfully…read morecovered in trees, many also take their dogs for a walk. The trail also leads to great picnic areas, lakes, a hidden gem for locals. Value 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Service 5/5 Quality 5/5 20/20