Victoria, BC is known as ‘The City of Gardens’ but we also have an almost endless amount of parks as well.  City parks usually offer picnic areas and playgrounds for the kids – some have beaches as well!  Some are more suited to hiking, biking, dog walking, and taking in some great views!  Here are some (but by no means all) of the parks in and around Victoria.

CITY PARKS

Playgrounds, beaches, picnic areas … take your pick!  Victoria has them all!

  • Layritz Hill Park entrance sign, Saanich, BC

LAYRITZ PARK

Layritz Park Layritz Park is located in a beautiful rural area of Saanich area near the Vancouver Island Tech Park. This 29 hectare park is perhaps best known for its sports interests, which includes 7

  • Sunflower at Newman Farm

NEWMAN FARM PARK

Newman Farm Park is a hidden treasure located among the pastoral farmlands of Central Saanich on the Sannich Pennisula. It is 6.6-hectare (16.6 acre) farm, established in 1897 extending in a narrow strip from Wallace

  • Carnavon Park

MAP OF CITY PARK LOCATIONS

If you'd like to find a park or playground close to you in Victoria ... here's a map.  Just click on the location marker and then click the link to the details page!

  • Fisherman's Wharf Victoria, BC

FISHERMAN’S WHARF

Fisherman’s Wharf Park Overlooking the wharf and on the new Harbour Pathway, the park is at Erie and St. Lawrence. A rehabilitated land project, this newly formed park today boasts a rain garden which serves

  • Topaz Park in Victoria, BC

TOPAZ PARK

Topaz Park is located in the Hillside Quadra neighbourhood between Topaz Avenue and Finlayson Street, along Blanshard Street. It is Victoria's third largest park and includes a variety of sport and community features, including an artificial turf field and

  • Beckwith Park, Victoria, BC

BECKWITH WATER PARK

Beckwith Park has many features for the whole family. You can spend the day: Having a picnic. Splashing in the spray park. Playing on the accessible playground. Exploring the trails around Beckwith Pond. This popular

  • outerbridge park victoria visitor in victoria

OUTERBRIDGE PARK

Outerbridge park, Victoria BC - small in area but big on beauty! This park is new to me ... what a find!  These photos were taken in early spring (well ... winter for us in

MACAULAY POINT PARK

Macaulay Point Park - Esquimalt's Hidden Gem Macaulay Point Park is located in Esquimalt just a short distance from downtown Victoria. It is a hidden gem of a park that even most locals don't know about. Indeed,

  • Swan Lake Logo

SWAN LAKE CHRISTMAS HILL NATURE SANCTUARY

Swan Lake/Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary This park consists of two distinct areas:  marshy lowlands surrounding Swan Lake; and the rocky, oak-forested highlands of Christmas Hill. The 12,000 year-old-lake is a rich habitat for a variety

  • Carnavon Park

CARNAVON PARK

Carnavon Park A developed sports park (3.97 hectares), surrounded by residential housing, with playing fields for rugby, soccer, ball diamonds with score/concession building, tennis courts, tennis backboard, and lacrosse box, with washrooms and change rooms. 

  • Centennial Park

CENTENNIAL PARK

Centennial Park is one of Langford's best 'all ages' park.  Located 1/2 way between downtown and Langford Lake, Centennial Park is the perfect place for a baseball game or gathering. There are 4 baseball diamonds,

CITY CENTRE PARK

Fun for the whole family! Location:  1089 Langford Parkway, Langford, BC Langford’s premier destination for family entertainment and recreation.  With a longstanding reputation for delivering an excellent service, we have focused on making every visit an amazing

  • willows beach

WILLOWS BEACH

Willows Beach A developed waterfront park (1.17 hectare) with large grassed area, change rooms and washrooms, concession and tea room, picnic tables, benches, children’s play area, sandy beach, esplanade and walkway. This scenic developed waterfront

  • gyro park

GYRO PARK

Cadboro-Gyro Park Cadboro-Gyro Park is designated a Community Park with a unique and substantial waterfront that appeals to residents throughout the region. The park is within easy walking distance of Cadboro Bay Village and the University

  • esquimalt gorge park sign, Victoria, BC, YYJ, Vancouver Island, Visitor in Victoria

ESQUIMALT GORGE PARK

Not far from downtown Victoria is the community of Esquimalt where you'll find the lovely and tranquil Esquimalt Gorge Park. Shady Spot for a Picnic! Esquimalt Gorge Park was first established as BC

  • beacon hill park

BEACON HILL PARK

Victoria is a city of parks.  We have literally dozens of them!  One of the most popular parks is right downtown and has something for everyone - Beacon Hill Park. February in Beacon Hill

REGIONAL PARKS AND PROVINCIAL PARKS

Some of these also include beaches, picnic areas and playgrounds … but are also usually more of a hiking, walking or camping experience.  All have trails, some easy – some more difficult – some with stunning views as the prize at the end of the trail.  I strongly urge you to try at least one (or more!)!

  • Witty's Lagoon Beach, Witty's Lagoon Regional Park

WITTY’S LAGOON REGIONAL PARK

Witty's Lagoon Regional Park is One of Victoria's Real Gems! Witty's Lagoon is located in Metchosin, one of Victoria's Westshore communities. This sea shore park encompasses 58 hectares (143 acres) of very diverse landscape with

  • Finlayson Arm from Jocelyn Hill, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park

JOCELYN HILL HIKING ADVENTURE

Hiking to Jocelyn Hill in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park On the slopes of Jocelyn Hill there are absolutely stunning views of Greater Victoria, Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Peninsula. To the west you

  • Views of Saanich Inlet from Squally Reach Viewpoint, Gowlland Tod Provincial Park

SQUALLY REACH VIEWPOINT, GOWLLAND TOD PARK

Hiking to Squally Reach Viewpoint in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park The hike to Squally Reach Viewpoint in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park is rather challenging but well worth the effort for the stunning views across Squally

  • Mount Wells

HIKING MOUNT WELLS REGIONAL PARK

HIKING MOUNT WELLS REGIONAL PARK Mount Wells Regional Park is a massive 123 hectare wilderness park located on the eastern edge of the Sooke foothills. Being a wilderness park there aren't a lot of amenities,

BEAR HILL REGIONAL PARK

Exploring Bear Hill Regional Park Bear Hill Regional Park is located on the Saanich Peninsula just north of Elk Lake. It is a small park covering approximately 49 hectares with an elevation of 220m (720’).

HIKING MILL HILL REGIONAL PARK

Hiking Mill Hill Mill Hill Regional Park is an isolated gem located in Langford just off Atkins Ave. The park encompasses 60 hectares with loop trail up and around the south side of the hill.

DURRANCE LAKE

Durrance Lake - Mt Work's Hidden Gem Durrance Lake is part of Mount Work Regional Park. The lake is located along Willis Point Rd with an accessible parking area located off Durrance Close. It is

MOUNT WORK REGIONAL PARK

Exploring Mount Work Regional Park Mount Work Regional Park is one of the largest regional parks in Greater Victoria. At 536-hectares, the park borders Gowlland Tod Provincial Park in the Highlands area of Saanich Peninsula.

ISLAND VIEW BEACH REGIONAL PARK

Exploring Island View Beach Island View Beach Regional Park is appropriately named for the gorgeous views across Cordova Channel and Haro Strait at James Island, Sidney Island, D'Arcy Island and the American Jan Juan Islands. 

  • Cordova Spit Vancouver Island BC

CORDOVA SPIT

Cordova Spit (TIXEN) Cordova Spit is located on the Saanich Peninsula and extends northward from Island View Beach pushing into Haro Strait and the waters of Saanichton Bay like the prow of a giant ship. 

  • The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific presents Arts & Music in the Gardens, taking place at 505 Quayle Road on August 10 from 9am-4pm. Admission is $12. A family-friendly festival, Arts & Music in the Garden aims to connect our community with local artists and local plants - come join us for art, live music, food trucks, and more!

JOHN DEAN PROVINCIAL PARK

ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱/John Dean Park is situated on top of Mount Newton, which overlooks the pastoral Saanich Peninsula, the Gulf Islands and the Cascade Mountains. John Dean Provincial Park is the only place left on the

  • Coles Bay Regional Park, Victoria, BC, Visitor in Victoria, Parks in Victoria

COLES BAY REGIONAL PARK

A small park in a quiet neighborhood leading down to the Saanich Inlet - that's Coles Bay Regional Park! At just under 9 acres, this park is the perfect place for a short stroll, or

  • Dominion Brook Park Sign, Victoria, BC Visitor in Victoria

DOMINION BROOK PARK

Dominion Brook Park is located in North Saanich, close to the airport on East Saanich Road, across the street from the Panorama Rec. Centre.  (See map below for address and location) It's not a

  • Tod Inlet-gowland tod park Visitor in Victoria

TOD INLET: A HIDDEN GEM

Tod Inlet in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park One of our favourite spots in Victoria is tucked in behind Butchart Gardens where thousands of people visit every year, but have no idea that this hidden gem

  • Horth Hill Park, Victoria, BC, Visitor in Victoria

HORTH HILL REGIONAL PARK

After moving to Central Saanich recently I've enjoyed searching out new parks to walk and hike in the area. Today we explored a small-ish park (about 36 hectares/90 acres) in North Saanich called Horth Hill.

  • Sooke Potholes waterfall

SOOKE POTHOLES PARKS

The Sooke Potholes The Sooke Potholes are actually comprised of 2 different parks, Sooke Potholes Provincial Park and Sooke Potholes Regional Park. As you drive along Sooke River Rd, it is he provincial park the

  • Albert Head Lagoon Regional Park looking towards the Olympic Peninsula Visitor in Victoria, YYJ

ALBERT HEAD LAGOON REGIONAL PARK

This small lagoon serves as a wildlife sanctuary and refuge for a variety of birds. Features A protected lagoon that attracts local ducks, geese and swans, as well as many varieties of migrating birds A

  • Lone Tree Hill Regional Park, Victoria, BC

LONE TREE HILL REGIONAL PARK

Lone Tree Hill Regional Park is located in the Highlands of southern Vancouver Island, a municipality of Greater Victoria.  It is a small park but the views from the  364 meter (1200') summit are well

  • Botanical Beach, Port Renfrew, BC

JUAN DE FUCA PROVINCIAL PARK – BOTANICAL BEACH

When visiting Victoria, a really nice day trip is out to Port Renfrew - there you'll find a wonderful place to explore, particularly at low tide - Botanical Beach. The drive to Botanical Beach is

  • Mt. Doug Summit Victoria BC Linda Holland Visitor in Victoria

5 BEST OVERVIEWS OF VICTORIA

Victoria is a beautiful place and walking or driving around can certainly give you a flavor of the city.  But sometimes it's nice to get up high and get a larger view!  Here's some spots

  • Gonzales Hill Regional Park Victoria BC Visitor in Victoria

GONZALES HILL REGIONAL PARK

Gonzales Hill Regional Park is a true gem with breathtaking views! Enjoy the views from this protected natural landscape in the heart of the city. Features Unparalleled views of Victoria, Juan de Fuca Strait, the

ROCHE COVE REGIONAL PARK

Roche Cove Regional Park Hike along a cool creek at midday or paddle still waters in early morning light at this serene 163-hectare park. You’ll find a secluded cove, ocean views and lush vegetation, including

  • East Sooke Park

EAST SOOKE REGIONAL PARK

East Sooke Park If you want to have a true 'west coast' experience - without going too far away from civilization, nothing beats East Sooke Park! East Sooke is the largest CRD Park, encompassing 1422

  • Pebble Beach at Devonian Regional Park Victoria, BC Visitor in Victoria

DEVONIAN REGIONAL PARK

Devonian Park Entrance and parking lot This great - tho small - park is about a 40-minute drive from Victoria and well worth it! Features include a gentle walking trail through mixed woodland

  • Matheson Lake

MATHESON LAKE REGIONAL PARK

Matheson Lake On a hot summer day, Matheson Lake is a perfect place to enjoy a refreshing dip and a picnic at the sandy beach area.  It's quite small, but nice. In any season, hikers

FRANCIS/KING REGIONAL PARK

Exploring Francis/King Regional Park Francis/King Regional Park is a wonderful place to explore for people of all abilities, giving everyone, no matter their abilities or disabilities, a chance to get a little closer to nature.

  • Horne Lake Caves

HORNE LAKE CAVES PROVINCIAL PARK

Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park is located about 2.5 hours north of Victoria. (See map and directions at bottom of post) What to do at Horne Lake Caves… Cave Theatre & Museum Come visit the

  • Thetis Lake

THETIS LAKE REGIONAL PARK

This regional conservation area was established as Canada's first nature sanctuary in 1958. The park offers outdoor activities in a natural setting. Thetis overview  Features Swamp and lake ecosystems for nature study Delicate

GOWLLAND TOD PROVINCIAL PARK

Exploring Gowlland Tod Provincial Park Gowlland Tod Provincial Park provides some amazing opportunities for  hiking and immersing yourself in nature. There are more than 25 kms of trails with varying in degree of difficulty that

GOLDSTREAM PROVINCIAL PARK

Goldstream Provincial Park is one of the best known and most frequently visited parks on Vancouver Island. Just 16 km from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park is a true local gem. Steep mountainous terrain, towering

  • Beaver Lake

ELK LAKE/BEAVER LAKE REGIONAL PARK

Elk Lake and Beaver Lake are 2 'conjoined' lakes located just off the Pat Bay Hwy. in Saanich.  (See map below) This is one of my favorite walks.  You can walk completely around the 2