Lochside Regional Trail Located in the Vancouver Island-Central Coast

  1. Home
  2. Zones
  3. Trails
  4. Lochside Regional Trail

Recent Images

It appears that nobody has uploaded any images yet for this trail.

Lochside Regional Trail

Day Ride Trail
The Lochside Regional Trail is both a popular commuting route and the perfect way to enjoy a lazy Sunday ride through the farmlands of the Saanich Peninsula. Stop at one of the nearby sandy beaches on the way, and enjoy ocean views from the trail itself as you approach Sidney This picturesque multi use trail, formerly a railway line, stretches from Swartz Bay to Victoria, past beaches, farmland, and wetlands, down country lanes and beside suburban backyards. The trail has a more civilized personality than its more rural cousin, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail. While some parts of the Lochside Trail are off-road and others downright pastoral, in some places trail visitors must share paved or gravel public roads with motor vehicles and farm vehicles. You can cycle, stroll, run, or even ride a horse through the rural sections. Whether you're commuting to work, meandering on a weekend afternoon or pacing yourself from the Switch Bridge to Swartz Bay, the trail is yours to enjoy and yours to protect.
Saanich, Central Saanich, Sidney, North Saanich, Vancouver Island
Galloping Goose Trail
48.455484
-123.378062
Off Lochside Drive
The Lochside Trail intersects with the Galloping Goose Trail, a 55 kilometre former railway line from Victoria to Sooke, and the first section of the Trans-Canada Trail. From the parking area on Lochside Drive, the Lochside Trail sheds its urban edge to become a tree-lined country lane with views of Blenkinsop Valley farmland. Inhale the smell of freshly plowed earth in the spring. Be surprised by bright splashes of orange during pumpkin season. The Blenkinsop Trestle soon appears, hovering over the marshy wetlands of Blenkinsop Lake, then opening up as the lake reaches out on both sides. Water lilies and cat tails poke from the edges, while families of ducks glide placidly past. Watch for waterfowl, marsh birds, raptors, swallows and migratory birds, as well as bats, fish, otters, butterflies and moths. Just north of Blenkinsop Lake, horse paddocks and cultivated fields studded with weathered barns stretch to the east toward Mount Douglas Park. If you fancy a detour, hiking trails lead to spectacular views from the 213-metre summit. Enjoy the colour of roadside flower stalls and the deep shade of the last forested section before the trail emerges into the neighbourhoods of Broadmead and Cordova Bay. See the map and trail guide at http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/documents/lochside_trail_guide.pdf to see which portions of the trail are for equestrian use.
Note: Also check under Upload/Download tab to see if there are more maps available. If the map below shows red lines, these indicate ridable trails which can be downloaded to your GPS (see Upload/Download tab)
Quadra Street to Royal Oak Drive: Cross Quadra Street, then McKenzie Avenue, at controlled traffic lights. Follow the signs to skirt the small shopping centre and pick up Lochside Drive. Travel down this paved street a short distance to the beginning of the gravel trail, where parking is available.

Legend

Lochside Regional Trail Comments Want To Get Involved? Post Comment

julie karlsen

Interestin urban/country ride posted on: 02 / 18 / 2012

Before this trail was truly established and (not trespassing ;), I rode it as a teenager. The countryside is amazing; Victoria has fabulous trail riding with amazing scenery!

Want To Provide A Lochside Regional Trail Update? Post A Comment

Required
Your email address will not be displayed. This is only so we may contact you if we need to clarify something in your comment.
Required
Required
Required
Note: All of our Geo-Referenced PDF maps are available for free from the Avenza from the Map Store. These maps can be used with the Avenza Maps app on GPS enabled Smartphones and tablets.

GPX Upload
Rode this trail? Show the HCBC Trail Community Which Route You Ride

HCBC monitors the integrity of the GPX files uploaded prior to posting on this website. We will contact you via your email if your track is suitable for an Avenza Map.

Name:

Email:

Please upload GPX files only.


Image Upload
Saw Something Cool? Share it with the HCBC Trail Community

HCBC monitors the integrity of all images and comments posted on this website. Please allow us 24 hours to review the Images uploaded for this trail before they appear on our website. Thank you

Please upload jpeg images only.

Additional files to Download

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Horse Council BC gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture

FOLLOW US

 

LEGAL

Copyright © 2024 Horse Council BC

Terms of Service / Privacy Policy

Built with Moxie.Build

CONTACT

Horse Council BC
27336 Fraser Hwy
Aldergrove, BC, V4W 3N5

Office Hours
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 604-856-4304
Toll free: 1-800-345-8055
Fax: 604-856-4302
Email Us!