15 of the best easy hikes in Victoria BC

There are so many awesome easy hikes in Victoria BC that if you’re craving an outdoor escape filled with lush greenery, stunning vistas, and invigorating hikes, then you’ve come to the right place.

Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia, may be known for its picturesque harbour and historic architecture, but hidden within its natural beauty lies a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. This city on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, offers a great variety of hiking trails and we’ll be focusing on the easy hikes in Victoria BC in this port.

These beginner-friendly hikes and trails in Victoria BC are perfect for a leisurely walk or a family outing. If you’re looking for harder hiking trails near Victoria, my guide to the best hikes on Vancouver Island has you covered.

We’ll cover hikes such as the Ogden Point Breakwater trail, Thetis Lake and some of the best walks in Goldstream Provincial Park.

If you’re looking for easy hiking near Victoria BC, then read on!

What to know before trying this Victoria hikes

Before embarking on your hiking adventures around Victoria, BC, here are some key points to keep in mind on walks in Victoria BC:

• Always check weather conditions: Be aware of the local weather forecast and prepare accordingly. Victoria’s weather can be unpredictable, so pack layers, rain gear, and sun protection to stay comfortable in changing conditions.
• Trail maps and guides: Obtain detailed trail maps and guides either online or from visitor centres. These resources will help you navigate the trails, understand difficulty levels, and locate points of interest. I like to use AllTrails.
• Trail conditions and closures: Check for any trail closures or restrictions before heading out. This information can be found on websites, social media accounts of local parks, or by contacting park authorities.
• Hiking Equipment: Ensure you have the right gear for a safe and enjoyable experience. This includes proper footwear, a backpack, a water bottle, snacks, navigation tools (compass or GPS), a first aid kit, and emergency essentials.
• Wildlife Awareness: Victoria’s wilderness is home to various wildlife species. Familiarize yourself with local wildlife, learn proper wildlife etiquette, and carry bear spray in areas where encounters may occur.
• Leave No Trace: Respect the environment by following Leave No Trace principles. Pack out all your trash, stay on designated trails, and avoid damaging plants or disturbing wildlife habitats.
• Hiking Etiquette: Be considerate of other hikers on the trails. Yield to uphill hikers, maintain a safe distance on narrow paths and avoid loud noises that may disrupt the serenity of nature.
• Safety Precautions: Inform someone about your hiking plans, including the trail name and estimated return time. Carry a fully charged cell phone and a whistle for emergencies.
• Water Sources: Carry an ample water supply, as some trails may not have easily accessible water sources. Stay hydrated throughout your hike to prevent dehydration. I also pack a Sawyer water filter on my hikes to filter water from rivers and lakes.

Remember, the goal is to have a safe and enjoyable hiking experience while enjoying a hike in Victoria, BC and these hiking tips will help!

AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.

Best easy hikes Victoria BC

Ogden Point Breakwater

• Distance: 1.6km
• Elevation: None
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Trail map on AllTrails

Ogden Point Breakwater is the perfect place for a walk along the coast and it’s especially beautiful at sunset. In fact, it’s one of my favourite walking trails Victoria has since you can go straight from the city centre.

An easy walk from downtown Victoria, this trail starts from Dallas Road and takes you on a flat, accessible trail along the water.

The trail is about 800 metres each way and at the end you’ll reach the Ogden Point Lighthouse where you can watch the ships, sailboats and seaplanes.

Keep your eyes open as you might catch a seal playing about in the waters!

If you want to extend this walk, you can continue along Dallas Road, where you’ll find some sandy beaches.

Thetis Lake

• Distance: 6.6 km
• Elevation: 141 metres
• Duration: 1 – 2 hours
• AllTrails trail map

Thetis Lake is in the beautiful rainforest of Vancouver Island and you can enjoy an easy hike to get to these lakes in Thetis Lake Regional Park.

There’s both a Lower and Upper Thetis Lake hiking trail and this route ail takes you to both of them.

As you walk on this mostly flat trail take time to breathe in the scents of the forest, and listen to the birds.

Some parts of this trail get busy since this is a popular regional park near Victoria for hiking. There’s also a parking fee of $2 a day at the parking lot for Thetis Lake.

Iron Mine Bay

• Distance: 9 km
• Elevation: 280 metres
• Duration: 2-3 hours
• AllTrails trail map

About an hour’s drive from downtown Victoria, this easy hike in East Sooke Park to Iron Mine Bay is a great place to visit as you can enjoy a swim at a beautiful rocky beach at the end!

At Iron Mine Bay you can sit and enjoy the stunning panorama of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with the rugged silhouette of Washington State’s Olympic National Park on the horizon.

This loop I’ve linked above includes both the Sooke Coast trail and a trail through the forest. You’ll need to take care along the coast as the paths are narrow, but once you’re on the forest trail the hike is pretty easy.

You can hike this trail in either direction and you can also take a detour off the main trail and walk along the rugged coastline for even better views.

Matheson Lake trail

• Distance: 4 km
• Elevation: 74 metres
• Duration: 1 hour
• AllTrails trail map

If you’re in Victoria, one hike that you absolutely must try is the Matheson Lake trail. Imagine walking through a vibrant green forest, then suddenly catching a glimpse of sparkling blue water between the trees. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? This is exactly the kind of experience you get on this trail.

This trail is great for the whole family since it’s pretty easy. You’ll explore both forest and lakeside paths and the views are great, so this hike in Victoria BC will keep everyone entertained.

The trail beautifully frames Matheson Lake and its tiny island. The trail connects to Roche Cove via a creekside path and you could connect it with some of the famous Galloping Goose trails.

It’s this mix of adventurous exploring and serene enjoyment that makes the Matheson Lake trail one of the best hikes in Victoria BC.

Niagara Falls in Goldstream Provincial Park

• Distance: 0.5 km
• Elevation: 26 metres
• Duration: 15 minutes
• Trail map

In Goldstream Provincial Park lies a surprise – Niagara Falls of British Columbia! Though not as grand as its Ontario namesake, these falls are still impressive and worth the easy hike it takes to get there.

Niagara Falls on Vancouver Island is tucked away in a mossy forest and it’s one of the best Victoria hikes with waterfalls.

After a short hike through the forest alongside Goldstream River, you’ll come out to a viewpoint of a tall, slender waterfall cascading over the rocks.

It’s slippery around the waterfalls so take care when getting to a spot to view them from.

Kinsol Trestle

• Distance: 3.1 km
• Elevation: 76 metres
• Duration: 1 hour
• Map of AllTrails

The Kinsol Trestle in the Cowichan Valley near Shawnigan Lake is one of the coolest trestles in BC.

At a height of 44 m and spanning 187 metres long, this wooden railway trestle is one of the world’s largest!

To get to Kinsol Trestle on Vancouver Island, you’ll take a flat and easy hike near Victoria BC that’s great for beginners or those looking for an easy walk.

After about 20 minutes from the parking lot, you’ll come out to an area where there are some picnic benches and a park area down by the river.

This walk is also wheelchair and stroller accessible so it’s great for all the family.

Mount Tolmie Loop

• Length: 1.4 km
• Elevation: 50 m
• Duration: 25 mins
• Trail map on AllTrails+

Mount Tolmie is one of the best places to watch the sunset near Victoria BC.

There are different routes up to the summit and you can even drive most of the way up if you wish!

Along this easy hike in Victoria, you’ll find various different viewpoints so you should be able to find a sport where you can enjoy the views in peace.

On a clear day, you can see some of the mountains in Washington as well as the Vancouver coast!

Lone Tree Hill

• Distance: 1.9 km
• Elevation: 130 m
• Duration: 1 hour
• Map on AllTrails+

For a quick hiking trail in Victoria with a rewarding payoff, look no further than Lone Tree Hill. No prizes for guessing how this trail got its name!

This trail takes about an hour to hike and at the top, you’ll get a beautiful 360-degree panorama of Gowlland Tod and the Highlands regions. You can also see Mount Finlayson as well as the Juan de Fuca Strait.

Though mostly easy, the trail has some steep sections, but they don’t last long!

Tod Inlet Gowlland Tod Provincial Park

• Distance: 2.6 km
• Elevation: 44 m
• Duration: 45 mins
• Trail map on AllTrails+

In the northern section of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, is Tod Inlet which has an interesting history.

Once a bustling industrial site in the early 1900s, this limestone-rich area housed various quarries and infrastructures. Following the end of the quarrying era, the land experienced a transformation and became the beautiful Butchart Gardens which is one of the best places to see in Victoria.

Access to Tod Inlet requires a gentle 20-minute descent down a wide trail. Here, you can explore the remnants of old buildings and observe the jellyfish that can usually be spotted in the water from the dock.

There is also a narrower trail which takes you to Tod Creek and up along the bank where you’ll get some cool canyon views.

Jocelyn Hill

• Distance: 10.5 km
• Elevation: 454 m
• Duration: 3.5 – 4 hours
• Trail map on AllTrails+

This is one of the harder hikes on this list, but there’s not too technical and you can take breaks as you like. It’s worth sticking with it since the view from Jocelyn Hill is beautiful!

You’ll start by hiking up through some thick forest, on an easy-to-follow trail that’s well-marked.

There’s also a cool tunnel you’ll pass through on this trail!

It’s common to see bears in between Holmes Peak and Caleb Pike, so make sure to hike in groups when venturing further out into the trails and make noise from spring through fall.

You can also shorten this trail by just going over to Holmes Peak instead. This misses the swing but it’s not far from Holmes Peak so you could just walk to the swing and back down to the trailhead.

Old Baldy Mountain

• Distance: 3.4 km
• Elevation: 219 m
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Trail map on AllTrails+

Old Baldy Mountain is well known for its tree swing and stunning views across Shawnigan Lake. This hike in the Cowichan Valley near Victoria is a local favourite on Vancouver Island.

There are several trails that take you to the summit of Old Baldy Mountain and this loop route takes you on the steep trail past the ywllo gate and an easy trail on the way down. You could switch this around and hike in reverse if you like, but personally,, I prefer an easier descent.

There’s a bit of a scramble required near the top and the trail can get very busy at sunset and on weekends in summer so don’t expect to get it to yourself completely.

Island View Beach

• Distance: 2.3 km
• Elevation: minimal
• Time: 0.5 hours
• Trail map on AllTrails+

Stretching along the Haro Strait shores, Island View Beach is a great easy hike and includes a dose of history too!

If you keep your eyes peeled you might see some fossils in the rocks with some believed to be over 20,000 years old!

If you’re an avid bird watcher you might get lucky and see some eagles as well as red-throated loons too.

The beach trail is flat and easy and takes you through Tsawout First Nation territory. Along the route and at the end, you’ll come out to great views of the Haro Strait and nearby islands.

Mount Douglas

• Distance: 4 km
• Elevation: 232 m
• Duration: 2 hours
• AllTrails+ map

The Mount Douglas trail in Saanich is one of the best hikes near Victoria BC. It’s a popular easy hiking trail that gives you 360-degree views of Downtown Victoria, Saanich, and the scenic Haro Strait.

This trail takes you on the Whittaker Trail, but there are plenty of other routes that you could take to make it to Mount Douglas. It’s a short but sweet hike that includes an optional scramble if you want to take the shortcut to the top.

Sooke Potholes

• Distance: 8.9 km
• Elevation: 235 m
• Duration: 2-3 hours
• AllTrails+ map

The Sooke Potholes are a super cool post on Vancouver Island that you can visit all year round.

An easy trail takes you out to a collection of rock pools where you can bathe in the waters in summer, or watch salmon in the fall.

You can also extend this hike near Victoria to East Sooke Regional Park where you’ll find loads of trails. You can explore forests, pebbly beaches and tide pools and, on clear days, see views of the Olympic Mountains in the US.

It’s the combination of swimming holes and views that make this one of the best hiking trails Victoria BC has to offer.

The trail map above is on the Riverside trail and you can make it as long or short as you like. Just past the Sand Pebble Beach area on the AllTrails map is where you’ll find some great potholes.

Upper Goldstream Falls Trail

• Distance: 2.9 km
• Elevation: 78 m
• Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
• AllTrails+ map

The hike to Goldstream Falls in Goldstream Provincial Park is one of the best easy hikes in Victoria British Columbia.

It’s a popular route so it’s not a great option if you’re looking for hidden hikes Victoria has, but it’s definitely worthwhile.

You’ll get to experience towering trees and the spectacular waterfall as you walk alongside the river. In the summer, the waterfall’s pool even gives you the chance to enjoy a refreshing swim! Just make sure you’re either wearing water shoes or tread cautiously, as the rocks can get quite slippery.

What to pack for hiking Victoria BC

What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.

• Check out my day hike packing list here.
• If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
• Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
• Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
• If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
• You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
• You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
• Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.

FAQs about these Victoria easy hikes

Final thoughts on the best easy hiking trails in Victoria Canada

These easy hikes in Victoria British Columbia over the hills, coastal paths and forests around the city are great trails for beginner hikers or for times you just want to get outside on an easy, yet pretty, walk.

Many of these trails are also great if you’re visiting Victoria in winter.

If you’re staying in Victoria, check out the best places to stay in Victoria, and if you’re looking for more hikes on Vancouver Island I’ve got you covered.

For those spending longer on Vancouver Island, check out this weekend itinerary for Tofino, Tofino’s best hikes, including this Tofino beach viewpoint, and this guide to Campbell River.

Or, treat yourself to an incredible experience and go find grizzly bears on a wildlife tour in Victoria.