Lochside Regional Trail

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. 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.

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.

source: CRD Parks