Birds of a Feather

Gowlland Tod Provincial Park provides excellent day-use recreation opportunities for hiking, nature appreciation and picnicking. More than 25 kilometres of trails, varying in degree of difficulty, offer spectacular views, as well as the chance to view animals in their natural environment.

Go for a hike on the scenic trails hugging Upper and Lower Thetis lakes. For panoramic views of the lakes and surrounding hills, follow the more challenging trails up Seymour or Scafe hills. In spring, wildflowers dot the hillsides. Please help us protect this sensitive habitat by staying on designated trails and keeping pets on the trail.

You can picnic or swim at the river, explore the short forest trails or enjoy the stunning vistas from one of several viewpoints. You may see black-tailed deer, red squirrels or bald eagles riding the breezes overhead.

The "potholes" are unique geological formations - deep pools in the river rock - that offer some of the best freshwater swimming in the region.

Roche Cove and Roche Harbour in Sooke Basin are named for Richard Roche, 3rd Lieutenant on HMS Satellite, a British naval vessel stationed in Victoria from 1857-1860. Picnic at the protected cove after an easy walk from the parking area. The sand reveals little-neck clams and barnacles at low tide. At high tide, look for sea stars moving over broken shells in search of food.

Follow the winding woodland trail through a forest dark with western red cedar and red alder, giant sword fern and Oregon grape. Listen for ravens arguing overhead, and look for bald eagles and turkey vultures circling in the sky.

On a hot summer day, Matheson Lake is a perfect place to enjoy a refreshing dip and a picnic at the sandy beach area.

In any season, hikers can enjoy the loop trail around the lake, or explore the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, which leads to adjacent Roche Cove Regional Park and points further afield.

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.

This small park offers stunning ocean views from the highest point of land (66m) on the south coast of Vancouver Island, and rocky knolls from which to appreciate them. The sunset views over downtown Victoria and the distant Sooke Hills are particularly spectacular.

Come for a visit in the spring, when wildflowers bloom in the Garry oak meadows.

This park is an ideal place for visitors of all abilities to explore nature.

This popular recreation area offers outdoor opportunities for everyone.

The lake is used cooperatively by swimmers, wind surfers, sailors, water-skiers, fishers and rowers. Some park trails are designated multi-use, for hikers, cyclists and horse riders, while others are for hiking only.