Galloping Goose Trail  | Capital Area |  | Victoria |  |
Guides |
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Address http://www.sookenet.com/sooke/activity/trails/goose.html Galloping Goose Trailhead Victoria, BC V8W 1P6 |
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From downtown Victoria, walk over the Johnson Street Bridge on the north side. Once across, the trailhead is immediately on your right. There are many other access points over the Goose's 100 kilometers.
Description:
The Galloping Goose gets its name from a noisy gas railway car that carried passengers between Victoria and Sooke in the 1920s. The tracks are long gone, but more than 2,000 cyclists and pedestrians still travel daily along the old route. The rail bed is now a delightful trail that meanders through some 100 kilometers (62 miles) of forest, farms and urban land on scenic southern Vancouver Island.
You can access the Goose near the Johnson Street Bridge in downtown Victoria. Head north over the Selkirk trestle, pausing to watch the kayaks and competitive rowers glide beneath you. Notice the fascinating mural painted on a tunnel ceiling as you pass under Gorge Road. The trail then divides into two, with one spur heading north and the other west. Traveling north, you’ll soon pass through the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, an urban wetland oasis where thousands of birds arrive each year to lay their eggs.
The Goose soon leaves the city behind for the pastoral landscapes of the Saanich Peninsula. There are beautiful views over rolling farmland to the sea, with the San Juan Islands and Mount Baker visible on a clear day. The quaint waterfront town of Sidney is a worthwhile destination, with many casual restaurants, cafes, pubs and unique shops. Washington State Ferries offers service to the San Juan Islands and Anacortes, Washington, from here. The BC Ferries terminal with connections to Vancouver and the Gulf Islands is about 1 mile north of town.
On the westbound spur of the Goose, stop at the locally famous Hatley Castle. Here you can wander the carefully manicured grounds and theme gardens, marveling at the extravagance enjoyed by the Dunsmuir family long ago when this was their private residence. Continuing westward, the Goose travels through the forests and farms of Metchosin, known for organic fruits and vegetables. Stop for a swim in one of the many natural pools at Sooke Potholes Provincial Park. The trail eventually arrives at Leechtown, the site of an old gold mining community. Time has erased most traces of this once bustling village, however.
Get a free map of the trail from any cycling shop or tourist information center.
Written By: Richard Brunt
Features
Biking Trails
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Walking Trails
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Kid Friendly
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Swimming Areas
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Wheelchair Accessible
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