Goldstream Provincial Park (30 min. west of downtown along Hwy. 1) is a tranquil site for a short hike through towering cedars and past clear, rushing waters.
The hour-long hike up Mount Work provides excellent views of the Saanich Peninsula and a good view of Finlayson Arm. The trail head is a 30- to 45-minute drive. Take Highway 17 north to Saanich, then take Highway 17A (the W. Saanich Rd.) to Wallace Drive, turn right on Willis Point Drive, and right again on the Ross-Durrance Road, looking for the parking lot on the right. Signs are posted along the way. Equally good, though more of a scramble, is the hour-plus climb up Mount Finlayson in Gowland-Tod Provincial Park (take Hwy. 1 west, get off at the Millstream Rd. exit, and follow Millstream Rd. north to the very end).
The very popular Sooke Potholes trail wanders up beside a river to an abandoned mountain lodge. Take Highway 1A west to Colwood, then Highway 14A (the Sooke Rd.). At Sooke, turn north on Sooke River Road, and follow it to the park.
For a taste of the wild and rocky west coast, hike the oceanside trails in beautiful East Sooke Regional Park. Take Hwy. 14A west, turn south on Gillespie Road, and then take East Sooke Road.
For serious backpacking, go 104km (65 miles) west of Victoria on Highway 14A to Port Renfrew and the challenging West Coast Trail, extending 77km (48 miles) from Port Renfrew to Bamfield in a portion of Pacific Rim National Park. This trail was originally established as a lifesaving trail for shipwrecked sailors. Plan a 7-day trek for the entire route; reservations are required, so call tel. 604/663-6000. The trail is rugged and often wet, but the scenery changes from old-growth forest to magnificent secluded sand beaches, making it worth every step. You may even spot a few whales along the way. Robinson's Outdoor Store, 1307 Broad St. (tel. 250/385-3429; www.robinsonsoutdoors.com), is a good place to gear up before you go. At Robinson's, ask about the newer, less challenging 48km-long (30-mile) Juan de Fuca Marine Trail connecting Port Renfrew and the Jordan River.
Island Adventure Tours (tel. 866/812-7103; www.islandadventuretours.com) has a number of options for folks wanting to explore the outdoors. The 6-hour guided rainforest walks cost C$95 (US$81/£43) or a full-day hike including transportation and lunch. For the deluxe Juan de Fuca experience, sign up for a 3-day, fully catered backpacking trip along the rugged West Coast Trail for C$499 (US$424/£225).
For something less strenuous but still scenic, try the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd. (tel. 250/479-0211; www.swanlake.bc.ca). A floating boardwalk winds its way through this 40-hectare (99-acre) wetland past resident swans; the adjacent Nature House supplies feeding grain on request.
