First pick
Thetis Lake Regional Park
Park or garden
928 ha77.5 km of path
17 h 15 minto walk all 77.5 km of path
9.6 km westfrom the centre
Bellamy TrailUpper Thetis Lake TrailMcKenzie Creek Trail+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Keefer4~commonswiki · CC BY-SA 2.511%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Saanich · parks, protected land & trails
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve is 5.8 km from Saanich
43 protected areas lie within 10 km. OpenStreetMap shows 7 walking routes nearby, including the Trans-Canada Trail - Galloping Goose Regional Trail and Vancouver Island Trail. Within 5 km are 56 beaches; Beaver Beach is the nearest.
Protected land
11%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
43
within 10 km, 28 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
5.8 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Gowlland Tod Park
Walking routes
7
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
56
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Saanich, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A national park nearbyGulf Islands National Park Reserve, 5.8 km awayProtected land all round11% of the land within 10 km, more than 87% of Canadian townsBeaches56 beaches within 5 kmMany protected areas28 public areas within 10 km
For someone who likes to get outside, Saanich’s draw is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve within easy reach, with protected land around it close behind.
Against other towns
Saanich against other Canadian towns
Each figure against the 2,611 Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+ (not city hubs or reserves), with the town marked and the typical one’s line. Outdoors isn’t graded in Canada. The page compares each figure with other towns and leaves it there.
Protected within 10 km11%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town9.4%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas28Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes7Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches56Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Among 40 towns its size, Saanich ranks 7th for protected land within 10 km
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (92,124 to 167,654 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.
Protected within 10 km
Saanich11%
Towns its size3.7%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Saanich28
Towns its size14
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Saanich7
Towns its size1
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Saanich beats most towns its size for walking routes; 7 of 39 do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maple Ridge BC | 26% | 21% | 101 | 1 | 41 |
| 2 | Delta BC | 24% | 17% | 181 | 9 | 19 |
| 3 | North Vancouver BC | 15% | 22% | 18 | 11 | 169 |
| 4 | Kamloops BC | 14% | 13% | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| 5 | Kelowna BC | 13% | 3.8% | 36 | 0 | 42 |
| 6 | Chilliwack BC | 11% | 7.7% | 36 | 4 | 26 |
| 7 | Saanich BC | 11% | 9.4% | 43 | 7 | 56 |
| 8 | Strathcona County AB | 9.4% | 1.4% | 38 | 7 | 6 |
| 9 | Trois-Rivières QC | 8.4% | 1.2% | 44 | 1 | 10 |
| 10 | Cape Breton NS | 8.2% | 8.6% | 176 | 1 | 74 |
| 11 | New Westminster BC | 8% | 0% | 83 | 4 | 9 |
| 12 | Victoria BC | 8% | 0.9% | 20 | 4 | 34 |
| 13 | Pickering ON | 7.6% | 11% | 46 | 1 | 11 |
| 14 | Saguenay QC | 6% | 6.1% | 29 | 0 | 11 |
| 15 | Brossard QC | 5.6% | 9.1% | 31 | 0 | 6 |
| 16 | Kingston ON | 5% | 6.2% | 54 | 2 | 5 |
| 17 | Ajax ON | 4.9% | 5.8% | 31 | 1 | 8 |
| 18 | Lévis QC | 4.1% | 0.6% | 62 | 1 | 8 |
| 19 | Whitby ON | 3.9% | 4.7% | 37 | 1 | 3 |
| 20 | Terrebonne QC | 3.8% | 3.6% | 60 | 0 | 3 |
| 21 | Langley BC | 3.5% | 2.9% | 144 | 8 | 10 |
| 22 | St. John's NL | 2.2% | 1.2% | 6 | 1 | 41 |
| 23 | Moncton NB | 2.2% | 1.7% | 17 | 0 | 2 |
| 24 | Nanaimo BC | 1.9% | 6.7% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| 25 | Cambridge ON | 1.7% | 0.4% | 33 | 10 | 2 |
| 26 | Bowmanville ON | 1.6% | 3% | 25 | 2 | 9 |
| 27 | Newmarket ON | 1.3% | 1.8% | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Milton ON | 1.3% | 0% | 38 | 15 | 3 |
| 29 | St. Catharines ON | 1.2% | 1.7% | 15 | 4 | 7 |
| 30 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu QC | 1.1% | 1.2% | 18 | 1 | 3 |
| 31 | Niagara Falls ON | 1.1% | 1.7% | 15 | 3 | 4 |
| 32 | Chatham ON | 1% | 1% | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| 33 | Guelph ON | 0.9% | 3.1% | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 34 | Red Deer AB | 0.7% | 1.2% | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 35 | Peterborough ON | 0.6% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 36 | Waterloo ON | 0.6% | 0% | 17 | 12 | 1 |
| 37 | Lethbridge AB | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Brantford ON | 0.3% | 0% | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| 39 | Thunder Bay ON | 0.1% | 0.4% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 40 | Airdrie AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
The green map of Saanich
Green space, woods, protected areas and footpaths in and around the town; tap a number for its park or wood.
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk
30 parks and woods to walk in, in or near Saanich
Largest first: Thetis Lake Regional Park leads with 928 ha. Numbers match the map.
30 named parks and woods, 2,864 ha in all
Parks & gardens 2,864 ha
Most of it sits in Thetis Lake Regional Park and Mount Work Regional Park: 59% together.
Mount Work Regional Park
Park or garden
758 ha76 km of path
16 h 55 minto walk all 76 km of path
11 km north-westfrom the centre
Summit TrailRegional TrailHuge Ribbon+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park
Park or garden
445 ha33.8 km of path
7 h 30 minto walk all 33.8 km of path
6.1 km northfrom the centre
10K Trail
Directionsto a point inside
PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park)
Park or garden
190 ha18.8 km of path
4 h 10 minto walk all 18.8 km of path
2.5 km north-eastfrom the centre
WhittakerNornIrvine+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Francis/King Regional Park
Park or garden
108 ha13.8 km of path
3 h 5 minto walk all 13.8 km of path
6.5 km westfrom the centre
Centennial TrailHigh Ridge Loop TrailShooting Star Trail+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Cedar Hill Park & Golf Course
Park or garden
54 ha10 km of path
2 h 15 minto walk all 10 km of path
2.4 km south-eastfrom the centre
Derby Connector
Directionsto a point inside
Bear Hill Regional Park
Park or garden
47 ha2.1 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.1 km of path
8.3 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Colquitz Park
Park or garden
37 ha6.1 km of path
1 h 20 minto walk all 6.1 km of path
3.2 km westfrom the centre
Colquitz River TrailRoyal Oak TrailOld Joe's Trail
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Thetis Lake Regional ParkPark or garden · 928 ha · 77.5 km of path
DirectionsMount Work Regional ParkPark or garden · 758 ha · 76 km of path
DirectionsElk/Beaver Lake Regional ParkPark or garden · 445 ha · 33.8 km of path
DirectionsPKOLS (Mount Douglas Park)Park or garden · 190 ha · 18.8 km of path
DirectionsFrancis/King Regional ParkPark or garden · 108 ha · 13.8 km of path
DirectionsCedar Hill Park & Golf CoursePark or garden · 54 ha · 10 km of path
DirectionsBear Hill Regional ParkPark or garden · 47 ha · 2.1 km of path
DirectionsColquitz ParkPark or garden · 37 ha · 6.1 km of path
DirectionsRithet's Bog Conservation AreaPark or garden · 39 ha · 2 km of path
DirectionsLayritz ParkPark or garden · 29 ha · 5.7 km of path
DirectionsCuthbert Holmes ParkPark or garden · 19 ha · 3.5 km of path
DirectionsMount Tolmie ParkPark or garden · 18 ha · 2.6 km of path
DirectionsMountain Forest Regional ParkPark or garden · 20 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsQuick's Bottom ParkPark or garden · 19 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsLambrick ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 2.6 km of path
DirectionsSwan Creek ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsEsquimalt Gorge ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 2.8 km of path
DirectionsKnockan Hill ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 2.3 km of path
DirectionsFormer Royal Oak Golf ClubPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.7 km of path
DirectionsPanama Hill ParkPark or garden · 9.0 ha · 2.5 km of path
DirectionsTopaz ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsCalvert ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsSouth Prospect Lake ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsBeckwith ParkPark or garden · 9.0 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsBoulderwood Hill ParkPark or garden · 8.0 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsEagles Lake ParkPark or garden · 8.5 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsKonukson ParkPark or garden · 6.9 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsMcMinn ParkPark or garden · 6.1 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsView Royal ParkPark or garden · 6.4 ha · 1.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsPhyllis ParkPark or garden · 5.7 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, commons and woods with a name, in the town or within 400 m, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Sizes are the mapped outline’s.
Close to home
Almost everyone in Saanich lives near a park
Residents of each 2021 dissemination area, at a point inside it, within 400 m (about a 5-minute walk) of a park or playing field mapped on OpenStreetMap.
Within 400 m (99%)Further (0.6%)
Saanich99%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
For about 1,000 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away. The usual figure for a Canadian town is 83%, lower than here.
Protected areas
Around Saanich, protected areas make up 11%
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Saanich9.4%
Within 10 km11%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public bodies own 28 of the 43; land trusts and private owners hold the others. Greater Victoria Water Supply Area leads for size with 20,620 ha. 14 areas, privately held or of unrecorded ownership, are left unnamed.
Gowlland Tod ParkProvincial park · 1,280 ha · reaches Saanich
Thetis Lake Regional ParkMunicipal park · 923 ha · reaches Saanich
Mount Work Regional ParkMunicipal park · 754 ha · reaches Saanich
Elk/Beaver Lake Regional ParkMunicipal park · 443 ha · reaches Saanich
Francis/King Regional ParkMunicipal park · 107 ha · reaches Saanich
Maltby LakeNature reserve · 77 ha · reaches Saanich
Bear Hill Regional ParkMunicipal park · 49 ha · reaches Saanich
Mountain Road Forest Regional ParkMunicipal park · 20 ha · reaches Saanich
Ten Mile Point Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 15 ha · reaches Saanich
Oak Bay Islands Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 232 ha · 0.3 km from the edge of town
16 more named areas within 10 km are in the figures.
Source: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
National & provincial parks
The parks within reach of Saanich
National parks (Parks Canada) and provincial or territorial parks by direction and distance from the town’s edge: every one within 10 km, and the nearest of each within 100 km.
National parkProvincial park
Provincial park
Gowlland Tod Park
At the edge13 km²since 1995
Provincial park
Discovery Island Marine Park
3.2 km south-east0.7 km²since 1972
Provincial park
Goldstream Park
5.5 km west4.8 km²since 1958
Provincial park
Ƚáu,Welṉew̱/John Dean Park
5.5 km north-west1.7 km²since 1921
National park reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
5.8 km north-east67 km²since 2010
Provincial park
Bamberton Park
6.5 km north-west0.3 km²since 1960
6 provincial parks lie within 10 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Paths to walk: 527 km in and around Saanich
OpenStreetMap footpaths, paths, bridleways and steps, and tracks open on foot, in the town and 1 km around it; woods as mapped (landuse=forest, natural=wood).
Footpaths
527 km
in and around the town (169.9 km²)
Woodland
24%
about 40.3 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
SaanichTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths3.1
024 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
SaanichTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland24%
0%50%100%
Few places match it for paths: more than 73% of Canadian towns have fewer. More of it is wooded than in 70% of Canadian towns.
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
The Trans-Canada Trail - Galloping Goose Regional Trail passes Saanich
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
NationalRegionalLocal
Trans-Canada Trail - Galloping Goose Regional Trail17.4 km
Vancouver Island Trail742.1 km
E&N Rail Trail - Humpback Connector13.9 km
Royal Oak Trail4.7 km
Glendale Trail4.0 km
Interurban Rail Trail3.6 km
Brentwood Bay Seaside Walk1.0 km
The Trans-Canada Trail - Galloping Goose Regional Trail (17 km) keeps within 2 km of town for 12.6 km. The Vancouver Island Trail is the big one locally: 742.1 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Saanich is best on foot in May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Victoria (University) (4.9 km), and daylight at the town’s latitude. Good months: 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15–30 °C, little rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.7 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.2 | 16.1 | 15.7 | 14.3 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 8.3 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 8 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 110 | 60 | 53 | 36 | 29 | 20 | 11 | 16 | 30 | 77 | 123 | 98 |
Winter brings about 39 cm of snow. The warmest days come in July (24 °C highs), the coldest in December (8 °C). Rain and snow peak in November (123 mm) and ease in July (11 mm). The climate in Saanich →
Beaches
Beaches near Saanich: 56 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Beaver Beachsand · in town
DirectionsEagle Beachin town
DirectionsHamsterly Beachin town
DirectionsNorth Beachin town
DirectionsSayward Beachin town
DirectionsWater Ski Beachin town
DirectionsCordova Bay Beachin town
DirectionsWillows Beach1.5 km from town
DirectionsGonzales Beachsand · 2.5 km from town
DirectionsFleming Beach3.0 km from town
DirectionsThe shoreline runs 208 km within 5 km of town. OpenStreetMap marks 2 as sandy. The map adds 43 unnamed stretches of beach. No open data on beach water quality covers every province, so check with public health before a swim.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Saanich has 56 viewpoints and 2 waterfalls nearby
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
56Viewpoints19Hills and peaks2Waterfalls2Nature reserves7Picnic sites284Playgrounds2Dog parks5Slipways
Playgrounds lead the count with 284. Mount Work tops the hills nearby, 449 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 56
Rose Fountain Viewpoint0.7 km from town
DirectionsBog Garden0.7 km from town
DirectionsGraving Dock1.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 53 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 19
Bear Hill220 m · in town
DirectionsChristmas Hill108 m · in town
DirectionsCole Hill266 m · in town
DirectionsKnockan Hill61 m · in town
DirectionsLittle Mount Douglas168 m · in town
DirectionsMount Tolmie120 m · in town
DirectionsObservatory Hill226 m · in town
DirectionsPeacock Hill61 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 11 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 2
Plus 2 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 2
Horticulture Centre of the Pacificin town
DirectionsMatson Conservation Area1.6 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 7
Plus 7 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 284
Craigflower-Kosapsom Parkin town
DirectionsPortage Park Playground0.7 km from town
DirectionsPlayroom1.7 km from town
DirectionsPlus 281 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 2
Plus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
2 gardens within reach of Saanich
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
Rose GardenGarden or park · 1.8 km from town
DirectionsAbkhazi GardenGarden or park · 1.9 km from town
DirectionsSources: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, and Wikidata (CC0), as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic places from Parks Canada’s Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, the Canadian Register of Historic Places and Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel.
Next door
Next to Saanich
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
VictoriaNew Songhees 1AEsquimaltOak BayView RoyalColwoodSaanich
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saanich | 11% | 43 | 7 | 56 |
| Victoria 5.1 km | 8% | 20 | 4 | 34 |
| New Songhees 1A 5.3 km | 14% | 29 | 3 | 16 |
| Esquimalt 5.5 km | 12% | 31 | 4 | 19 |
| Oak Bay 6.3 km | 5.4% | 17 | 2 | 26 |
| View Royal 6.3 km | 21% | 35 | 3 | 20 |
| Colwood 11 km | 19% | 36 | 4 | 21 |
Around Saanich, nobody nearby has double its protected land.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- Protected land. The 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
- National and provincial parks. The nearest national park and the nearest provincial park are always shown when they are within 100 km.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- Walking routes. Routes are what OpenStreetMap’s volunteers have mapped as named walking or hiking routes; many good trails aren’t mapped that way.
Questions about the outdoors in Saanich
When is the best time for walking in Saanich?
On the normals, May to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
Is Saanich near a national park?
The nearest is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 5.8 km away.
Is there a provincial park near Saanich?
Gowlland Tod Park begins at the town’s edge.
How much land around Saanich is protected?
Protected areas cover 11% of the land within 10 km.
Where can you swim near Saanich?
Try Beaver Beach, in town, first of several.
Are there hiking trails near Saanich?
The Trans-Canada Trail - Galloping Goose Regional Trail, Vancouver Island Trail and E&N Rail Trail - Humpback Connector, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
Which is the biggest protected area near Saanich?
It is Greater Victoria Water Supply Area, a protected area covering 20,620 ha.
Sources
Where Saanich’s outdoors figures come from
Protected areas: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2026: every area within 10 km and the nearest national and provincial parks, measured outline to outline.
Walking routes and beaches: OpenStreetMap, November 2026: named hiking, foot and walking route relations within 2 km and beaches within 5 km.
Towns: Statistics Canada 2021 Census boundaries and populations; the comparison is the Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+, not city hubs or reserves.
When to go: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, from the nearest station that publishes them.
Gardens: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden) and Wikidata gardens within 15 km, as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic gardens and parks from Canada’s heritage registers (Parks Canada DFHD, the Canadian Register of Historic Places, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel).
Green space, paths, woods, things to do: OpenStreetMap (Geofabrik’s Canada extract), November 2026: parks, gardens, playing fields, woods, footpaths, the coastline and things to do in and around each town.
Residents: Statistics Canada 2021 Census dissemination areas (population, boundaries), each at a point inside it.
Walking routes and beaches © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL).
Not on this page: trailheads and trail grades, and beach water quality. No open Canadian dataset gives these for every town yet.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).