First pick
Beacon Hill Park
Park or garden
72 ha18.5 km of path
4 h 5 minto walk all 18.5 km of path
1.9 km southfrom the centre
Dallas Road Waterfront TrailBridge WayArbutus Way+4 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.08%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Victoria · parks, protected land & trails
Within 13 km of Victoria: Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
34 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Mile Zero Beach. A provincial park, Discovery Island Marine Park, lies 5.6 km away. The protected share within 10 km is 8%, where a typical Canadian town has 2.3%.
Protected land
8%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
20
within 10 km, 14 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
13 km
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Nearest provincial park
5.6 km
Discovery Island Marine Park
Walking routes
4
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
34
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
The outdoors in Victoria, in short
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A national park nearbyGulf Islands National Park Reserve, 13 km awayBeaches34 beaches within 5 kmProtected land all round8% of the land within 10 km, more than 81% of Canadian townsWalking routes4 named routes within 2 km
For someone who likes to get outside, Victoria’s draw is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve within easy reach, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Victoria beside other Canadian towns, figure by figure
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 one of Canada’s graded subjects, so there’s no letter here: each figure is set against other Canadian towns instead.
Protected within 10 km8%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0.9%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas14Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes4Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches34Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Victoria comes 13th of 40 towns its size for protected land around it
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (79,371 to 142,450 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
Victoria8%
Towns its size3%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Victoria14
Towns its size12
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Victoria4
Towns its size1
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
For walking routes, Victoria sits near the top of its size group: 7 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort McMurray AB | 34% | 35% | 21 | 1 | 289 |
| 2 | Maple Ridge BC | 26% | 21% | 101 | 1 | 41 |
| 3 | Delta BC | 24% | 17% | 181 | 9 | 19 |
| 4 | North Vancouver BC | 15% | 22% | 18 | 11 | 169 |
| 5 | Kamloops BC | 14% | 13% | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| 6 | Saint John NB | 14% | 11% | 63 | 3 | 97 |
| 7 | Chilliwack BC | 11% | 7.7% | 36 | 4 | 26 |
| 8 | Saanich BC | 11% | 9.4% | 43 | 7 | 56 |
| 9 | Strathcona County AB | 9.4% | 1.4% | 38 | 7 | 6 |
| 10 | Repentigny QC | 8.3% | 1.6% | 41 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Cape Breton NS | 8.2% | 8.6% | 176 | 1 | 74 |
| 12 | New Westminster BC | 8% | 0% | 83 | 4 | 9 |
| 13 | Victoria BC | 8% | 0.9% | 20 | 4 | 34 |
| 14 | Lindsay ON | 7.6% | 9.2% | 60 | 5 | 9 |
| 15 | Pickering ON | 7.6% | 11% | 46 | 1 | 11 |
| 16 | Brossard QC | 5.6% | 9.1% | 31 | 0 | 6 |
| 17 | Ajax ON | 4.9% | 5.8% | 31 | 1 | 8 |
| 18 | Bolton ON | 4.8% | 5.9% | 113 | 11 | 3 |
| 19 | Chomedey QC | 3.9% | 0.1% | 43 | 0 | 2 |
| 20 | Terrebonne QC | 3.8% | 3.6% | 60 | 0 | 3 |
| 21 | St. John's NL | 2.2% | 1.2% | 6 | 1 | 41 |
| 22 | Moncton NB | 2.2% | 1.7% | 17 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | Nanaimo BC | 1.9% | 6.7% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| 24 | Bowmanville ON | 1.6% | 3% | 25 | 2 | 9 |
| 25 | Sault Ste. Marie ON | 1.6% | 7.5% | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| 26 | Newmarket ON | 1.3% | 1.8% | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu QC | 1.1% | 1.2% | 18 | 1 | 3 |
| 28 | Niagara Falls ON | 1.1% | 1.7% | 15 | 3 | 4 |
| 29 | Saint-Jérôme QC | 1% | 0.1% | 16 | 0 | 3 |
| 30 | Chatham ON | 1% | 1% | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| 31 | Red Deer AB | 0.7% | 1.2% | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 32 | Peterborough ON | 0.6% | 0% | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 33 | Waterloo ON | 0.6% | 0% | 17 | 12 | 1 |
| 34 | Lethbridge AB | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Brantford ON | 0.3% | 0% | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| 36 | Prince George BC | 0.3% | 0.5% | 5 | 1 | 51 |
| 37 | Sarnia ON | 0.2% | 0.3% | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 38 | Drummondville QC | 0.1% | 0.2% | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 39 | Thunder Bay ON | 0.1% | 0.4% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 40 | Airdrie AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The map
Where the green is in Victoria
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 named parks and woods to walk in near Victoria
The biggest is Beacon Hill Park, 72 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
30 named parks and woods, 218 ha in all
Parks & gardens 218 ha
Beacon Hill Park plus Cedar Hill Park & Golf Course account for 58% of the green.
Cedar Hill Park & Golf Course
Park or garden
54 ha10.1 km of path
2 h 15 minto walk all 10.1 km of path
3.2 km northfrom the centre
Derby Connector
Directionsto a point inside
Clover Point Park
Park or garden
8.4 ha3.4 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.4 km of path
2.4 km southfrom the centre
Dallas Road Waterfront Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Holland Point Park
Park or garden
8.8 ha2.8 km of path
35 minto walk all 2.8 km of path
2.6 km south-westfrom the centre
Dallas Road Waterfront Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Topaz Park
Park or garden
10 ha2 km of path
25 minto walk all 2 km of path
1.8 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Gorge Park
Park or garden
4.7 ha1.7 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.7 km of path
3.7 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Banfield Park
Park or garden
5.4 ha1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
2.7 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Summit Park
Park or garden
5.7 ha0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
1.9 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Beacon Hill ParkPark or garden · 72 ha · 18.5 km of path
DirectionsCedar Hill Park & Golf CoursePark or garden · 54 ha · 10.1 km of path
DirectionsClover Point ParkPark or garden · 8.4 ha · 3.4 km of path
DirectionsHolland Point ParkPark or garden · 8.8 ha · 2.8 km of path
DirectionsTopaz ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 2 km of path
DirectionsGorge ParkPark or garden · 4.7 ha · 1.7 km of path
DirectionsBanfield ParkPark or garden · 5.4 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsSummit ParkPark or garden · 5.7 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsVictoria West ParkPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsCentral ParkPark or garden · 3.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsSmith Hill ReservoirPark or garden · 3.0 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsSt. Ann's Academy National Historic SitePark or garden · 2.7 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsPeter Pollen Waterfront ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsSonghees Point ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsRutledge ParkPark or garden · 2.0 ha · 0.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsCecelia Ravine ParkPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsOaklands ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsWalbran ParkPark or garden · 2.6 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsWest Bay WalkwayPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsFisherman's Wharf ParkPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsStadacona ParkPark or garden · 2.0 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsRoyal Athletic ParkPark or garden · 3.0 ha
DirectionsWestsong WalkwayPark or garden · 1.3 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsMacdonald ParkPark or garden · 3.0 ha
DirectionsHollywood ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsGonzales Hill Regional ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsBrowning ParkPark or garden · 1.6 ha · 0.6 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsKings ParkPark or garden · 1.8 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsRudd ParkPark or garden · 2.0 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsPemberton ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.3 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 Victoria 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 (0.7%)
Victoria99%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
That beats the typical Canadian town, where it is 83%. For about 1,000 people, the nearest park is over 400 m away.
Protected areas
8% of the land around Victoria is protected
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Victoria0.9%
Within 10 km8%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public bodies own 14 of the 20; land trusts and private owners hold the others. Thetis Lake Regional Park is the biggest, 923 ha. The count includes 6 areas that are private or not recorded as public; they aren’t named.
Gonzales Hill Regional ParkMunicipal park · 1.8 ha · reaches Victoria
Trial Islands Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 14 ha · 1.5 km from the edge of town
Oak Bay Islands Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 232 ha · 3.1 km from the edge of town
Ten Mile Point Ecological ReserveNature reserve · 15 ha · 4.4 km from the edge of town
Thetis Lake Regional ParkMunicipal park · 923 ha · 5.2 km from the edge of town
Discovery Island Marine ParkProvincial park · 67 ha · 5.6 km from the edge of town
Francis/King Regional ParkMunicipal park · 107 ha · 5.7 km from the edge of town
Elk/Beaver Lake Regional ParkMunicipal park · 443 ha · 6.1 km from the edge of town
Mill Hill Regional ParkMunicipal park · 81 ha · 6.2 km from the edge of town
Maltby LakeNature reserve · 77 ha · 6.5 km from the edge of town
4 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
Big parks near Victoria
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
Discovery Island Marine Park
5.6 km east0.7 km²since 1972
National park reserve
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
13 km north67 km²since 2010
Nearer still is Discovery Island Marine Park, a provincial park 5.6 km away.
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: 142 km in and around Victoria
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
142 km
in and around the town (43.3 km²)
Woodland
1.5%
about 0.7 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
VictoriaTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths3.3
024 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
VictoriaTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland1.5%
0%50%100%
For path density, it beats 75% of Canadian towns. 78% of Canadian towns are more wooded.
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 TCT: Trans-Canada Trail (Vancouver Island) passes Victoria
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
NationalRegional
Trans-Canada Trail - Galloping Goose Regional Trail17.4 km
TCT: Trans-Canada Trail (Vancouver Island)7.7 km
Vancouver Island Trail742.1 km
E&N Rail Trail - Humpback Connector13.9 km
Of the TCT: Trans-Canada Trail (Vancouver Island)’s 8 km, 7.6 km passes close to town. The longest of the rest is the Vancouver Island Trail, 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
Get out in Victoria in May to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Victoria Gonzales (City) (2.8 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 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 8 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 111 | 61 | 62 | 36 | 28 | 19 | 13 | 16 | 28 | 85 | 129 | 87 |
Expect 129 mm in November, the wettest month, and 13 mm in July. Summer highs reach 21 °C in August; in December they stay near 8 °C. Some 39 cm of snow falls each winter. The climate in Victoria →
Beaches
Beaches near Victoria: 34 within 5 km
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Mile Zero Beachgravel · in town
DirectionsSteve Fonyo Beachgravel · in town
DirectionsFinlayson Point Beachgravel · in town
DirectionsGonzales Beachsand · 0.1 km from town
DirectionsFleming Beach1.5 km from town
DirectionsWillows Beach1.6 km from town
DirectionsWithin 5 km is 124 km of coastline. Another 28 have no name on the map. 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
Near Victoria: 28 viewpoints, 1 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
28Viewpoints10Hills and peaks1Waterfalls1Nature reserves1Picnic sites170Playgrounds2Dog parks3Slipways
Top of the list: playgrounds, 170 of them. Highest of the named peaks: Mount Tolmie, 120 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 28
Woodlands Viewing Platformin town
DirectionsWW2 Observation Tower0.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 26 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 10
Beacon Hill39 m · in town
DirectionsFairfield Hill40 m · in town
DirectionsMount Stephen50 m · in town
DirectionsPeacock Hill61 m · in town
DirectionsSmith Hill66 m · in town
DirectionsGonzales Hill60 m · 0.3 km from town
DirectionsHighrock Cairn78 m · 0.9 km from town
DirectionsGolf Hill34 m · 1.0 km from town
DirectionsPlus 2 hills and peaks more.
Waterfalls 1
Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 1
Matson Conservation Area0.1 km from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 170
Children's Waterparkin town
DirectionsPlayroomin town
DirectionsPlus 168 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 2
Plus 2 dog parks without a name on the map.
Slipways 3
Plus 3 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
Near Victoria: 3 gardens and parks to visit
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
CraigdarrochNational Historic Site · from 1887 · In Victoria
Its pageAbkhazi GardenGarden or park · at the edge of town
DirectionsRose GardenGarden or park · 1.3 km from town
DirectionsThe oldest is Craigdarroch, from 1887. One is a National Historic Site. You can reach one without leaving town.
Sources: 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 Victoria
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Oak BayEsquimaltSaanichNew Songhees 1AView RoyalColwoodVictoria
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 8% | 20 | 4 | 34 |
| Oak Bay 3.2 km | 5.4% | 17 | 2 | 26 |
| Esquimalt 3.9 km | 12% | 31 | 4 | 19 |
| Saanich 5.1 km | 11% | 43 | 7 | 56 |
| New Songhees 1A 5.5 km | 14% | 29 | 3 | 16 |
| View Royal 7.5 km | 21% | 35 | 3 | 20 |
| Colwood 10 km | 19% | 36 | 4 | 21 |
View Royal and Colwood have at least twice the protected share around them. Saanich has the most mapped walking routes nearby: 7.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. Land owned by individuals, companies or conservation groups counts toward the figures but is never named: a person’s land isn’t a place to visit.
- Beaches. A beach counts when its centre point lies within 5 km of the town’s outline. Names come from the map.
- Walking routes. A route counts when 300 m or more of it lies within 2 km of the town. Coverage of trails on OpenStreetMap varies by region.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
- Protected land. The share is of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s outline, from CPCAD’s mapped areas; marine areas count, so a coastal town can score high on water.
Questions about the outdoors in Victoria
Are there hiking trails near Victoria?
Try the TCT: Trans-Canada Trail (Vancouver Island), Trans-Canada Trail - Galloping Goose Regional Trail and Vancouver Island Trail; more are on the map.
Is there a beach near Victoria?
The nearest is Mile Zero Beach, in town.
How much land around Victoria is protected?
Protected areas cover 8% of the land within 10 km.
How far is Victoria from a national park?
It is Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, 13 km off.
How far is the nearest provincial park from Victoria?
It is Discovery Island Marine Park, 5.6 km away.
What is the best season to get outdoors in Victoria?
May to September: long days, mild highs and little rain.
Which is the biggest protected area near Victoria?
Thetis Lake Regional Park, a municipal park of 923 ha.
Sources
Where Victoria’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).