Distance: 8.3 km round trip, including about 1100 feet of elevation gain.

Terrain and Difficulty: Some difficult sections with steep rock and gravel. This is much more of a hike than other posts on this site. Take water for your dog, the ridge trail is often devoid of puddles.

Restrictions: Gowlland Tod Provincial Park is an on lease park. This is a park where your dog must be under control. Check signs.

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Distance: 4 km round trip, including about 1200 feet of vertical climb.

Terrain and Difficulty: Many difficult sections with steep rock and gravel. You will need to scramble up some sections. You will ask yourself: Are we there yet?

Restrictions: This is an on lease park and dogs must not go in the river, which is a salmon habitat. There are also other wildlife issues to consider including bears. This is a park where your dog must be under control. Check signs.

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Distance: 5.83km round trip with about 900 feet of vertical climb.

Terrain and Difficulty: Dirt and rock paths, some gravel and steep sections.

Restrictions: This is an off lease park. Check signs.

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Mount Doug is the jewel of the CRD parks. Major features of this park are the summit, which offers views of Victoria, and the its large beach. There are many well marked trails and most people start at the main parking lot off Cordova Bay Rd. The walk shown gets away from the crowds, staying in the West side of the park. Starting at a small parking lot at the end of Glendenning Rd., it goes up the North side to the summit and comes back down the South/West side using the Glendenning Trail.

Distance: 3.6km round trip, including about 500 feet of vertical climb. This park has endless trail options going both around the summit and over it.

Terrain and Difficulty: Several difficult sections with steep gravel and sand. Easier options are available.

Restrictions: This is an off lease park. There is a picnic area on the other side of the park near the beach. Check signs.

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Island View Beach is a great park to get away from it all. Even on a sunny summer day, the north part of the park is not usually busy. The walk shown continues north of the park along the beach. A major feature of this beach are the sandbars that form when the tide is low. The pictures below were taking during a particularly low tide. The sandbars are a perfect place for a dog to run.

Distance: The walk shown is a 4.3km round trip (North most parking lot to the point and back). Other trail options are available. Starting from the south parking lot/boat launch is another option.

Terrain and Difficulty: Level dirt/sand paths, wet and dry sand/gravel beach.

Restrictions: This is an off lease park but dogs are not allowed in the beach/picnic areas from June 1 through September 15. Check signs.

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Distance: The walk shown is a 5km round trip (Aylard Farm to Beechey Head via the Coast Trail and back on the interior trail/service road). East Sooke Park is huge with many trails to explore. The possibilities are endless.

Terrain and Difficulty: Around Aylard Farm and the beech is an easy walk. The coast trail is fairly level but has difficult rocky terrain and can be muddy. The interior trails and service road may be muddy but are fairly easy to traverse.

Restrictions: This is an off lease park but dogs are not allowed in the beech and picnic areas from June 1 through September 15.

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Distance: 300m from the parking lot to the off lease area. The main loop in the park is 700m around.

Terrain: Main path is paved or graval. Secondary paths are narrower dirt and rock. The paths down to the beach can be a steep but some are easier than others.

Difficulty: A walk in the park.

Restrictions: This is an off lease park but the short walk from the parking lot to the park is on lease and goes through a popular rock climing and picnic area.

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Distance: 4.77km

Terrain: Dirt path and rock, uneven and muddy at times.

Difficulty: A walk in the park with some hills.

Restrictions: This is a provincial park so, technically, it is an on lease only park. I have never seen a dog on lease in this park but Tod Inlet is a sensitive nesting area. Check signs, be respectful, and use your best judgment.

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