Parks & Trails
Come and explore the diverse outdoor opportunities View Royal has to offer with parks and trails that showcase the breathtaking natural beauty of the Pacific Coast. Spend time with family and friends and enjoy a breath of fresh air in our many open spaces. While walking, jogging, or playing in our parks, take time to discover all that View Royal has to offer.
Parks & Trails Map
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Parks
View Royal offers a park in every neighbourhood! Pack a lunch and head down to the park for the afternoon, or take the kids and the dog to go run and play together right in your own backyard. Below are some of the more well known parks that can be enjoyed throughout the Town.
- Chancellor Park: features a half court with basketball hoop/hockey net, picnic tables, playground and a walking trail.
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Chilco Park: features a fantastic green open space, picnic areas, and a large playground for both younger and older kids.
- Helmcken Centennial Park: baseball games are a fixture during the summer months at this park! Also includes tennis courts, picnic areas, and playground equipment with a 100ft zip line!
- Portage Park: beach access, paved paths, off-leash dog area, playground; this park has it all!
- Thetis Lake Park: Thetis Lake is the largest CRD park in View Royal. This beautiful forested park can be enjoyed year round. It offers a large beach area that’s great for swimming with washrooms and change areas. The lake is also perfect for paddle boarding, canoe/kayaking, and fishing. The park also offers off-leash dog areas.
- View Royal Park: this exciting park features a paved walking loop, off-leash dog area, outdoor adult excercise equipment, large playground, and a new paved bike pump track!
View the Parks & Trails Map for a full list of parks in View Royal and their amenities.
Trails
The trails network in View Royal has been created as part of the Town’s vision to promote a liveable community by providing a neighbourhood recreation opportunity. These local trails connect us within our own community as well with regional systems. Below are some of the more well known trails that can be enjoyed throughout the Town.
- Chilco Trails: this network of trails has multiple access points that allow pedestrian access from the bottom of the Thetis Vale development all the way to the viewing platform at the top. The viewing platform is one of the best lookouts in the region!
- Duffus Trail: follows the shoreline of Mill Stream. There are benches along the walkway, which gives opportunity to observe local and migratory water birds.
- E&N Rail Trail: this popular cycling and pedestrian trail is being constructed largely within the E&N rail corridor. The trail is being built in phases over a number of years and will be 17 kilometres in length when complete. Visit https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/capital-projects/e-n-rail-trail for more information.
- Galloping Goose Regional Trail: a popular regional trail system that provides great commuter routes . "The Goose" connects Downtown to Sooke, with a connection to the Lochside Trail, which will connect you to Swartz Bay. This is a great trail for the whole family. Check out the full trail map for the Galloping Goose.
- MacLennan Trail: can be accessed from the Trans Canada Hwy/Helmcken Rd overpass on the south side. It follows the Trans Canada Hwy across Criagflower Creek and connects with the trail system within View Royal Park.
- Parsons Trail: a beautiful, untouched, natural-state trail along the Parsons Cove inlet.
- Thetis Lake Regional Trails: Thetis Lake Regional Park offers an extensive trail system that is rated moderate to challenging.