CLOSELangford is an exciting place to live. We are fortunate to be surrounded by the ocean, mountains, forests, and an abundance of hiking and walking trails. If you’re looking for an intense hike, check out Mount Wells Regional Park or the infamous Mount Finlayson, both of which offer sweeping views of the region. If you’re looking for something stroller-friendly, check out the Galloping Goose trail, or walk along the Ed Nixon or Cy Jenkins boardwalks, which surround Langford Lake and Glen Lake, respectively. The Sooke Hills Wilderness trail features a waterfall and Langford’s very own suspension bridge! Combine all of that with the many trails throughout Goldstream Park, and you’ll never run out of places to explore!
Cy Jenkins Trail
Cy Jenkin Trail hugs the shore of Glen Lake’s southern tip. The trail links the community along Glennan Road to Happy Valley and the commercial hub surrounding Langford Fire Rescue Station No. 2.
Take a stroll along the boardwalk, through the trees and see if you can spot the herons, otter and resident wildlife.
Cy Jenkins Trail is one of the few City of Langford trails that intersect the Galloping Goose Trail.
E&N Rail Trail
The E&N Rail Trail is the Capital Region’s newest pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfare. Following the existing E&N Rail corridor, the Trail stretches from Esquimalt to the pedestrian-oriented green heart of Langford.
The E&N is the City’s main trail. It cut’s through Langford’s downtown core, past City Centre Park and the Westhills development, into the beautiful greenery of CRD Humpback Reservoir where it will eventually connect with the proposed Trans-Canada Trail.
The E&N connects to the Galloping Goose Trail at several points along its path to the Humpback Reservoir in western Langford. Like the Galloping Goose, the E&N moves through urban, rural and wilderness settings. Some portions of the Trail are multi-use bike and pedestrian paths.
Ed Nixon Trail
Ed Nixon Trail follows the southwestern curve of Langford Lake.
The tranquil path runs along the bank of Langford’s largest lake until it reaches the floating viewing platform and children’s playground and public washrooms. Stroll along the marsh at Langford Lake’s western end via a long boardwalk that protects the wetlands below.
Ed Nixon Trail is one of the City of Langford’s largest trails and runs from City Centre Park to where Goldstream meets the Trans-Canada highway in the west. Ed Nixon Trail connects to the Leigh Road Trail from Goldstream Avenue and to Happy Valley across the Cy Jenkins Trail.
Galloping Goose Trail
The Galloping Goose Trail is southern Vancouver Island’s most travelled trail and provides a continuous route from Sooke to Sidney to downtown Victoria. The Trail connects cyclists and pedestrians from throughout the Capital Region to the City of Langford. It is the ideal choice for active commuters to and from Langford.
The Trail runs through south-central Langford and along the southern tip of Glen Lake. It moves through urban, rural and wilderness settings, and the surface of the trail often reflects its surroundings. The majority of the Trail is unpaved gravel, while the downtown portions that pass through View Royal, Saanich and Victoria are paved.
For those challenging themselves to trek the entire Trail, Langford makes a great spot to rest and revitalize. Situated near the midpoint of the Galloping Goose, Langford has every amenity and a variety of accommodations to recharge yourself before setting out to complete the trail.
Millstream Creek Trail
Millstream Creek Trail is part of Langford’s amazing trail system and one of the city’s most unique trails. The trail follows the sweep of Millstream Creek as it winds through Thetis Heights, Langford’s northeastern neighbhourhood.
Off of Goldie Avenue, trail users can enjoy the seasonally changing beauty of the Millstream Creek corridor. The route crosses two unique bridges with striking views of the creek environment. Along the way, recently renovated Goldie playground offers a sunny children’s playground and resting spot to recharge your energy.
Millstream Creek Trail also connects Millstream Elementary and provides quick access to the commercial hub of Millstream Village down the hill.
Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail
The 13km unpaved trail offers a unique wilderness experience as it travels through remote areas and wildlife habitat. The trail lies between the Humpback Reservoir in Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park and the Capital Regional District-Cowichan Valley Regional District boundary. Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail provides part of both The Trans Canada Trail and the Vancouver Island Trail routes.
Rest at the viewing platform, 2.5km from the Humpback trailhead, to take in the sights and sounds of Waugh Creek Falls, which flows forcefully in the winter and spring. From there, it is 0.5km to the suspension bridge across the Goldstream River.
Goldstream Provincial Park
Massive trees, majestic waterfalls, a meandering river that meets the sea, flowers, birds and fascinating fish are but a few of the attractions that draw people to Goldstream Provincial Park, a mere 16 km from downtown Victoria on southern Vancouver Island.
Trails range from easy, wheelchair-accessible walks to strenuous hikes and track along creeks, through forested uplands and past abandoned gold diggings from the days of the Gold Rush. More adventurous hikers can climb to the top of one of the highest points in Greater Victoria – Mount Finlayson, a recent addition to the park in 1994. Another trail leads you to stunning Niagara Falls, which cascades 47.5 metres down a rock cliff into a crystal clear canyon pool below.
Mill Hill Regional Park
A little-known oasis of nature, this park exemplifies the exquisite beauty and ecological wealth of our region. Walk through cool woodland and climb to the summit (203m) for spectacular views. Hike on trails that meander past a Douglas-fir forest, a Garry oak ecosystem and a rocky hilltop. Take in breathtaking views overlooking Esquimalt Harbour and a scenic panorama of the Victoria area. At the summit, visit the Regional Parks 35th Anniversary peak-finder cairn, built from stones found at the summit and mounted on the foundations of a Forest Service lookout tower.
For more adventurous hikers, a trail winds down the eastern side of Mill Hill and connects with a trail to Thetis Lake Regional Park on the other side of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Mount Wells Regional Park
The hike to the summit (352m) of Mount Wells is steep and challenging, suitable for fit hikers. Follow the trail to the summit for sweeping views of Juan de Fuca Strait, Victoria and the Sooke Hills. The trail climbs through Douglas-fir forest and sensitive Garry oak ecosystems to open rocky hilltops dotted with arbutus trees, hairy manzanita and a mosaic of lush mosses.
Thetis Lake Regional Park
One of the most visited regional parks in the Capital Regional District, Thetis Lake is one of the largest regional parks with over 40 kilometers of recreational trails to explore. There are scenic trails hugging Upper and Lower Thetis lakes. For panoramic views of the lakes and surrounding hills, follow the more challenging trails up Seymour or Scafe hills.