Capital Regional District (CRD) Regional Parks protects and manages more than 13,300 hectares of natural areas in 33 regional parks and four regional trails on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, providing outdoor experiences and activities that improve personal health and foster appreciation and respect for the region's natural environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CRD Clean Air Bylaw prohibits smoking in all regional parks and on regional trails.
Boating is permitted in the following lakes, with some restrictions:
- Beaver Lake: 10 horsepower maximum
- Durrance Lake: electric motors only
- Elk Lake: 10 horsepower maximum (over 10 horsepower in area marked by buoys only)
- Matheson Lake: electric motors only
- Prior Lake: no power boats
- Thetis Lake: electric motors only
CRD Regional Parks operates three self-contained RV and tent campgrounds:
- Island View Beach Regional Park in Central Saanich
- Jordan River Regional Park in Jordan River
- Sooke Potholes Regional Park near Sooke
All other regional parks and trails are day-use only. No overnight camping is permitted.
Cycling is permitted on the four CRD regional trails:
- The 55km Galloping Goose Regional Trail that connects downtown Victoria with Sooke.
- The 29km Lochside Regional Trail that begins in Saanich and ends at the BC Ferries terminal at Swartz Bay.
- The 17km E&N Rail Trail - Humpback Connector between Victoria and Langford.
- The 2.3km Mayne Island Regional Trail between Village Bay ferry terminal and Miners Bay village on Mayne Island.
Cycling is also permitted in the following regional parks:
- Hartland mountain biking area of Mount Work Regional Park
- Western portion of the 10km Trail at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park
- Mountain biking trails in Sea to Sea Regional Park
- Kapoor Regional Park, which lies at the end of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail
- Designated trails at Roche Cove Regional Park which intersects with the Galloping Goose Regional Trail
- Designated trails at Sooke Potholes Regional Park
- Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail (The Great Trail), within Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park
- Designated multi-use trails at Thetis Lake Regional Park
Cycling is not permitted on other trails or in other CRD parks. Please lock up your bikes and explore the parks on foot.
Yes, you are welcome to bring your dog to all regional parks and regional trails. For information regarding where dogs are required to be on leash, seasonal restrictions, and bylaws related to pets, visit the Pets in Parks page. Watch for park signs where specific dog regulations apply.
The CRD offers a wide variety of nature programs to support your efforts in the classroom, and engage your students with the natural world. For more information and to see the available programs, visit the Park Interpretive School Programs page.
Yes. The CRD allows the use of electric bicycles on all regional trails and on designated cycling trails in some regional parks.
Electric bicycles must meet the BC Motor Vehicle Act definition of "motor-assisted cycle" and display the required sticker. For a detailed description, visit the ICBC website.
Motor assisted cycles must:
- Have an electric motor of 500 watts or less
- Have attached and functioning pedals
- Not travel faster than 32 km/h without pedaling
Limited speed motorcycles are not permitted. Limited speed motorcycles:
- Have gas-powered or electric motors of more than 500 watts
- Do not have attached and functioning pedals
- Travel at speeds greater than 32 km/h without pedaling
No. Open fires are not allowed in regional parks. Check with your local municipality to find out where open fires are allowed in the Capital Region.
Yes. CRD recognizes geocaching as a recreational activity in regional parks and trails. Please refer to the Geocaching in CRD Regional Parks Guidelines [PDF/106KB].
Parking is free in most regional parks and trails. Pay parking at Sooke Potholes and Thetis Lake Regional Parks is in effect for the summer season from May 1 to September 30.
The cost of parking is $2.00 for two hours, $4.00 per day, or $30 for a season's pass. A seasonal parking pass is valid at both parks. Ticket dispensers accept loonies, toonies, quarters and credit cards.
You may also purchase a ticket or seasonal pass using the Honk Mobile system. You can pay online or download the app. Parking passes use a pay-by-plate system whereby the parking pass is associated with a specific vehicle. You do not need to display a pass in your vehicle.
Find out more details on the Parking Fees page.
Group picnic shelters are available to reserve at Elk/Beaver Lake, East Sooke Park and Island View Beach. The CRD’s secure online reservation site allows you to reserve and pay immediately for a picnic shelter with no wait.
Find more information on the Picnic Shelters in Regional Parks page.
Each park listing provides directions to the park by public transit where applicable. You can also download the information sheet listing all parks accessible by bus:
CRD Regional Parks Accessible by BC Public Transit [PDF/30KB]
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is responsible for monitoring the quality of recreational water. They monitor the water quality at beaches in the summer months only and post the reports on the VIHA website.
Bylaw 4545
A bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 3675 which provides for park use permit fees and charges payable for regional parks services and facilities within the Capital Regional District:
Bylaw 4431
A bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 4225 which regulates the use of regional parks and trails:
Bylaw 4433
Fine schedule for Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1, 2018, amended from Bylaw No. 1857:
Report an Issue
Thank you for your assistance in keeping our parks safe and clean. If you see something that requires our attention in a regional park or on a regional trail, report an issue online.
