Victoria-Shawnigan Lake Note: You may be riding on an abandoned railbed; expect a wide range of surface conditions, from hard packed gravel to loose, unconsolidated railway ballast. This trail is generally unsuitable for street bikes, and will require a bike with wider tires for soft surfaces. Main > Communities > Victoria-Shawnigan Lake > Trips Map Info

Galloping Goose Regional Trail
(60 km one way)

The Galloping Goose Regional Trail is a 60-kilometre route running along a former rail line from downtown Victoria west to Leechtown, an abandoned mining town. This route takes you through and near the communities of Saanich, View Royal, Langford, Colwood, Metchosin and Sooke. Actively used by cyclists, walkers and horseback riders, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail is managed by the Capital Regional District (CRD) Parks Department. Check the CRD website for complete route details and maps at www.crd.bc.ca/parks/parkgse.htm

Day Trip - Shawnigan north to Kinsol Trestle
(~15 km one way/30km return)

Trail conditions: You will be riding on the abandoned Cowichan Subdivision Canadian National Railway corridor; expect a wide range of surface conditions, from hard packed gravel to loose, unconsolidated railway ballast. This trail is generally unsuitable for street bikes, and will require a bike with wider tires for soft surfaces.

Trail Access:
There are a number of access points along this route. Those described here begin from Victoria. Head north from Victoria on Highway 1 for approximately 30 km; turn left (west) off highway on to South End Shawnigan Lake Road.

Access 1: Follow South End Shawnigan Lake Road for ~5km and turn left on to Sooke Lake Road. Continue on for 1.5 km and turn right into parking area.

Access 2: Stay on South End Shawnigan Road and turn left on West Shawnigan Lake Rd. Continue on for 5.4 km and turn left on unmarked road about 100 metres north of Harvey Road. There is some parking here and trail access to McGee Creek trestle. Note that 1km from this parking lot along West Shawnigan Lake Rd. is West Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park.

Access 3: Continue on West Shawnigan Lake Rd. and access the trail at Oland Road (near Rio's Pizza/Westside Market).

Access 4: Continue further along West Shawnigan Lake Rd. and turn left on to Renfrew Road; 1.4 km in is parking.

All of these access points to the trail will take you inland along the west side of Shawnigan Lake. The end point of this trip is the south end of the Kinsol Trestle, a magnificent heritage structure which crosses the Koksilah River, north of Shawnigan Lake. Please note that the Kinsol Trestle is closed to all traffic. While access to the trestle is restricted, there is a viewing platform for trail users to view and take photographs of the Kinsol Trestle. Plans are underway to completely restore this structure which is said to be one of the largest wooden trestles in Canada.

Return to your access point to complete this day trip.