Surrounding Area Walking Trails

The Galloping Goose Trail
The Galloping Goose Regional Trail was developed along a former railway line. The original rail line consisted of two sections: The Victoria and Sidney section of the railway (which opened in 1893) and the Vancouver Island section (which opened in 1911). The Galloping Goose Trail was dedicated in 1989 and is named after a balky, noisy gas rail-car that carried passengers between Victoria and Sooke in the 1920’s.

The 57 kilometre trail begins in Victoria and connects with Saanich, View Royal, Langford, Colwood, Metchosin and Sooke. Cyclists, pedestrians, in-line skaters and horseback riders share the trail through urban neighborhoods, rolling farmland into deep forest and past rocky shoreline. Watchful trekkers may see deer, raccoons, herons, hawks, squirrels or field mice.

Join the north section of the trail at Mattick’s Farm, at 5325 Cordova Bay Road. Mattick’s Farm is a splendid rural destination, next to the world-class Cordova Bay Golf Course. Browse through 15 specialty shops in a country setting complemented by a fresh produce market, garden centre, BC wine shop and specialty deli.

From Mattick’s Farm, walk north on the trail through the scenic Saanich Peninsula. The Saanich Peninsula is 30 kilometres (19 miles) long and an average of three miles wide, with 22,000 acres of agricultural land. The word "Saanich" is Coast Salish and means "fertile soil". There are over 60 farms, growing over 30 fruits and vegetables as well as holly, ostrich, alpaca and llama farms. At the south tip of the Saanich Peninsula is Victoria and at the north end is the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, from which the BC Ferry system connects the Island to the BC mainland and Vancouver.

This well-treed trail winds along the Cordova Bay Golf Course before its opens up to beautiful views of the Saanich Peninsula farm lands. Cyclists and walkers share the wide-open trail that passes by vegetable farms, flower farms and open fields dotted with horses. On a clear day, you can see Washington State’s Mt. Baker in the background. Walk as little, or as far as you like, before returning to Mattick’s Farm.

For additional walking trails, visit the Hiking and Parks sections of this website.