Want to spend a few hours hiking, picnicking or just appreciating nature? Gowland Todd is the perfect short getaway! Only a 32 minute drive from the suites.
More than 25 kilometres of trails, varying in degree of difficulty, offer spectacular views, as well as the chance to view animals in their natural environment. In spring and early summer, the moss-covered rocky knolls come alive with a carpet of colourful, vibrant wildflowers.
Gowlland Todd protects a significant part of the Gowlland Range, one of the last remaining natural areas in Greater Victoria, and a significant portion of the natural shoreline and uplands of Tod Inlet. The Gowlland Range is a particularly rich area of biodiversity, with more than 150 individual animal and plant species identified. The protected area preserves a rare, dry coastal Douglas fir habitat that features grassy meadows, rocky knolls and old-growth forest. The park also protects a wetland area which provides habitat for the blue-listed Northern red-legged frog and associated riparian areas habitat for the fragrant white rein orchid.
Our Favourite Trails:
Jocelyn Hill Trail Loop
8.9km – 3hr 10min
Timberman Trail to Squally Reach Viewpoint
5.5km – 1hr 55min
Holmes Peak
2.7km – 1 hour
Popular Activities:
Canoeing/Kayaking – There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park. There are access points at Tod Inlet and Mackenzie Bight.
Cycling – Bicycles are permitted on designated, multi-use trails accessed via all three trailheads. Consult park maps at each location for more information. Cyclists must stay on designated trails and must yield to hikers and horseback riders. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Horseback riding – Horseback riding is permitted on designated trails accessed via all three trailheads. Consult park maps at each location for more information. Horses must stay on designated trails.
Swimming – There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks. There are scuba diving and swimming opportunities at this park.
Wildlife viewing – Viewing areas at various points along the trail from Mackenzie Bight to Caleb Pike offer spectacular views of Finlayson Arm, a unique fjord that only replenishes its marine waters once a year. Species that are rare elsewhere in the world flourish in this isolated and stable habitat.
Visit https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/gowlland_tod/ for more information about Gowland Todd.
