Elk/Beaver Lake Trail RatingThe Elk & Beaver Lake trail is one of many beautiful lakeside trails in Victoria.  From the convenient parking lot the trail is mostly flat, gravel or dirt, densely forested at times and runs around both Elk and Beaver Lakes to complete a 10 kilometre circuit.  The park is very popular for swimming, picnicking, windsurfing, boating, fishing and rowing.  Though it can get busy in the summer, the large size of the park disperses people quite well.

  • Tofino Clayoquot Hiking Trail ProBeautiful trails along the water
  • Tofino Clayoquot Hiking Trail ProSurprisingly deep & wild forest
  • Tofino Clayoquot Hiking Trail ProGreat, convenient location
  • Tofino Clayoquot Hiking Trail ProNice lakes for swimming
  • Tofino Clayoquot Hiking Trail ProMultiple nice beaches
  • Tofino Clayoquot Hiking Trail ProConcession stands in the summer
  • Tofino Clayoquot Hiking Trail ProBoating, fishing & rowing popular
  • Tofino Clayoquot Hiking Trail ProTwo contrasting parks in one!
  • Tofino Clayoquot Hiking ConVery busy on summer weekends
  • Tofino Clayoquot Hiking ConCamping, fires & alcohol prohibited

Victoria Hiking Trails

  Steep, Dog Friendly TrailAvatar Grove  Steep, Dog Friendly TrailBear Hill  Easy Hiking TrailEast Sooke Park  Victoria Hiking TrailElk/Beaver Lake  Victoria Hiking TrailEsquimalt Lagoon  Easy Pay Hiking Trail VictoriaFort Rodd Hill  Easy Hiking TrailFrancis/King  Victoria Hiking TrailGalloping Goose  Easy Hiking TrailGoldstream Park  Easy Hiking TrailGowlland Tod  Easy Hiking TrailGrass Lake  Steep, Dog Friendly TrailJohn Dean Park  Steep, Dog Friendly TrailJuan de Fuca Trail  Steep, Dog Friendly TrailLone Tree Hill  Steep, Dog Friendly TrailMill Hill  Steep, Dog Friendly TrailMount Douglas  Easy Hiking TrailMount Tolmie  Easy Hiking TrailSooke Potholes  Victoria Hiking TrailSpectacle Lake  Easy Hiking TrailThetis Lake  Victoria Hiking TrailWitty's Lagoon

Clayoquot Hiking Trails

  Easy Hiking TrailThe Big Tree Trail  Easy Hiking TrailHot Springs Cove  Steep, Dog Friendly TrailLone Cone  Easy Hiking TrailNuu Chah Nulth  Steep, Dog Friendly TrailRadar Beach  Steep, Dog Friendly TrailRadar Hill  Easy Hiking TrailVargas Island  Virgin Falls  Easy Hiking TrailWild Pacific Trail

If you are running here you will find the trails around the lake peaceful and quiet even if the sandy beaches are crowded and noisy.  Like other BC Provincial Parks there are excellent toilet facilities at several points along this beautiful and relaxing trail.  Concession stands are located at both ends of the park as well as water sport equipment rental shops at the Elk Lake end of the park.  A connecting trail extends from the north end of the park leading to Bear Hill Regional Park.  Bear Hill sits high above the surrounding area and has beautiful views of Saanich Peninsula as well as the more distant San Juan and Gulf Islands.  On a clear day you can easily spot Mount Baker in the United States.  Depending on what you want to do in the park with dictate where you park.  The Beaver Lake parking area is large and easy to get to(see directions below).  Beaver Lake is very nice with a huge beach in a lush forest with trails going in either direction.  Elk Lake has a couple of main parking areas.  If driving from Victoria you will see a left turn lane and sign to the park.  This parking area is a great central location and home to the Elk Lake Rowing Centre(see map below).  Additionally there are other parking areas around the lake.  The one off Sayward Road is where much of the summertime activity takes place.  Food outlets and water-sport rentals shops operate here.

Elk/Beaver Lake Trail Map

Elk/Beaver Lake Park

Elk/Beaver Lake Park

Elk/Beaver Lake Directions Map

Explore Elk & Beaver Lake at HikeInVictoria.com

Hike in Victoria

Sooke is a wonderful coastal town with amazingly deep and beautiful forests, lakes and rivers.  The Sooke Potholes is an extraordinary example of this.  Over thousands of years, swirling water have created ...
Read more
Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park is a wonderful coastal park overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  Located in Metchosin, a scenic and largely rural community that is part of the Western Communities. If you are ...
Read more
Bear Hill Regional Park is a nice hill trail, just north of Elk/Beaver Lake in Saanich.  It is an easy 2k hike to the summit where the views are sensational.  From the trailhead to the summit only takes about 20-30 ...
Read more
Mount Doug as it's locally known is a remarkably easily accessible park with both 360 degree mountain views as well as a beautiful beach.  The beach and mountain are connected both by trails and roads ...
Read more

West Coast Trail Guide 2023 1

Vargas Island Provincial Park is a popular hiking, camping and kayaking destination due to its great location close to Tofino.  It has wonderful, wilderness camping for free and a beautiful feeling of ...
Read more
The Nuu-chah-nulth (aka the Wickaninnish Trail), has the amazing distinction among all the other beach hikes in the Tofino-Ucluelet corridor, in that it is flanked on one side by the amazing, and historic ...
Read more
Hot Springs Cove is a wonderful day trip from Tofino.  Lots of whale watching companies offer whale watching/hot springs tours for very reasonable prices.  The boat ride is out on the open ocean is quite fun ...
Read more
At 53 metres, Virgin Falls is quite an impressive sight.  You walk through the short, two minute forest trail to reach it and it fills your view.  It is located in a beautiful oasis it has created.  A large, ice ...
Read more