Apples, Bears and Trails

Sunny fall days make for perfect hikes in Victoria. All the CRD Parks have well-marked and made trails that offer our kids the easy access to nature that makes this city so special. One of our favorite autumn hikes is at Bear Hill Regional Park. It’s not too long, making it suitable for even a preschooler.
For an added bonus, we like to visit all the farms and bakeries on Oldfield Road before or after the hike. Here’s our plan:

Not far off the beaten path (or the Pat Bay Highway in this case) is Bear Hill Regional Park, an ideal location for a family hike and picnic. It takes an eight year-old about 15 minutes from the parking lot to the Summit of Bear Hill if they are in a hurry—and there are lots of paths, horse trails and view points along the way that could make it an easy 30 minute trail for younger kids (or parents with little ones in a backpack). The trail is well marked and offers beautiful views of the Gulf and San Juan Islands, Mount Baker and the Saanich Peninsula. The summit has lots of grassy areas and flat rocks to lay out a picnic, or perhaps to take that family holiday card photo.