Accessibility is about creating communities and offering services that enable everyone to participate fully without barriers. Regional parks and regional trails are a public good that belong to everyone in the region, and providing equitable access is a priority for the CRD. The CRD is committed to ensuring that all visitors are able to experience the natural environment of regional parks and trails, and as park infrastructure is improved and replaced, accessibility and equity will continue to be key considerations.

Accessibility standards developed and applied at the federal and provincial levels will inform regional efforts to improve accessibility over the next decade, as identified through the CRD Regional Parks and Trails Strategic Plan 2022-2032, where priority 5-1 is: "Enhance health and well-being by providing equitable access to regional parks and regional trails."

Accessible Area Highlights in CRD Regional Parks

Detailed accessibility information, including images, is currently available on the park specific webpages for Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park, Francis/King Regional Park, Island View Beach Regional Park and Thetis Lake Regional Park.

East Sooke Regional Park

  • Aylard Farm Picnic Area
    Enjoy west coast wilderness scenery from a picnic shelter overlooking a sandy beach. The accessible trail connects the parking lot with the shelter and toilet facilities. A trail with a steeper grade provides access to the beach.

Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park

  • Beaver Beach
    This popular swimming area features an accessible parking area, paved trails and accessible toilets.
  • Brookleigh Boat Launch
    The boat launch provides visitors of all abilities with easy and safe access to their boats. The toilet facility is also accessible.
  • Elk Lake Float
    Cast your line from this accessible ramp and fishing float. The parking area and toilet facility are also accessible.
  • Hamsterly Beach
    The playground at Hamsterly Beach enables children in wheelchairs to move up a ramp into the centre of the playground structure to enjoy some of its options. Other accessible features include a mobi mat on the beach, a drinking fountain, flush toilets and picnic tables.
  • 10 Kilometre Trail
    The trail is mostly flat and level, with some narrow and uneven sections on the east side of Elk Lake.

Francis/King Regional Park

  • The Elsie King Interpretive Trail offers a unique self-guided interpretive trail through a forest environment. The trail is wide enough for visitors in wheelchairs or scooters to travel side by side. Most of the trail surface is hard-packed gravel, with boardwalk sections in areas of environmental sensitivity. Changes in trail surface material provide tactile information for visitors with visual impairments, letting them know when they are approaching rest areas. The Nature Centre and toilet facility are also accessible. 

Galloping Goose, E&N and Lochside Regional Trails

  • These connected regional trails are mainly wide and level. Pavement in urban sections gives way to hard-packed gravel in rural areas.

Island View Beach Regional Park

  • Enjoy a group picnic shelter with ocean views and accessible toilet facilities.

Mount Work Regional Park

  • Enjoy an accessible loop trail through a medley of evergreens and rich understory of native shrubs, ferns, mosses and woodland flowers at the Munn Road entrance to Mount Work.

Accessible trail and dock at Durrance Lake

  • A trail and fishing dock at Durrance Lake is accessible for youth, seniors and anglers with disabilities. The dock construction, made possible under the Province's Urban Lakes Infrastructure Project, also includes aluminum walkways and railings for increased safety.

Thetis Lake Regional Park

  • There is an accessible trail and mobi-mat on the main beach at Thetis Lake Regional Park.