What is the Trans Canada Trail?
The Trans Canada Trail is the longest network of multi-use trails in the world. It extends nearly 28,000km from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic oceans, through 13 provinces and territories, connecting Canadians in over 15,000 communities.
The project was initiated nationally in 1992 to celebrate Canada's 125th year. In preparation for the 25th anniversary of the Trans Canada Trail, a vital trail connection was completed on Southern Vancouver Island. The completion of the Capital Regional District’s Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, and the 9km extension of the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s (CVRD) Cowichan Valley Trail, closed a gap in the route of the Trans Canada Trail.
Where is the trail located in the Capital Regional District?
Within the CRD, 40km of the Trans Canada Trail runs between the CRD-Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) boundary and Clover Point in Victoria. Different sections of the route have been developed and are managed by the CRD, the City of Langford, and the City of Victoria.
The CRD provides two sections of the route for the trail. One section is along a portion of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (15km) from the Selkirk Trestle in Victoria to Veterans Memorial Way/Kelly Road in Langford. Much of this section is relatively flat with only a few hills along the route.
The second section, the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail (13km), runs from Humpback Reservoir in Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park to the CRD-CVRD boundary. This section is quite different from the Galloping Goose Regional Trail section. It is within a wilderness area and the trail route includes some very significant hills (between 10%-16% grades). The Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is challenging and is not an all ages and abilities route.
A portion of the trail also travels along the Greater Victoria Water Supply Area, an area closed to public access to protect the drinking water supply for approximately 390,000 residents of Greater Victoria. Trail users are reminded that it is important to stay on the trail as cycling on undesignated trails can damage cultural and historic resources, sensitive ecosystems, rare and endangered plants, and negatively impact wildlife. As well, cycling in the Greater Victoria Water Supply Area can jeopardize our water supply and visitors can incur fines if entering the water supply area. You can help protect our region by staying on the designated portion of the Trans Canada Trail.
Where is the trail located on Vancouver Island?
On Vancouver Island, the Trans Canada Trail spans from Nanaimo through the Cowichan Valley to Victoria.