Galloping Goose Trail
Hike or Bike this Southern Vancouver Island Trail.

The Galloping Goose Trail is a scenic, well maintained and wide, multipurpose trail that follows an old railway line corridor for 55km's right through the Southern end of Vancouver Island, including Saanich, Victoria and Sooke.

You can sight see through the countryside, speed through for fitness and exercise or enjoy various forms of outdoor recreation and hobbies including horseback riding, biking, running, roller-blading and so on. You could hike the whole trail or join it at various parking lots along the way.

The Trail is a great jumping off place for day trips around many different areas or longer weekend trips to many destinations.

The Galloping Goose Trail starts in Saanich, extending though Victoria all the way to Sooke. Along the way the "Goose" Trail brings you to Colwood, Langford and Metchosin, among other places. The trail has many access points throughout its length and is therefore convenient to hop on regardless of where you are starting. These access points typically have an abundance of parking as well as restrooms.

The trail is approximately 55 kilometers in length and is rated from accessible to easy. Accessible implies that that the trail is paved and can be taken on by anybody, including those in wheelchairs.

[Map comes from the Galloping Goose Website that can be found at:http://www.gallopinggoosetrail.com]


Commonly referred to as “The Goose”, the Galloping Goose Trail is named after a passenger railroad car that traveled between Sooke and Victoria. The trail now goes between the same areas and provides many different opportunities you can take advantage of. Along portions of the trail you can even spot the remains of the original railway.

One of the great aspects about this trail is the variety of sights and terrains you come across while traveling along it. You will pass farms and hilly countryside’s; rocky, mountainous outcrops; hidden lakes and quickly moving creeks and streams; dense, beautiful forestry and even beaches.

Near Selkirk Trestle, as well as in Sooke, there is great fishing and other water activities. It is a popular place to go rowing, canoeing or kayaking. Don’t worry about having to bring your own equipment either, there are several companies from which you can not only rent kayaks but also take planned expeditions with.

You can easily combine your outdoor adventure to include biking to this end of the trail and then hopping into the water.

There are many individual day trips you can take in between various points of interests. There are many parks, as well as towns nestled in and hidden around the trail, so you will never be out of options for a place to rest, relax or even eat and spend the night.

Along the trail you will find bed and breakfast establishments eager to serve the traveling soul.

So whether you are looking for a few hours of fresh air and exercise or a longer vacation and sightseeing tour, the Galloping Goose Trail can match your needs.

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