Thetis Lake with McKenzie/Phelps
- Physical DifficultyThis is the average user-submitted rating on the physical difficulty of this route. In general, green is beginner, blue is intermediate, black is advanced/most difficult and double-black is expert-only. It is recommended that users build up to black and double-black routes.
- Technical DifficultyThis is the average user-submitted rating on the technical difficulty of this route. In general, green is beginner, blue is intermediate, black is advanced/most difficult and double-black is expert-only. It is recommended that users build up to black and double-black routes.
This pleasant half-day hike around Victoria, BC immerses you in nature without inducing buckets of sweat! Enjoy a charming loop—with a brief out-and-back jaunt along Phelps Trail—along Upper and Lower Thetis Lakes. The calming scenery paired with a low elevation tends to attract joggers, dog walkers, and hikers of all ages.
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Route Description for Thetis Lake with McKenzie/Phelps
This trail is the ideal morning or afternoon walk for those seeking an escape from Victoria, BC. Take your family, friends, and venture deeper into nature, passing Lower and Upper Thetis Lake as you walk. Expect to encounter other families, runners, and hikers on this loop.
Start this route from the Thetis Lake Regional Park – Main Parking Lot and walk towards Thetis Lake. You briefly go through a forest before opening up to the beach cradling Lower Thetis Lake. Turn to the right and continue walking along Thetis Lake, with the lake on your left. You’ll enjoy the pretty views out to the forested hills surrounding Thetis Lake.
The path winds along Thetis Lake. Go left at the first 3-way junction, but soon afterwards (1.1 km from the car) you come to a Y junction, just after you pass Thetis Creek, take the path on the right that leaves the lakeside if you want to do the longer route that takes in McKenzie and Prior Lake. If you just want to walk around Thetis Lakes, continue on the left.
If you go right, this path soon connects in 200 m with the Trillium Trail, where you go right again. This path eventually connects with Highland Road, where you go left, passing by a road that leads down to Prior Lake on your left (2.2 km from the car).
Continue going north and take a left onto the McKenzie Creek Trail, that leads off to the west. Follow this trail as it eventually comes beside McKenzie Creek and trends north again. Soon you’ll arrive near McKenzie Lake (4.5 km from the start).
Continue following the McKenzie Creek Trail as it heads south, back towards Upper Thetis Lake. There are several junctions along the way you have to navigate – it’s helpful to look at google maps to ensure you are headed south towards the lake!
Once at Upper Thetis Lake continue along the edge, with the lake on your left as you make your way back to your car.
Insider Hints for Thetis Lake with McKenzie/Phelps
- There are bathrooms located by the beach where the hike begins.
- You can take the #50: Langford/ Downtown via Coldstream bus from Victoria near the trailhead. You will have to walk 20 minutes to get to the starting point.
Getting to the Thetis Lake with McKenzie/Phelps Trailhead
The hike begins from View Royal, BC.
Route Information
Thetis Lake with McKenzie/Phelps Elevation Graph
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