Lochside Trail to Sidney

Route Description for Lochside Trail to Sidney

Start your two-wheeled Lochside Trail to Sidney ride from Downtown Victoria at the Greater Victoria Visitors & Convention Bureau. Set out heading left on Wharf St., and onto the bike path on the Johnson Street Bridge. Note that most of this ride follows a dedicated bike trail, though some street riding in bike lanes is required.

Turn right almost immediately past the bridge onto Harbour Road, following the trail along the water, onto Galloping Goose Trail. Follow the path until you reach the split for Selkirk Trestle bridge, crossing over it to remain on Galloping Goose Trail.

Head through quiet, residential neighbourhoods, making your way past Cecelia Ravine Park. Continue into a slightly busier section of the city, passing small storefronts and local businesses.
Peddle forward, as you glide past Swan lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, a beautiful park for spotting swans or even a picnic.

Continue west, passing through farm land until you arrive at Cordova Bay. Here, feel free to stop at Mattick’s Farm for coffee or ice cream. Push past the scenic Cordova Bay Gold Course, heading for the countryside, until the path turns into a bike lane on the main road. This section of the route is popular for local bikers getting to and from work, so proceed with caution.

Next, you’ll hit Mitchell’s Farm, set up with a charming outside cafe, where you can stop for a drink or snack. Directly from Mitchell’s Farm, you’ll take a little detour to your right, out towards Island View Beach, a scenic lookout point over the San Juan Islands and home to a pretty beach if you want to go for a cooling swim.

Head back, past the farm onto Lochside trail, which is a paved bike path running parallel to the Pat Bay Highway. Peddle until you reach the crossing for Mount Newton Cross Road, taking a right and then almost immediately a left to stay on Lochside trail once more.

Continue following along the sea, past multiple beautiful bay parks, following the trail all the way into Sidney. Once you reach the neighbourhood, you could head to Beacon Avenue with many cafes, the Sidney Pier and the classic view of the Fish Shop.

From Beacon Park, prepare to retrace your route back all the way to Swan Lake. Here, for a slight change of pace, head away from the Lochside Regional Trail, onto Saanich Rd, for a little loop through the neighbourhood, until it reaches Ardersier Rd., where you’ll take a right to rejoin the Galloping Goose Trail, all the way back to the parking lot.

Insider Hints for Lochside Trail to Sidney

• If you want a long peddle on the Lochside Trail biking route, you could continue along the route all the way to Schwarz Bay and to the ferry terminal that heads to the lower mainland.