Hiking around the lake

There’s a lot of cultural and natural history associated with Elk/Beaver Lake.  We recently enjoyed a 10 km hike around these lakes with many fellow residents.  Our hike leader Heather (Regional Parks) is extremely knowledgeable of the area and shared many stories from the past and present with the group.

Elk Lake allows power boats

This park is one of the most intensively used regional parks and is only a 10-minute drive outside of the city, or a quick 23 minute bus ride on public transit.  How handy is that?

Back to nature

In 1872, these lakes became the water source for Victoria and the surrounding area.  Elk and Beaver Lakes were separate lakes at one time and joined by the Colquitz Creek dam.   The city added filter beds in 1896 after folks complained of fish and tadpoles in their drinking water.  Yikes!  The combined lake continued to supply water to some areas of the region until 1977.

The "Cordwood Limited"

At one time, this trail housed the Victoria & Sidney Railway Line (1894-1919), called the “Cordwood Limited.”  This scenic and dangerous passage along the west side of the lakes hugged the shoreline and made many sharp turns.

Rider exercising her horse

Today you will find joggers, hikers, horse riders, and cyclists enjoying the trail, and the lakes contain swimmers, windsurfers, sailors, water-skiers, fishers, and rowers.  Canada’s Olympic team trains here, including three time medal winner, Silken Laumann.

Zoom over to this ‘park with a past’ if you are in the area.  It’s one of the great free things to do in this city.

A cormorant on the lake