Island View Beach Regional Park Visit

Island View Beach Park is easy to get to - just under 3 km off Highway 17 on Vancouver Island gets you there (via Island View Road), and then a path about 1.2 km long leads along the beach full of fine natural views and overall serenity, albeit with a remote highway noise.

Campers might be able to reserve a spot at the beachfront campground, and there is also a large separate parking lot for people wishing to launch a kayak. There is plenty of parking for day visitors too. Should you wish to hike in a loop, that is also possible, with a parallel path going through trees and bushes. Just make sure not to miss a left turn onto that big parking lot, otherwise you would need to hike through a field and jump across a ditch to return to the parking lot (or retrace your steps for a few hundred meters).

1. Here is a Google Maps location of Island View Beach Regional Park.

2. We are Southbound on Highway 17 on Vancouver Island, driving from Sidney.

BC Highway 17 Vancouver Island

3. Approaching Island View Road.

Vancouver Island BC Highway 17

4. Getting ready to turn left onto Island View Road. The park is about 3 km away.

BC Highway 17 at Island View Road

5. Now on Island View Road.

Island View Road - Vancouver Island - British Columbia - Canada

6. Approaching Island View Beach Regional Park.

Saanich Peninsula Island View Road

7. Plenty of parking. Coordinates: N 48⁰34.395' W 123⁰22.050'. Elevation: 10 meters.

Island View Beach Regional Park Parking

8. This is Homathko Road facing the beach.

Homathko Road Island View Beach Regional Park

9. Here is a map of Island View Beach Regional Park.

Map of Island View Beach Regional Park

10-11. There isn't much of an ocean view, in that there are no pretty islands nearby, but this park attracts with its great colour combination of sky, ocean, sand, stones, trees, and bushes.

Island View Beach Regional Park Vancouver Island BC

Saanich Peninsula Island View Beach Regional Park

12. The path along the ocean begins.

Path in Island View Beach Regional Park

13. Even a gazebo is painted to fit with the overall colour scheme of the place.

Island View Beach Regional Park Gazebo

14. This gazebo is available for reservation.

Reservable Picnic Shelter in Island View Beach Regional Park

15. There are also picnic tables by the path.

Picnic Tables in Island View Beach Regional Park

16-17. Just a bit further is a campground. Camping here is by reservation only, and vehicles have to park pretty close to each other.

Island View Beach Regional Park Camground

Campground on Vancouver Island in Island View Beach Regional Park

18. The only fire ring at the campground. Has to be shared.

Campground Fire Ring - Island View Beach Regional Park

19. Just a fine path along the ocean.

Hiking in Island View Beach Regional Park near Sidney BC Canada

20. A bench is there too.

Bench in Island View Beach Regional Park

21. Fine bushes here and there make it an even more visually appealing place.

Island View Beach Regional Park

22. Speaking of fine bushes.

Vancouver Island British Columbia - Island View Beach Regional Park

23. The path becomes sandy closer to the end.

Sandy Path in Island View Beach Regional Park

24. And here is the end of the path, about 1.2 km from the parking lot. The sign advises that a local First Nation's territory is beyond the fence.

Island View Beach Regional Park British Columbia

25. Looking back at the beach.

Saanich Peninsula Island View Beach Regional Park

26. To return you may either retrace your steps, or make it a loop trail by going through trees and bushes.

British Columbia - Canada - Vancouver Island - Island View Beach Regional Park

27. It' quite a pleasant path too, with some shade as well.

Hiking on Vancouver Island

28. Interesting colours on the left side, about 630 meters from the start of the return path.

Island View Beach Regional Park near Sidney British Columbia

29. Just 15 meters later, there is this tree canopy of sorts. At the end of it, turn left to go through a large parking lot next to the campground and then reach the parking lot.

British Columbia - Island View Beach Regional Park

30. If you keep going straight instead, you would end up in this field.

Island View Beach Regional Park British Columbia Canada

31. It's a fine field, though the grass is pretty high. Go past the fence...

Vancouver Island - Saanich Peninsula - Island View Beach Regional Park

32...cross yet another field...

Island View Beach Regional Park near Sidney BC

33...and then jump across this water-filled ditch or go through a short stretch of dense bushes to get to the parking lot. If all of that seems like too much, return the same way you came.

Island View Beach Park is a very pleasant place to visit. Recommended.