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's 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 (kayak
launchers') parking lot
next to the campground and then reach the main parking lot along
Homathko Road.
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 main 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.
ihikebc.com
Trip 284 - Island View Beach
Regional Park Visit (near Sidney,
BC)