Trip 299 - September 4, 2023 (Monday)

Dallas Road Waterfront Trail Hike

And Ogden Point Breakwater Visit

Victoria, BC

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Dallas Road Waterfront Trail Location: Along Dallas Road in Victoria BC, between St. Charles Street and Lewis Street (about 3.5 km one way).

Liked: Wonderful views of the waterfront and shoreline. Colourful tower at Spiral Beach. Excellent murals at the Dallas Rd Staircase (past the end of the shoreline trail – at the foot of San Jose Ave), Ogden Point and a nearby information stand.

Of Note: The trail is popular, some homeless people hanging out, no shade, nudists could be present, uneven ground / rocks – hiking boots are recommended, a used condom observed at the Dallas Rd Staircase past the end of the shoreline trail.

Vancouver Island, Victoria & Gulf Islands Backroad Mapbook (9th edition) Coordinates: Page 5 (Victoria) A4-B4.

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Dallas Road Waterfront Trail is a very impressive easy hike with minimal elevation change and numerous fine views, and it is located right by the downtown in the city of Victoria, running alongside Dallas Road from St. Charles Street in the east to Lewis Street in the west. The distance via Dallas Road is about 3.5 km one way, but the actual hiking distance is longer because the trail meanders via several lagoons, so it's not a straight line. Dallas Road is never too far, especially in the east, and the trail does get just a touch wilder in the west, if not for too long. Several staircases are available in the "wilder" part of the trail to get back to Dallas Road.

Other than a few homeless people hanging out here and there (they were keeping to themselves), another item of note is that there is a totally unmarked nudist beach right at the trail. It is located at Finlayson Point (just east of Dallas Road at Douglas Street), and featured about ten mostly older men in their birthday suits, though we did observe a rather large woman as well.

Dallas Road Waterfront Trail can be accessed at numerous points. Washrooms are located in several places. Parking is plentiful along Dallas Road, but we left our vehicle at Gonzales Park, several blocks east of the trail, and walked along neat Victoria streets to the beginning of the hike at the foot of St. Charles Street.

Ogden Point Breakwater is located a few hundred meters past the western end of the trail, and is also included in this trip report.

* All trail distances are based on a GPS odometer and are approximate.

36. Dallas Road Waterfront Trail - Steve Fonyo Beach. 940 meters from Spiral Beach.

Dallas Road Waterfront Trail - Steve Fonyo Beach

37. 30 meters later.

Steve Fonyo Beach

38. Looking back (east) towards Spiral Beach, which is now 1 km away.

Dallas Road Waterfront Trail Victoria BC Canada

39. At 1.08 km from Spiral Beach, there is a split.

Hiking in Victoria BC - Dallas Road Waterfront Trail

40. To the left is a short (about 100 meters) side trip to a very fine view.

Dallas Road Waterfront Trail on Vancouver Island BC

41. Looking back towards the split.

Steve Fonyo Beach in Victoria BC Canada

42. We then returned to the split seen in photo #39 and proceeded along Dallas Road Waterfront Trail. At 1.49 km from Spiral Beach at this point.

Hiking Dallas Road Waterfront Trail

43. Looking back at the 1.55 km mark.

Victoria BC Hike - Dallas Road Waterfront Trail

44. Looking forward 50 meters later.

Dallas Road Waterfront Trail

45. Approaching the end of Dallas Road Waterfront Trail. Near the foot of Lewis Street now.

Dallas Road Waterfront Trail in Victoria British Columbia Canada

46. 130 meters later, Dallas Road Waterfront Trail comes to an end. Coordinates: N 48⁰24.793' W 121⁰22.860'. Elevation: 3 meters. Straight ahead and to the right is Dallas Street Staircase with wonderful murals.