Bowker Creek Park is in the seaside community of Oak Bay, one of thirteen communities that compose the Capital Regional District of British Columbia. Bowker Creek originates near Cedar Hill Golf Course and Shelborne Street; its watershed encompasses over one thousand hectares including waters that drain from Mount Tolmie and parts of the University of Victoria. The creek is not visible at Shakespeare Street and Hillside Avenue as it flows southeast towards Beach Drive. The streets and avenues of Oak Bay and Victoria often cover this urban creek as it makes its way toward the ocean. Bowker Creek is visible as it passes by several schoolyards: Richmond Elementary School, Oak Bay Secondary High School, and Glenlyon School. This creek empties into the ocean at south end of Willows Beach Park near Glenlyon School. Only a short section of the creek has been developed as a public walkway. The walkway starts near the intersection of Foul Bay Road and Cadboro Bay Road and continues in a southeastern direction towards Oak Bay High School. The walkway stops near the Oak Bay Fire Department as the creek is underground until it passes by Fireman’s Park and ball diamond. This sections of the creek borders on the Oak Bay informal garden beds on Monteith Street. The creek is bordered by private property until it reaches Beach Drive near the Glenlyon Nothfolk School grounds and reaches the ocean. Ducks and other waterfowl can frequently be seen in the creek. If you go there in the spring, you may even see some ducklings. The walkway continues east toward the ocean. You follow the creek behind the schoolyard and walk eastward for about 20 minutes. If you continue to walk to St. Ann Street turn left and continue your walk around the corner to the Fireman’s Park.
Geographic Location N48º 25’ 35” W123º 18’ 27”
Bowker Creek Park can be reached from the Trans Canada Highway. Continue along the Hwy 1 into Victoria as it becomes Douglas Street. Turn off Douglas onto Hillside Avenue to head east. Stay on Hillside Avenue as it becomes Lansdowne Road. Continue along Lansdowne Road to reach Foul Bay Road. Turn right onto Foul Bay Road and continue to the Cadboro Bay Road. Turn left onto Cadboro Bay Road and then right to park at the Oak Bay Recreation Center or continue along to Oak Bay Secondary School off Cadboro Bay Road. The pathway can be accessed both places. Several buses provide service to different sections of the creek.
Walks in Your Backyard 