Enjoy the refreshing and unhindered view of the Salish Sea and the Olympic Mountains in Washington State from the unique three meter wide walkway along the breakwater of Ogden Point. Ogden Point Breakwater Walkway is in the seaside city of Victoria, one of thirteen communities that form the Capital Regional District of British Columbia. This seven hundred and sixty two meter long barrier provides protection to the harbour of Victoria, B.C. The walkway leads to a quick flashing red light on a small light house. Brotchie Ledge is the marine navigational marker seen to the south. Odgen Point is a very popular area for walkers, fishers and scuba divers. It was named to commemorate Mr. Peter Ogden who was a trader and explorer for the North West Company before it merged with the Hudson Bay Company and an associate of Sir James Douglas. The breakwater was constructed to increase in sea trade that was anticipated with the completion of the Panama Canal. This granite and concrete wall was completed in nineteen sixteen and has been reinforced in the nineteen seventies with more granite blocks. There are stairs to access these rough terraced blocks which are frequented by fishers and scuba divers. As a dive site, this is an ideal training area as the large blocks provide consistent curving orientation to about sixty meters depth and shelter a variety of marine life. Back on the surface, a fascinating mural adorns the northside of the breakwater and is called The Unity Wall or Na’Tsa’Maht. There are information signs available in Odgen Point Park. Near the café and pilot house is a sundial that shows you time with its gnomon (that is, the object that casts the shadow of a sundial; knows). The breakwater is located near Holland Point Park, MacDonald Park, Earnest Todd Park, James Bay Community School Green Space, Todd Park and James Bay Allotment Garden. The breakwater is easily included in a walk along the David Foster Walkway and the Trans Canada Trail.
Geographic coordinates N48° 24′ 54” W123° 23′ 6″
Ogden Point can be reached the Trans Canada Highway. Continue along as the highway becomes Douglas Street. Follow Douglas Street to Finlayson Avenue and turn left onto Finlayson. Follow Finlayson Avenue about a block to reach Blanchard Street. Turn left onto Blanchard Street and follow through downtown Victoria, thus avoiding the one way section of Douglas Street. Continue following Blanchard Street as it curves to become Belleville Street then reaches Douglas Street. Turn left onto Douglas Street and follow along to Dallas Road. Turn right onto Dallas Road and enjoy the shore line drive as you look for the breakwater near the cruise ship port facility. There is limited street parking along Dallas Road and an ample parking area accessed from Montreal Street. City buses travel along Dallas Road into this area of James Bay from downtown Victoria.
The Ogden Point Enhancement Society has further information about this popular site.
Walks in Your Backyard 