Thomas S. Francis and Freeman King Regional Park lies in the District of Saanich one of thirteen areas that form the Capital Regional District of British Columbia. This park is one for the seasons as the plant life is continually changing. Springtime blooms include white fawn lily and shoot stars. Summer bring more leaves from the big leaf maples and shrubs like snowberries and ocean spray. Autumn bring color changes to the deciduous trees and ripe berries. Ferns tend to look their best in the rainy winter months. Enjoy the tall Douglas fir trees in the Heritage grove. Some trees are over five hundred years old. Appreciate the growth of the green mosses and ferns in this selective logged parkland. Many nurse stumps now serve as a starting place for new growth.
This one hundred and seven hectare parkland was created over period of several years and is managed by the Capital Regional District. A series of donations of three parcels by Mr. Francis formed the initial parkland in nineteen sixty; his father had purchased the land in the eighteen forties. Later a portion of land nearby was named to honor Mr. King and the merger for of the two parks in nineteen sixty-seven renamed the park Francis/King Regional Park. Mr. King enjoyed strolls through the Francis property with wife, Elsie, as well as, with the local boy scouts, or “Skipper’s Kids.” He was a past president of the Victoria Natural History Society. Some these kids were Nancy Turner, Atom Egoyan and Yorke Edwards. The park as seen today was established in nineteen seventy nine.
The main trail composed of boardwalks and dispersed gravel accommodates wheeled chairs for those with limited mobility. Named the Elsie King Trail, the seven hundred meter circle trail was refurbished in 1999. The trail winds thought the selectively logged forest with many benches and ‘naturalist’s notes’ signage along the route. This trail starts and ends at the nature house that provides an opportunity to chat with a naturalist on most weekends. Near the nature house is couple of picnic tables as well as the gravel parking lot.
The pathways in the rest of the parkland show a variety of terrains over their many kilometers. There are forest groves, rocky ledges, woodland meadows, and marsh wetlands. These numerous trails lead throughout the park and allow you to see and explore natural landscapes. Centennial, Grand Fir, High Ridge, Shooting Star, March and Skunk Cabbage trails are some of the single-track trails in the park. Vertical posts signed many of these routes. Watch for equestrians that use the bridle trails within the park. Several sites in the park are recognized for cultural use such as small shell middens where shells may have been spilled as well as cultural depressions that used the lowlands to trap deer or perhaps elk.
Munn Road divides the parkland and the Hydro right of way separates the park from Thetis Lake Park. The bridle and footpaths under the hydro lines are signed Panhandle Trail. This is a lovely place to walk in your backyard.
Geographical Location 48°29’ 4”N 123°26’ 38”W
Francis King Park can be reached from the Trans-Canada Highway Exit the highway at Helmcken Road exit and turn left on to Burnside Road West. Turn right onto Prospect Lake Road until you reach Munn Road. Follow Munn Road into the park. There is a gravel parking lot as well as some roadside parking.
Further information: A Cultural Study of Three Regional Parks by L. Crocker. And link the CRD map of the parkland.
Walks in Your Backyard 