Quick’s Bottom Park Arboretum lies in the District of Saanich one of thirteen areas that form the Capital Regional District of British Columbia. This wetlands park is almost twenty hectares of green space with a couple of creeks flowing through it. Colquitz River flows from Beaver Lake with the Beaverdale Creek tributary connecting from the area near Beaver Lake Elementary School on Beaver Road. Another tributary passes through this park from the Viaduct wetland near the Glendale Gardens. This tributary is the Goward Springs A Creek also known as the Viaduct Creek. A small dam maintains the waters in Viaduct Flats and limits flow through this creek. The parkland protects the wetlands supplied by the tributaries. The wetlands provide wildlife areas for many fish, birds, amphibians and small mammals. Appropriate footwear is encouraged in this marshy and wet park even though the walking trail is along the perimeter. The trail leads past a raised wooden bird blind that overlooks the wetlands. This trail is about five hundred and twenty-five meters long. Another gravel footpath connects through the park. It’s about six hundred meters with bridges over crosses over Viaduct Creek and Colquitz River.
The parkland was named after two brothers, William and Frederick Quick, whose parents procured the land in around eighteen ninety. A Saanich Archival article provides a review of the Quick family ownership before the land was purchased by the District to form the park in the nine seventies. An arboretum with a parking area, accessed from Wilkinson Road, is in the planning stages. The perimeter of the parkland has some second growth forest and grasslands. As a conservation area, no dogs are allowed in the park. Garry oak, big leaf maple and black cottonwood are seen in this parkland. Shrubs like hawthorn, Indian plum, ocean spray, nootka rose, hardhack are found along the trails with Himalayan blackberries bushes. Odorous in the springtime due to skunk cabbage this is a beautiful place to walk in your backyard year round.
Geographical Location 48°29’ 46”N 123°24’ 19”W
Quick’s Bottom Park Arboretum can be reached from the Trans-Canada Highway Exit the highway at Helmcken Road exit and continue along as the road curves to become Wilkinson Road. Look for access on either side of 4512 Wilkinson Road. Alternatively continue along to reach West Saanich Road at Royal Oak Drive. Turn left to head down West Saanich Road to Markham Road. Turn left onto Markham Road. There are two trailheads along Markham Road. One park access in between 4551 and 4591 the other is beside 4481 Look for trail signs that indicate the park’s trails. There is limited roadside parking.
Walks in Your Backyard 