Oak Bay is a seaside municipality of the Capital Region District (CRD), one of the thirteen communities and the third smallest. Its nearness to the sea and quiet neighborhoods with attractive gardens encourages pedestrian exploration of Oak Bay. The ten and half square kilometers that form the quaint community are visible from many delightful points. From views of houses clinging to the rocky outcrop on Gonzales Hill to sights of the spirited competition of Sunday sailboat racing from Cattle Point in Uplands Park, Oak Bay is a place that stimulates the imagination and produces idyllic memories.
There is always a lot to see and do in Oak Bay. This book describes parks, playgrounds, and green spaces within the municipality of Oak Bay from north to south. Its goal is to encourage you to explore your neighborhood by foot as each place takes less than an hour to explore. There are invigorating walks and astounding vistas in your backyard. It is a great way to get out of the house with limited use of your car. Walking in established residential areas has the added bonus of frequent rest stops for the young and old.
Beginning at the University of Victoria, the municipality of Oak Bay extends toward Mt. Tolmie, in Saanich, to the west. The western border is also shared with Victoria. The southern and eastern boundaries are the seashore of the Salish Sea and Pacific Ocean. A brief description of the nature of each park is provided with directions. The use of back lanes in the older parts can pleasantly extend many of these walks. Once you become oriented to the location of each park it is easy to make longer walks from one park to another.
You may wish to detour past one of the oldest houses in Western Canada. John Tod, presumably the first person to retire to Victoria, built a house in 1856 at what is now 2564 Heron Street. He worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company.
As all else, trails are altered and the conditions of the parks and green spaces that I described in this book change. I ask that you help to keep this book current and useful.
For the enjoyment of all parks, playgrounds and green spaces, please carry out any litter, respect adjacent property, and do not pick the wildflowers, mushrooms, or other vegetation. Please note that most parks in Oak Bay require that owner pickup after their dogs and that the dogs be on a leash, with the seasonal exception of Uplands Park and Cattle Point.
Exploration is footsteps away in your backyard.
University of Victoria Trails
Henderson Park
Cedar Cadboro Green Space
Costain Green
Nottingham Park
Oakdowne Park
Carnarvon Park
Midland Circle Green Space
Midland Green Space
Uplands Park
Willows Beach Park
Kendal Green Space
University Woods Green Space
Willows Elementary School Green Space
Saint Patrick’s Perish Green Space
Oak Bay High School Green Space
Turkey Head Walkway and Mary Todd Islet
Oak Bay Municipal Hall Green Space
Great Victoria Library Oak Bay Green Space
Hampshire Monterey Green Space
Monterey Middle School Green Space
Trial Island Ecological Reserve
Walks in Your Backyard 