Gowlland Tod Park

Highlights in this park

Gowlland Tod Park provides excellent day-use recreation opportunities for hiking, nature appreciation and picnicking. There are more than 25 kilometres of trails varying in difficulty, which are adorned by spectacular scenery.

Located on southern Vancouver Island, the park preserves a priceless heritage of green space. It encompasses a significant part of the Gowlland Range, one of the last remaining natural areas in Greater Victoria, and a significant portion of the of Tod Inlet.

The Gowlland Range is a particularly rich area of biodiversity, with more than 150 individual animal and plant species identified. The protected area features grassy meadows, rocky knolls and old-growth forest. The park also protects a wetland area which provides habitat for vulnerable flora and fauna.

Towering 430 metres over Finlayson Arm, this unique fjord only replenishes its marine waters once a year. Species that are rare elsewhere in the world flourish in this isolated habitat. The abundance of marine activity attracts scuba divers from around the world, as well as boaters seeking the calm waters and sheltered anchorage.

Visitors will find reminders of the area’s early pioneer activity, as well as remains of settlements associated with the Vancouver Portland Cement Company, which thrived here in the early 1900s. The area continues to be important to First Nation peoples, who utilize areas of the park for medicinal, ceremonial and spiritual purposes.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
Be prepared for wilderness hiking conditions.
Be prepared for sudden weather changes. Extreme and adverse weather conditions can occur at any time, all year long.
Be prepared with appropriate outerwear and footwear for wet weather, foggy and slippery conditions. Carry adequate supplies to allow for an emergency on day hikes.
Leave a detailed trip plan, including intended route and estimated return time, with a friend or relative.

Special notes

You are reminded to assist in retaining and conserving the fragile habitats of the park. Many rare or endangered plant and animal species can be found in the park. In order to protect their extremely fragile habitat, portions of trails may be closed or seasonally relocated. Please stay on designated marked trails and observe the code of ethics for hiking or other activities.
There is no boat launch in the park. The nearest launch is located at Brentwood Bay.

Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.

Visit responsibly

Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:

Maps and location

Getting there

The park is located on the east side of Saanich Inlet on southern Vancouver Island. There are three park accesses:

Tod Inlet access is located near Brentwood Bay, off Wallace Drive.
Mackenzie Bight access is located off Rossdurrance Road, off Willis Point Road.
Caleb Pike access is on Caleb Pike Road, off Millstream Road near Langford. Gowlland Tod Park can also be accessed by boat via Tod Inlet.

The nearby communities are Brentwood Bay, Saanich, Sidney, Langford, Colwood, Victoria.

Things to do

Hiking

This park has more than 25 km of hiking trails, including multi-use trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. This extensive trail system dates back to the area’s history of logging and mineral development. The sections are accessible from the three trailheads.

Tod Inlet Trailhead

This trailhead provides access to the shores of Tod Inlet, whose calm waters are an ideal setting for a picnic or relaxing visit. Trails located around the Wallace drive and Tod Inlet point are gentle and pass through old settlements associated the Vancouver Portland Cement Company, which operated in the area from 1904 to the 1920s.

Mackenzie Bight and Caleb Pike Trailheads

This section of the park offers beautiful, maintained trails through mature forest and along the water. The majority of the park’s trail system extends from Mackenzie Bight to Caleb Pike and link to Mount Finlayson in Goldstream Park. A number of viewpoints offer spectacular glimpses across Finlayson Arm on this moderate to difficult hike.

Swimming

Scuba diving and swimming opportunities exist at this park.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park. The access points are at Tod Inlet and Mackenzie Bight. Please be aware the Goldstream Estuary is closed to the public.

Kayaking

There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park. The access points are at Tod Inlet and Mackenzie Bight. Please be aware the Goldstream Estuary is closed to the public.

Wildlife viewing

Gowlland Tod Park offers the the chance to view animals in their natural environment. There are more than 150 species of birds found at the park, including blue herons, bald eagles and Peale’s peregrine falcons. River otters, black-tailed deer and red squirrels also frequent this area.

The park protects a wetland area which provides habitat for the blue-listed northern red-legged frog. Hikers may also spot black bears, cougar and deer. For information on how to stay safe, visit the wildlife safety page.

Pets on leash

Pets and domestic animals must be on leash. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Tod Inlet is home to waterfowl nesting areas and salmon spawning streams. Visitors must keep their dogs under control at all times to ensure their pets don’t disturb these sensitive areas. Dogs are not allowed on the sandy beach at the Tod Inlet dinghy dock.

Cycling

Bicycles are permitted on designated, multi-use trails accessed via all three trailheads. Consult park maps at each location for more information. Cyclists must stay on designated trails and must yield to hikers and horseback riders. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

For details on e-biking within Gowlland Tod Park, see the e-biking section below.

E-Biking

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Gowlland Tod Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.

Horseback riding

Horseback riding is permitted on designated trails accessed via all three trailheads. Consult park maps at each location for more information. Horses must stay on designated trails.

Facilities

Accessibility information

Accessibility information is available for this park.

Picnic areas

This park has three day-use accesses: Tod Inlet, Mackenzie Bight and Caleb Pike. All three areas have pit toilets. Only Tod Inlet and Caleb Pike have picnic tables. Parking lots are available at Mackenzie Bight and Caleb Pike.

Pit or flush toilets

This park has pit toilets located at the Tod Inlet, Mackenzie Bight and Caleb Pike trailheads.

About this park

Cultural Heritage

The long history of settlement on Finlayson Arm is evident from the many archaeological village and midden sites found here. There is continuing importance of this area to First Nations for medicinal, ceremonial and spiritual values. An early copper mine, Vancouver Portland Cement Company (later developed as Butchart Gardens), the Caleb Pike homestead and an extensive network of old logging and mining roads are testament to the early pioneer settlement in the area.

History

Established in 1995, Gowlland Tod was dedicated under the Commonwealth Heritage Legacy Program, which was created to commemorate the spirit of the XV Commonwealth Games held in Victoria in 1994. Comprising more than 1,200 hectares, the park is a result of a unique partnership between the provincial and local governments, organizations and companies. The focus of this park is the preservation of green space on southern Vancouver Island for present and future generations.

Conservation

The range of habitats and the waters of the inlet, the shoreline, Tod Creek and uplands support a diversity of wildlife. More than 150 individual plant and animal species have been identified here. Nine identified species at risk, including the phantom orchid, white rein orchid and Peale’s peregrine falcon, can be found in the park. Pockets of Garry oak forest, recognized as one of the most imperiled ecosystems in Canada, are located throughout the park. The rugged highlands of the Gowlland Range preserve rare, coastal Douglas fir and arbutus trees.

Wildlife

Blue herons, bald eagles, river otters, black-tailed deer and red squirrels frequent this area, as well as black bear and cougar.

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.

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