(POSTPONED!) Gulf Islands, Blue Heron, and Lillian Hoffar parks walk

UPDATE Mar 25, 2026. I walked our route yesterday, folks, and it's still really wet and mucky. So we'll do this walk later (not sure when - that's why the date now says Dec 31st), and we'll do a different walk up in North Saanich instead. I have a tentative route planned in and around Green Park, but I have to check it out first before I post it. Stay tuned! There will be a walk on Saturday in North Saanich - you can count on that.

It's always my intention to spread our walks throughout the entire CRD in order to occasionally ease the driving required by our more far-flung members. To that end, our next walk will be up at the North end of the Saanich Peninsula at the Vancouver Island portion of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. The Reserve, you may remember, is a huge area that covers sections of many Gulf Islands including Mayne, Saturna, North and South Pender, Sidney, Prevost and other islands. However, the Vancouver Island portion is mostly contained within McDonald Campground, just to the NW of the Town of Sidney.

The campground doesn't open until May 15th, so on the day of our walk, we can stroll around undisturbed by cars or people. It's quite lovely in there, with majestic cedars and mature Douglas firs towering over the rustic campsites. The campground roads (such as they are) are covered with tree sheddings making them seem less like roads and more like wide trails.

Our route then takes us south into Blue Heron Park, featuring many wonderful outdoor sports facilities, including a forested trail system. We'll wander past the soccer fields and the new running track and on to the trails at the south end of Blue Heron Park. The trees and bushes are shorter here, allowing us to see the sky and (hopefully) the sun. These are forest trails and it's easy walking.

We'll exit Blue Heron Park at McDonald Park Road, cross the street, and head into Lillian Hoffar Park, named for the prominent Hoffar family who willed the land to the District of North Saanich in 1978. This very picturesque little park features great views of the Gulf and San Juan Islands (see attached photos), and on a clear day, Mt Baker is easily discernable in the distance. Be sure to stop and take in the mature Western Red Cedar at the north end of the park. It was designated a National Historic Site in 2005.

This is the point where we turn around and head back. One of the great features of our route is that there are many places where your dog can get some off-leash time, so if your dog likes to do the zoomies, this is a good walk for you to attend.

This is a fairly flat walk, with just a small rise in the campground to negotiate. (See the attached map in the photo section if you want to see more details.) If you do the whole walk, you'll have done 4.07 km. We'll endeavor to keep up a modest pace so we can do the walk in just a bit over an hour.

Last year, some members made our event part of a larger plan that included heading over to Sidney for brunch and a wander down Beacon Street and along the waterfront. Tidbit and I and a small contingent headed over to the The Roost Farm Winery Bakery and Bistro for some locally grown food and wine, and we invite you to join us there again this year.

Our Small Dog Walk starts at Blue Heron Park. Take note of the directions and parking info below. Directions to The Roost will follow if you'd like to tag along.

Driving instructions

• Go up the Pat Bay Hwy (Hwy 17) as if you're going to the ferries at Swartz Bay.
• About 1.5 km before you get there, turn off the highway at Exit 31 (McDonald Pk Rd, Wain Rd, Deep Cove).
• Go STRAIGHT on McDonald Pk Rd. DO NOT GO TO WAIN ROAD/DEEP COVE!!!
• About 400m along McDonald Pk Rd, on the right side of the road you'll see a Parks Canada sign for Gulf Island National Park and Smonecten Campground.
• Stay on McDonald Pk Rd for another 80m.
• On the right side of the road, you'll now see a sign for Blue Heron Park.
• You should also see my Victoria Small Dog Walk and Play Group signs.
• Turn right and follow the road into Blue Heron Park.
• 120m into Blue Heron Park, you'll encounter a parking lot on your left, next to the Peninsula Soccer Association soccer fields. We're not parking there this year.
• Continue straight for another 150m, follow the road to your left, and continue for another 100m.
• Park here. (The soccer field is booked for referee training on the day of our walk, so we want to park where we won't be in the way.)

If you're using your smartphone to navigate, be sure you've set it to guide you to "Peninsula Soccer Ass'n, 10714 McDonald Park Rd, Sidney, BC."