There are a couple of great riding trails criss-crossing South Vancouver Island which have formerly been part of the Canadian National Railway route, the romantically named, Galloping Goose and the more descriptively named Lochside Trail and Cowichan Valley Trail. All these rides are reasonably gentle with short uphill sections and lots of rural and forested countryside to enjoy. The Goose begins in Sooke Potholes Regional Park, near Leechtown, formerly a gold mining town, but now a run down ghost town, and finishes in Victoria, just like the rail route. There are many scenic moments along the trail, including stretches beside the Sooke River canyons, Matheson Lake and the beautiful glassy ponds which are the renowned Sooke Potholes. The tail end of the trail as it draws in towards Victoria is less light woodland and ferns and more forest of Douglas Firs and the final ten kilometres is through the pretty suburbs of Victoria on easy roads. The track is well maintained in most parts and reuses much of the railways infrastructure so there are some particularly lovely high bridge crossings. The whole journey is fifty five kilometres.

Written by  Kim Marsden.

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