3 Great Waterfront Runs in Victoria BC
One of the amazing parts of being in Victoria, BC is how close the water is. You don’t have to travel far in any direction to find that piece of the waterfront. Those that have lived here for years and like to stay healthy with a regular running routine can take advantage of the proximity of the waterfront and make their exercise more enjoyable by having a great view.
The benefit of these three runs are that they are all located right in the City of Victoria. Are all at least 2.5km in one direction and if you return to your starting point range from 4.5kms to 6kms long. Another advantage of these three runs is with just one exception, there are no traffic lights along the lengths of the routes. That means no stopping for an unwanted pause halfway through a run. Okay let’s get to those runs!
The Songhees Way
This run and the second one, both start at the east end of the Johnson Street Bridge in Downtown Victoria, though in slightly different spots. This run starts in the Lower Plaza just to the south of the eastern bridge abutments. You will know you are in the right spot if there is a railing that looks over the old bridge piers. The run route is pretty simple, after crossing the bridge you will just keep running with the water to your left. Right after the bridge you do need to make sure you look to follow the pathway without stairs, but after that it is pretty straightforward. I love this run as it is always changing with the different marine traffic in the harbour. The run is a straight forward, there and back. The turnaround point that makes the run 6k in total is at West Bay Marina, you will see a washroom in a little park. This has to be one of the nicest waterfront runs in Canada.
Upper Harbour and Rock Bay
This run is a little different and might not be for everyone. Like the last one, it starts at the east end of the Johnson Street Bridge, though in the Upper Plaza by the Janion Building. With this one, you follow the Galloping Goose Trail along the west side of the Gorge until you cross it again at the Selkirk Trestle Bridge. Once across you keep following the water in front of the Selkirk neighbourhood. You will eventually come out to Bridge Street (which is a little industrial) try and cross at one of the pedestrian crossings and stay on Bridge until you get to Bay Street. Now follow along Bay Street until you get to Government. This is the one traffic light that you will have along the route. Cross the west side crosswalk south and then continue on Government street until you get to Pembroke Street and take a right. Once you come to the end, turn left and follow Store Street right back to the plaza at the Johnson Street Bridge. I love this run for its diversity of scenery. The total loop is about 4.8k.
Dallas Road Waterfront
This might be the most quintessential Victoria running route and so it needs to be on here. This one starts at the base of the Odgen Point Breakwater. Like the first one, just follow the waterfront with the water on your right until you get to Clover Point which is a big point of land with a parking lot on it. Then run back. This one comes in around 6 or 6.2kms depending on which of the paths you follow along the water. I will say that this path can have some heavy winds some times of year which can definitely slow you down. Still the scenery even on the greyest of days is enough to make you want to keep running.
I hope you enjoy these three great waterfront runs in Victoria. If you are just getting started in running be sure to check one of the amazing running shops in Victoria like Frontrunners Victoria. Frontrunners is not only a great place to buy shoes, but also to get tips on improving and maybe tell you about another place to go for a run.
Be sure to leave a comment if you have a favourite run along the waterfront that was not listed here.