CRD Regional Parks is committed to ensuring that all visitors are able to experience the natural environment of regional parks and trails.
Accessibility enables a person with a disability to make use of an area and its facilities without assistance. Universal design means taking into consideration the needs of as many people as possible, and incorporating those needs into facilities and services. The result is safer and more welcoming parkland for all visitors.
Guiding Principles
CRD Regional Parks has adopted these guiding principles on accessibility and universal design:
- Provide opportunities for accessible outdoor experiences that promote a sense of dignity and independence for visitors.
- Promote universal design in representative natural landscapes throughout the regional parks and trails system.
- Acknowledge accessibility and universal design as a primary consideration in any new development or retrofitting project in regional parks and trails.
Accessible Areas in Regional Parks and Trails
Guide to User-Friendly Trails
A Guide to User-Friendly Trails was a pilot project developed through a partnership between CRD Regional Parks, the Intermunicipal Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (IACDI) and West Shore Parks & Recreation.
The one-time published guide contains 48 pages of full colour photographs, maps and descriptions of user-friendly trails within the Capital Regional District parks and the West Shore municipalities. It highlights trails that are welcoming to all ages and individuals with diverse levels of mobility and endurance. It provides visitors with trail profiles and information to enable them to determine which parks and amenities to visit based on their own levels of ability.
Please note, as this guide was a one-time publication and not regularly updated, some information may not be current.
East Sooke Regional Park
Aylard Farm Picnic Area
Enjoy west coast wilderness scenery from a picnic shelter overlooking a sandy beach. The accessible trail connects the parking lot with the shelter and toilet facilities. A trail with a steeper grade provides access to the beach.
Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park
Beaver Beach
This popular swimming area features an accessible parking area, paved trails and accessible toilets.
Brookleigh Boat Launch
The boat launch provides visitors of all abilities with easy and safe access to their boats. The toilet facility is also accessible.
Elk Lake Float
Cast your line from this accessible ramp and fishing float. The parking area and toilet facility are also accessible.
Hamsterly Beach
The playground at Hamsterly Beach enables children in wheelchairs to move up a ramp into the centre of the playground structure to enjoy some of its options. Other accessible features include a drinking fountain, toilets and picnic tables.
10 Kilometre Trail
The trail is mostly flat and level, with some narrow and uneven sections on the east side of Elk Lake.
Francis/King Regional Park
Elsie King Interpretive Trail The Elsie King Trail offers a unique self-guiding interpretive trail through a forest environment. The trail is wide enough for visitors in wheelchairs or scooters to travel side by side. Most of the trail surface is hard-packed gravel, with boardwalk sections in areas of environmental sensitivity. Changes in trail surface material provide tactile information for visitors with visual impairments, letting them know when they are approaching rest areas. The Nature Centre and toilet facility are also accessible.
Galloping Goose and Lochside Regional Trails
These connected regional trails are mainly wide and level. Pavement in urban sections gives way to hard-packed gravel in rural areas.
Island View Beach Regional Park
Enjoy a group picnic shelter with ocean views and accessible toilet facilities.
Mount Work Regional Park
Enjoy an accessible loop trail through a medley of evergreens and rich understory of native shrubs, ferns, mosses and woodland flowers at the Munn Road entrance to Mount Work.
Accessible trail and dock at Durrance Lake
A trail and fishing dock at Durrance Lake is accessible for youth, seniors and anglers with disabilities. The dock construction, made possible under the Province's Urban Lakes Infrastructure Project, also includes aluminum walkways and railings for increased safety.