Hiking up Mount Douglas

I had a chance yesterday to hike up to the top of Mount Douglas Park, which is located in Saanich near the north end of Shelbourne Street. This particular hike though started form the parking lot near Mount Douglas Crossing Road on a small dead end road called Glendenning Road.

The entrance into Mount Douglas Park from Glendenning Road is a little less popular than the main entrance off Shelbourne Street. If you are driving there is a small parking lot for about 5 cars. There are a number of trails that start from here with the most popular being the hike up to the top. Don't expect to see any trail signs or bathroom facilities here because there isn't any.

The unmarked trail travels through a very thick Douglas fir forest going on a slight uphill climb. Eventually the trail comes to the rock face area with a trail going up a very steep bank with a power line in the background. Don't take this route but continue on through the forest until another trail breaks out onto the rock face. If you want take this route instead because at times it can be less slippery and also goes through a Garry oak meadow.

If you don't have time for a walk from the bottom you can get to the main parking lot from where Shelbourne and Cedar Hill Road meet. You then have to travel up Churchill Drive to the top of Mount Douglas. The 360 degree lookout is a short 5 minute uphill walk from the parking lot.

Google Map

To Mount Douglas Park in Saanich.