Victoria’s two long regional trails are the 55 km Galloping Goose (Victoria to Sooke) and the 29 km Lochside (Swartz Bay to Victoria), both rated Easy by the CRD. Three rental shops near the Inner Harbour are listed from their own pages: The Pedaler (from CA$28 per person plus fees and taxes, open daily 9 am to 5 pm), Pedego and Cycle BC, which do not publish prices on the pages we read.
Trails and rental shops
Victoria to Sooke
Galloping Goose Regional Trail
- 55 km
- Easy (CRD rating)
A 55 km multi-use trail from Victoria to Sooke on a former railway line: cycle, walk, run or ride a horse in the rural sections.
Facts from the official pages
- Start
- “Start at the corner of Wharf Street and Pandora Avenue.” It ends in Sooke. Surface not stated on the page. Source
- Access points
- Atkins Road, Aldeane Avenue, Page Avenue, Marwood Avenue (Luxton Fairgrounds), Rocky Point Road, Roche Cove, Ludlow Road, Sooke River Road and Sooke Potholes; BC Transit bus 61 stops at various points. Open 24 hours. Source
- Dogs
- “Dogs must be on a leash on all regional trails.” Source
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair access, accessible parking and an accessible toilet are listed; no further detail. Source
- Closures
- Alerts on the page (updated 14 October 2026) list short closures and detours, including a BC Hydro detour through Viaduct Park to Dupplin Road on 19 to 22 October. Check the page before you ride. Source
Photo: Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.0
Victoria to Swartz Bay
Lochside Regional Trail
- 29 km
- Easy (CRD rating)
A 29 km multi-use trail from Swartz Bay to Victoria, part off-road and scenic and part on paved or gravel public roads shared with cars and farm vehicles; it connects with the Galloping Goose.
Facts from the official pages
- Ferry link
- Signs lead from Swartz Bay: cyclists turn right after passing under the Lands End Road overpass; foot passengers turn left at the overpass, then right onto the trail. Source
- Trailheads
- Lochside Park (off Cordova Bay Road), Cy Hampson Park (off Lochside Drive, Central Saanich) and Tulista Park (off Lochside Drive, Sidney). Source
- Dogs
- On leash and on the right side of the trail. Source
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair access, accessible parking and an accessible toilet are listed; surface not fully stated. Source
Photo: Loneshieling · CC BY-SA 4.0
James Bay
The Pedaler
A bike rental and tour shop at 321 Belleville Street. Its page lists pedal bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, tandems, child bikes and trailers.
Facts from the official pages
- Hours
- “Open Daily 9:00am - 5:00pm.” No season dates stated. Source
- Price
- Rentals “FROM $28.00” per person in Canadian dollars, “+ FEES & TAXES”; the page does not say whether that is per hour, half-day or day. Source
- Tours
- Guided city tours from CA$85, cruise passenger tours from CA$38. Source
- To Butchart Gardens
- Butchart’s own page (dated 1 July 2018) describes a self-guided ride from the shop to the Gardens by “bike paths and scenic low-traffic roads” including the car-free Lochside Trail; it gives no distance, price or season. Confirm it is still offered. Source
James Bay
Pedego Electric Bikes Victoria
An e-bike store “on the corner of Douglas Street and Belleville Street”, listed by OpenStreetMap at 703 Belleville Street.
Facts from the official pages
- Rentals
- The page (article dated 4 April 2023) links a “Pedego Rentals” section; it states no rental prices, hours or what is included. Check the shop. Source
Downtown
Cycle BC Rentals
A rental shop whose page lists bikes for city, kids, electric, gravel and mountain riding in Victoria and Vancouver.
Facts from the official pages
- Prices and hours
- The shop’s page states no prices, hours or address; confirm directly. Source
Photo: Loneshieling · CC BY-SA 4.0
The trails
Both trails are former railway lines turned multi-use trails. The CRD says you can cycle, walk, run or ride a horse on the Galloping Goose, with many access points including Atkins Road, Aldeane Avenue, Page Avenue, Marwood Avenue (Luxton Fairgrounds), Rocky Point Road, Roche Cove, Ludlow Road, Sooke River Road and Sooke Potholes, and BC Transit bus 61 stopping at various points. The Lochside is part off-road and part on public roads shared with cars and farm vehicles. Check the CRD pages for closures: on 18 October 2026 the Galloping Goose page listed short closures and a detour through Viaduct Park.
The shops
This is not a complete list or a ranking: three shops near the Inner Harbour whose own pages we could read, with the details each page gives. Rental prices, helmets and locks, e-bike availability and hours change, so ask the shop. Prices on these pages may or may not include tax; The Pedaler says its prices are plus fees and taxes.
Combine with
Do you need a car? compares a car with buses and walking for places such as Butchart Gardens, and the itinerary planner builds days around the places you choose.
Frequently asked questions
How long are the Galloping Goose and Lochside trails?
The CRD gives the Galloping Goose as 55 km from Victoria to Sooke, starting at Wharf Street and Pandora Avenue, and the Lochside Regional Trail as 29 km between Swartz Bay and Victoria. They connect, and both are rated Easy.
Can I take a bike on the ferry to Swartz Bay and ride the Lochside?
The CRD’s Lochside page says signs lead from Swartz Bay: cyclists turn right after passing under the Lands End Road overpass, and foot passengers turn left at the overpass then right onto the trail. See BC Ferries for bike fares and rules.
Can I bike to Butchart Gardens?
Butchart’s own page, dated 1 July 2018, describes a self-guided ride from The Pedaler’s Inner Harbour shop to the Gardens by bike paths and low-traffic roads, including the car-free Lochside Trail; it gives no distance, price or season. Confirm with the shop that it is still offered. Our travel-time matrix puts the drive at about 30 minutes and 20 km from the Inner Harbour.
How much does a bike rental cost?
The Pedaler’s page says rentals are from CA$28.00 per person plus fees and taxes, without saying per hour, half-day or day. Pedego’s and Cycle BC’s pages we read state no prices. Prices change, so confirm with the shop.
Are dogs allowed on the trails?
The CRD says dogs must be on a leash on all regional trails, and on the Lochside to stay on the right side of the trail.
More in Things to do
- Things to do in Victoria BCHub
- Craigdarroch CastleGuide
- Butchart GardensGuide
- Whale watchingGuide
- Royal BC MuseumGuide
- Afternoon teaGuide
- Day trips from VictoriaGuide
- Sunset times and spotsGuide
- Tide timesGuide
- BeachesGuide
- Hikes near VictoriaGuide
- Scenic drivesGuide
- Food in VictoriaGuide