Adventure & Outdoors
Swim and Loop Matheson Lake
A warm little swimming lake with a sand beach 200 metres from the car, wrapped in a 3.9 km forest loop with water views most of the way.
Matheson Lake Regional Park, Metchosin
More infoAdventure & Outdoors
A warm little swimming lake with a sand beach 200 metres from the car, wrapped in a 3.9 km forest loop with water views most of the way.
Matheson Lake Regional Park, Metchosin
More infoMatheson Lake is small, warm and almost entirely surrounded by forest, which makes it one of the best summer afternoons in the CRD. The beach is a two minute walk from the lot, so a swim needs no commitment at all, and the loop around the lake runs 3.9 km with about 70 metres of climbing. It rates 4.6 on AllTrails from more than a thousand reviewers. One honest warning: the west shore is narrow, rooty and too tight to walk two abreast, so if the plan is a conversation rather than a scramble, go clockwise and turn back at the far end rather than committing to the full circuit.
Drive to the end of Matheson Lake Park Road, about 35 to 40 minutes from downtown Victoria, and park in the free lot with roughly 39 stalls. On a hot day it fills, so aim for a weekday or an early start. The beach is only about 200 metres from the car, which means a swim costs nothing in effort. The full loop runs 3.9 km with about 70 metres of climbing and takes an unhurried hour and a half. Bear in mind the west shore is narrow, rooty and too tight to walk side by side, so if the conversation matters more than the circuit, walk out along the easier side and turn back. Pit toilets sit near the beach and there is no drinking water. Dogs are not allowed on the main beach between the start of June and mid September.
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