Matheson Lake/Roche Cove

8.8 km round trip.

Terrain: Moderately gentle

Approximate Elevations (in meters)
Start:	27	End:	27
Minimum:	7	Maximum:	62
Net Gain:	55	Cumulative Gain:	274

Matheson Lake Trailhead: (26 km from Saanich Hall). Take highway #1 west from Victoria, take the Colwood exit (#10) and follow Sooke Road to Metchosin Road. Follow this to Happy Valley Road. A short drive on Happy Valley will bring you to Rocky Point Road, turn left and follow this to Matheson Lake Road. The parking area is at the end of Matheson Lake Road.

Facilities available at the trailhead include:

Emergency phone
Toilets and/or outhouses

As of January 30, 2000 the emergency phone was out of order.

Uses

Dayhike

2 boot (easy to moderate).

Suitable all year.

Description

This route combines the Matheson Lake trial with the Matheson Creek and Cedar Grove trails to form a loop.

Features

This trail features birds (Barrows Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Red-breasted merganser), ferns (Bracken fern, Licorice fern), forests (Big leaf maple and Western red cedar), lakes, swimming and views.

History

The Gillispie Island in the center of Matheson Lake is named after Ian Gillispie, a Metchosin man who was killed on December 22, 1943 in a WWII airforce mission of the coast of Norway. The lake and island were the boyhood haunt of Ian and his family.

Other trails in Roche Cove Regional Park

Cedar Grove

Trail-conditions

View trail condition reports for this trail.