The Visit
Getting there was quick and easy as Beaver and Elk Lakes are only moments away from the Quadra and Broamead Village areas. As I am but a tourist on the Island I let Jen, the native Islander, lead the way. She took over the helm and drove the car through a narrow weaving road until we reached the Beaver Lake parking lot. She’s been here many a time before and it seemed every turn brought back memories, which was great because I was getting a history lesson of sorts about the trails. It’s always great to have a local, or former local in this case, with you as you get to learn more about the area then just walking it alone.
The park has various trails and also has a 10km trail that goes around the entire perimeter of Beaver and Elk Lakes. From the parking lot, we decided to head to the right. A desicion we would later be happy we did. When we go for our walks, we always prefer the more scenic portion of the trail to come at the end. If that’s the case for you as well, we’d recommend heading right, and walking counterclockwise, as opposed to left from the Beaver Lake parking lot. The West side of the lake is wooded, more closed in trails and great views of the lake. Don’t get me wrong, the East side is just fine, however, it’s more open with fields and runs along the Pat Bay Highway for a stretch. It’s all a matter of preference.
The trail has these great sign posts which clearly denote which trails your on, in addition to displaying how far along the trail you are. We found this out early, as after what seemed to be a 45 minute walk, we came about a post that indicated we had only reached the 3km mark. Yikes. At that rate, we’d complete the circuit by nightfall, 2012. We laughed, and picked up the pace.
I also liked the fact there were several washroom “outposts” at three corners of the lakes. One at the Beaver Lake parking lot, one at the North East and North West (at the boat launch parking lot) corners of Elk lake. There was also a small kids park area, in addition to several beach areas which are popular hot spots for families during the summer. So busy apparently, it’s hard to find parking on some days.
The West side of the lake was our fave. It had lots of “closed-in” wooded trails. Apparently, it’s a more refreshing side to jog on during the summer as you’re less exposed to the sun. Keep in mind, this side of the lake is also a horse trail so beware of the “horse doo” along the path!
During our walk we met lots of friendly people and dogs. Is it just me, or are people who take walks in parks and trails friendlier? I think if I looked someone in the eye and said hello on the street of Vancouver, they’d probably call the cops.
Our whole walk took about two hours, but we walked at a very leisurely pace, and of course stopped to take pictures along the way. I’ve included them in the gallery below. I’ll be adding a comments section to the Website tomorrow. Soon, we’ll be able to hear about your experiences on the Website as well. I’m looking forward to it.
What About Dog’s?
Dogs are allowed off leash on the trails around Beaver and Elk Lake from October to May . Starting on June 1st, that changes and all dogs must be kept on-leash. I would assume due to higher traffic at the park during the summer months. It’s a great place for dogs to run about freely and there were lots of other dogs of all types of breeds there during our visit.
There is a stretch of trail that runs along the highway, so beware, just in case your dogs gets easily distracted and likes to run off and check things out – this may be a good area to keep him on-leash.
What’s Brando Say?
Wow. I’m not sure if it was the Island fresh air, but Brando was absolutely maniacal. He was so excited he could barely contain himself – checking this out, checking that out. He seemed to remain clean and stay out of the muddy areas for most of the walk. Which is contrary to his normal behavior as it seems like he loves to get all dirty and traipse around my car seat with his little dirty paws.
Did I say he remained clean? I spoke too soon. As if reading my thoughts, while at the far end of the park at Elk Lake he found a muddy area and just made an absolute b-line for it. He off-roaded around, spinning up mud and water, tearing around in circles at 100 miles per hour. It was something to see. I manage to get some video of it, which I’ll post shortly. It was hands down the funniest part of the walk. It still brings a smile to my face when I think about it. And a smile to his knowing he’s getting my car dirty.
The Skinny
Beaver and Elk Lakes are very closed and easily accessible and dog friendly. They offer great trails to walk, jog or even take horses on. The terrain is pretty flat, so everyone regardless of fitness level can take opportunity and enjoy the sites. There are several beaches, picnic areas, beaches and clean washrooms. It’s no wonder it’s a popular spot for both tourists and locals alike. We’d definitely come back for another visit.
Images of Beaver & Elk Lake Taken During This Visit
