E&N Rails to Trails

Self-Guided Bike Ride

2 - 3 hr All Ages & Abilities (AAA ride)
Suitable for beginner riders

This route follows the Galloping Goose trail away from Victoria and takes the E&N trail back (CounterClockWise) - both trails are part of Victoria’s AAA bike lane system (fully separated from traffic).

Here’s the link for the map. Or, scroll to the bottom of this blog for a map on this page and more detailed directions.

Recommendations

• Halfway

  • Nest Cafe

    • stay in or grab some lunch to go (picnic at Thetis Lake)

    • look for a small gravel trail on the right shortly after the second light controlled intersection

  • Thetis Lake

    • beach, swimming, walking and offroad biking trails

    • exit the Galloping Goose onto 6 Mile Rd (~1 km past Nest Cafe)

      ***6 Mile Rd has painted bike lanes (not fully separated from traffic)

    • turn right to go to the lake (less than 1 km to the lake)

  • 6 Mile Pub

    • wonderful historical pub and good but slow food service

    • exit the Galloping Goose onto 6 Mile Rd (~1 km past Nest Cafe)

      ***6 Mile Rd has painted bike lanes (not fully separated from traffic)

    • turn left to go to the pub (less than 1 km to the pub)

• Near the End (CounterClockWise)

  • Driftwood Brewery

    • local craft beer, snacks, patio

    • exit the E&N onto Viewfield Rd (next intersection after the murals)

      ***no bike lane on Viewfield Rd

  • Spinnakers

    • the oldest brewpub in Canada!

    • exit the E&N onto Catherine St towards the ocean (next to the TREK bike shop - TREK is painted on the side of the building)

Google Map link

Directions (CounterClockWise)

• Cross the Johnson St Bridge heading away from Victoria into Esquimalt

• Follow the path to the right

• Turn right onto the wooden bridge

• After the highway overpass go left at the 3-way intersection

• Keep going!

• You’ll go through 2 short tunnels…. keep going

• After the light controlled intersection watch for Nest Cafe’s sandwich board / small gravel trail on the right about 30’ from the intersection

• You’ll pass under a highway - time to turn soon!

• Take the next left and cross the highway (carefully!)

• Follow the trail all the way back to the Johnson St Bridge

  • this is mostly very straightforward, but a little confusing towards the end

  • when you cross Esquimalt Rd (light controlled intersection) cross all the way over to the trail (skip the bike lane on the road)

  • the trail turns right at TREK - then crosses the street! Take your time to make sure it’s safe, then cross over and it’s clear sailing from there