Photo: Let's Go BikingGalloping Goose

Galloping Goose

A ride described in Let's Go Biking

How we describe routes →

Moderate One step up. Some real climbing, or a rougher surface.

Difficulty Our overall read of how demanding a route is. We score surface roughness, climbing, singletrack, and how far it runs from services. The route publisher's own rating, a lot of busy road riding, or sheer scale can push the tier up, never down.

Derived from OpenStreetMap. Good data, not perfect. Spot something wrong? Tell us.

How we describe routes →

The Galloping Goose is one of BC's best-known rail trails, running 55 km from downtown Victoria out through Langford's lakes and forest to Sooke, with the Matheson Lake stretch a favourite finale. Flat, family-friendly, and paved near the city before turning to gravel, it carries commuters, tourers, and first-timers alike. Access points and transit connections along the whole length make any distance possible.

Get the book from Let's Go Biking →

Where this ride goes#

Approximate lineGet the real route ↗

Map key & layers

Show stops Mute other bike trails

Food & DrinkAttractionsSuppliesCampingAccommodationBike Services

Dashed line = our rough sketch of where the ride goes. The rideable route lives at get the book from Let's Go Biking.

☕Stops worth stopping for438 along this route

Hatley Castle: Edwardian Hatley Castle and its free gardens at Royal Roads, a National Historic Site. · Colwood

Hatley Gardens: Hatley Park's free Italian, Japanese, and rose gardens around the castle. · Colwood

Garrick's Head: one of the oldest English pubs in Canada, operating continuously in Victoria's historic Bastion Square since 1867. · Victoria

Irish Times: voted best pub in North America in 2017 and best Irish Entertainment Venue in 2018. · Victoria

Murchie's Cafe: Canada's oldest tea company, founded in Victoria in 1894...over 130 years. · Victoria

Communities along this route#

Victoria 174Langford 82 Saanich 50 Esquimalt 42 Sooke 39 Colwood 35 View Royal 15 Milnes Landing 1

Victoria (174)

Garrick's HeadWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Irish TimesWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Murchie's CafeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

SpringTide Whale Tours & ChartersWelcoming· Activity / Experience · $$$$

Ugly Duckling Dining & ProvisionsWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining

Victoria City Hall - siʔem tawen'ewtxwWelcoming· Community Centre · Free

Spinnakers Gastro BrewpubInfo· Liquor Store

Recyclistas Bike CollectiveAccredited· Repair Shop

Bodega Wine & Tapas BarWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Boom + Batten Restaurant & CafeWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$ · Upscale

Plus the fast-food chains — Red Fish Blue Fish, Big Wheel Burger, Fiamo Pizza & Wine Bar +29 more

+132 more in Victoria →

Langford (82)

Fairway MarketWelcoming· Grocery Store

Lighthouse Cake CompanyWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

House of BoatengInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Green Man BikesAccredited· Repair Shop

Floyd's DinerWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Goudy Library BranchWelcoming· Library · Free

Island Brew ByouWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $ · Cheap eats

Jones BBQWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Origin Bakery & CafeWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Sushi LangfordWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Romeo's, Edo Japan, Fatburger +21 more

+48 more in Langford →

Saanich (50)

Craigflower SchoolhouseInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Crust BakeryWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Hey HappyWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Red Lion Inn & SuitesInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

Trini to D BoneInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Ukrainian Cultural CentreInfo

Cosmos Pizza & PastaWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Delicious Pizza & PastaWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Des PanjaabWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Emily Carr Library BranchWelcoming· Library · Free

Plus the fast-food chains — Puerto Vallarta Amigos, roast, Big Wheel Burger +11 more

+26 more in Saanich →

Esquimalt (42)

CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum - NAD29Info· Museum / Gallery · Free

Country GrocerWelcoming· Grocery Store

Driftwood Brewing Co.Welcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Esquimalt Bake ShopWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Esquimalt Recreation CentreWelcoming· Community Centre · $

Songhees Events and CateringWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Archie Browning Sports CentreWelcoming· Community Centre · $

Esquimalt Library BranchWelcoming· Library · Free

Esquimalt Roasting CompanyWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Esquimalt Roasting CompanyWelcoming· Café / Coffee

Plus the fast-food chains — La Belle Patate, Tarboosh, A&W +8 more

+21 more in Esquimalt →

Sooke (39)

South Shore GalleryWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · Free

Charters River Salmon Interpretive CentreInfo· Visitor Centre · Free

Seaparc Leisure ComplexInfo· Community Centre · $

Sooke Region MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Spring Salmon Place CampgroundInfo· Private Campground

Village Food MarketsInfo· Grocery Store

Happy Village RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Up Sooke EateryWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Ayum Creek Regional Park ReserveInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Cafe VosinoInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — Pizzability, McDonald's, A&W +2 more

+24 more in Sooke →

Colwood (35)

Hatley CastleAccredited· Activity / Experience · $$$

Hatley GardensAccredited· Park / Nature · Free

Habitat CafeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Italian GardenInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Juan de Fuca Recreation CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free

Walled GardenInfo· Park / Nature · $$$

Asian Noodle HouseInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Burger CrushInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Greenleaf Pho GrillInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

House of NutritionInfo· Specialty / Health Food

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, BarBurrito, Firehouse Subs +8 more

+14 more in Colwood →

View Royal (15)

Six Mile PubWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Apple Tree Family RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Clover SushiWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Kinder CupWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Coastal CyclesInfo· Repair Shop

Canadian TireWelcoming· General merchandise

GyrosaWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Nest at the LakeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Thrifty Foods Admirals WalkWelcoming· Grocery Store

Dairy QueenInfo· Ice Cream · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — Domino's, Mary Brown's, Subway

+2 more in View Royal →

Milnes Landing (1)

Plus the fast-food chains — Tim Hortons

Slice and dice these stops in the directory →

These stops come from our directory of welcoming places across BC. Spot something wrong, missing, or closed? Tell us and we'll fix it.

⛴Getting here, bike and allVictoria

Getting to this ride, bike and all#

Victoria is the handiest transit doorway for this ride. Buses, the SkyTrain, and ferries will carry you and your bike there:

Langfordbest: bus
Nanaimobest: bus
Vancouverbest: bus
Kelownabest: bus + SkyTrain + ferry

Also on the bike-transit map: Langford · Saanich · Sooke

Or pick any two places on To & Fro →

🪶Traditional territories

This route travels through the traditional territories of the Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Lekwungen/Songhees, MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat), S’Klallam, Sc’ianew, and Te’mexw Treaty Association.

Territory data from Native Land Digital, for educational purposes only.

Ready to ride it?

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