Secrets from a Local.

If you love rugged West Coast secluded beaches that very few people visit, check out these 3 hidden beaches located in Victoria . Amazingly, they are all within a short distance of each other and only a 25 minute drive from downtown Victoria. Shhhh….don’t tell anyone about these beaches!

• Balmacarra Beach

This beautiful beach is located in a pretty neighborhood called Gordon Head, off a quiet remote street. Balcamarra beach is large, has lots of shade, calm waters and you might spot a seal or two. Park along the street on Leyns Rd. Beach access is at the corner of Balmacarra Rd. and Leyns Road. Walk the short forested path that leads to a steep staircase taking you down to the beach. After the beach, head to Vantreight Park, a green space along Leyns Rd. It has a nice playground for kids and a large area to play sports or let your dog run around.

The beach is located at 1890 Leyns Rd

• Arbutus Cove

A short 5 minute drive from Balmacarra Beach lies another beautiful beach called Arbutus Cove. This small pretty beach is located below Arbutus Cove Park. Take the pathway leading down to the protected beach. The beach is sheltered with a mix of sand and mostly rocky sections. Plenty of shade and calm water makes it great for kids. The best time to enjoy the most sun is early in the day. Catch the scenic views of the mountains on a clear day.

This beach is located at the end of Arbutus Cove Ln.

Hollydene Beach

Connected to Arbutus Cove beach by a outcrop of rocks, scale across at low tide but be careful as some sections are slippery. Alternatively, drive 3 minutes from Arbutus.  Holleydene beach has more sand than Arbutus Cove beach so you might prefer this beach over Arbutus. Unfortunately, the parking is minimal but we have always managed to find a spot. Once you park, to get to the beach you follow a scenic forest path leading to a steep staircase that takes you down to the secluded beach. The view from the top of the stairs is very beautiful. This beach is surrounded by towering trees, high cliffs and has great swimming in the summer.

Park off Hollydene Place.

Despite these beaches being smaller than well-known beaches like Willow’s beach and Cordoba-Gyro beach, they are much less crowded. Suntan, relax and swim! You can paddleboard at these 3 hidden beaches but the steep stairs make it difficult. Note there are no washroom facilities at these beaches.

If you’re planning to visit Victoria with your family, we’ve written two travel guides to help you with your planning. They have everything you need to plan your perfect holiday in Victoria.