The Martlet

The salty water surrounding Vancouver Island is a playground for brave beach-goers who can withstand the cold. But if suntanning with kelp and windsurfing with a wetsuit sounds unpleasant, warmer beaches await inland.

If you’re coming from Ontario, the Island’s lakes may seem like puddles, but they only take a few hours to leisurely paddle across. Unlike the glacial-fed lakes of the mountains, these have a temperature that’s bearable.

There are several within a reasonable distance of Victoria’s core: Elk and Beaver Lakes, Thetis Lake, Prospect Lake, Matheson Lake and the secretive Spectacle Lake are just a few.

All of these lakes open and close with the sun and have the same rules on respecting nature.

Dogs are welcome all year but during the summer they must be on leashes near the picnic areas or beachfronts. Thetis, Elk and Beaver Lakes are accessible by bus; Thetis is the only one of the six lakes that charges for parking.

You need a licence for boating or fishing, but all you need is a sense of adventure — and direction — to enjoy walks, water and wildlife.

The Island is a grand place to spend the summer, so get out there and see what it has to offer.

Elk and Beaver Lakes

Located just a few kilometres north of Victoria on the Pat Bay Highway, Elk and Beaver Lakes are two of the area’s most popular lakes. They kiss into each other, making a regional park that covers 443 hectares.

The lakes host a rowing club, and offer resources for swimming, fishing, windsurfing and sailing.

Boats are restricted to certain areas of the lake depending on their power. Towing vessels are not welcome until after 11 a.m.

On shore there are washrooms, an ice-cream stand, marked beach areas, picnic grounds and grass patches for showing off some skin or perfecting those Frisbee skills.

The surrounding parkland offers horseback riding, biking, 19 kilometers of hiking trails and a wheelchair-friendly perimeter walk that totals 10 kilometres.

Thetis Lake

Just as popular with the younger crowd is Thetis Lake, sitting in a park that boasts 831 hectares and includes other lakes.

The lake itself is much smaller than Elk Lake, but is 20 minutes out of Victoria by car. If you have the time and energy to bike or walk, the Galloping Goose trail passes straight by the lake. But save some energy, because Thetis offers more challenging hikes with views of the unique Garry Oak ecosystem. If Thetis is too busy, a short walk to nearby Prior Lake promises no power boats.

Prospect Lake

Popularity isn’t for everyone. Located 18 kilometers northwest of Victoria along West Saanich Road and the Prospect Lake turnoff, this practically beach-free lake offers superb fishing.

Stocked with farmed rainbow and cutthroat trout, and surrounded mostly by private property and trees, Prospect Lake promises a peaceful day of water-wading or drifting through thoughts. If the crowd you’re with isn’t into fishing, there is a public golf course overlooking part of the lake.

Matheson Lake

There are hidden gems a little further out of town. A favourite among Metchosin locals is Matheson Lake Regional Park. It may be a little difficult to find, especially with construction in the area changing the roads, so be sure to bring a current map.

This park is only 157 hectares, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in serenity. This is not a place to be rowdy or to suntan. While kids are welcome, be warned that the waters often fill with nude bodies cooling off after a long ride on the Galloping Goose or a hike back from Roche Cove.

The area is respected deeply by those who visit it often. Electric motor boats are welcome, but rarely seen. The lake is surrounded by rocky edges except for a small beach near the parking lot. It’s easy for an adult to swim across the lake but due to the surrounding forest it doesn’t look small. Like Elk Lake, there is a perimeter hiking trail, but this one is rough with roots, rocks and hills. Bring Ban-Aids, not beer.

Spectacle Lake

Spectacle Lake is perfect for a day getaway from Victoria, but still manages to feel like a trip into the wilderness — if the wilderness was pruned and primped. This provincial park does not allow motorboats, and early in the morning the water is so clear that bottom-feeders can be seen scurrying away from the shadow of your canoe.

Located just off of the Malahat on the Trans Canada Highway, this trip takes only 45 minutes driving time from Victoria. There is a short walk from the parking lot to the lake, which is stocked with rainbow trout and welcomes fishing, swimming, picnicking and hiking.

There is also a perimeter hike here, but it is short and people-friendly: quaint wooden bridges have been built over the marshy borders. Perhaps the most unique feature of this spot occurs in the winter months. The slight elevation that the Malahat provides allows the lake to freeze for outdoor ice skating, though this is not guaranteed every year.