Hey Trailers, for this weeks blog post I’ll be sharing my thoughts during my hike on Mount Douglas in Victoria, BC. Mount Douglas is a beautiful little mountain (more like a hill), located in Saanich, and is home to some amazing 360° views! The trail I hiked this week was the 4.8km Whitaker Loop. This trail took me an hour to complete and featured a few hundred metres of elevation. I’ve hiked up Mount Doug a few times and the Whitaker Loop is a solid challenge with lots of nice scenery along the stretch. You can take a look at my route and stats on AllTrails if you’re interested!
The trail loops around the entire hill, and exposes you to views from the front and backside. The picture above is taken facing north towards Cordova Bay. The Whitaker Loop is a fantastic trail to take if you enjoy some steep inclines, although conditions may vary depending on what day you go. I would recommend some good footwear, preferably hiking shoes and don’t forget to bring some water as well. The Whitaker Loop is also a great loop if you have an active dog who is somewhat experienced when it comes to trails. Lots of dogs can be spotted along the various trails of Mount Doug so be sure to keep yours on a leash if you don’t want them running off!
Along the trail you will discover some fantastic plants, above I photographed a gorgeous Eucalyptus tree, with its vibrant and colourful bark exposed to the sun. I don’t see many Eucalyptus trees where I’m from so I’m always amazed when I get the opportunity to see the beautiful tree up close. The exposed inner bark is smooth to the touch and comes in a variety of colours. Along the trail you will see some other amazing plants, and if you’re lucky a few animals as well. Once you reach the top of Mount Douglas you’ll have the opportunity to get some amazing 360° views, but the mountain is quite popular and there’s a good chance you won’t be the only one up there enjoying them! I hope you try the Whitaker Loop yourself and happy trails.
