Feb 7, 2012 Cedar Grove Hike - Roche Cove Regional Park

Feb 7, 2012 Cedar Grove Hike - Roche Cove Regional Park

This is a great walk but on Feb 7, 2012 the trail had turned into amphibious assault course in places. This hike finally confirmed that I need new hiking boots that are at least water resistent. 

Here is our track for the walk. This time we didn't do the detour to the viewpoint that would add a little to the total distance.

Name:		Roche Cove Cedar Grove
Date:		Feb 7, 2012 9:45 am
Map: (valid until Aug 5, 2012)		View on Map
Distance:		5.23 kilometers
Elapsed Time:		1:04:27
Avg Speed:		4.9 km/h
Max Speed:		11.1 km/h
Avg Pace:		12' 19" per km
Min Altitude:		2 m
Max Altitude:		92 m
Start Time:		2012-02-07T17:45:06Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	48.374624º N
	Longitude:	123.633206º W
End Location:
	Latitude:	48.374639º N
	Longitude:	123.633559º W

We did this walk on August 16, 2011.  As I recall, it is a great hike and should be safe even if the surfaces are wet.

Journey to park is about 30 mins.  Car poolers should leave the centre at 9:15.  Those meeting at the car park should be there at 9:45.


Directions Map

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Roche Cove Regional Park 
Cedar Grove Hike
Trail Rating: Easy to Moderate
Approximate Hiking Time: 2 hours
Highlights
This hike will take you through classic temperate rainforest, with lush vegetation, oldgrowth cedar trees, and moss-covered big leaf maples. Enjoy spectacular views of Roche
Cove and look for huge banana slugs!
The Hike
Begin your hike in the Roche Cove parking lot. The trailhead for the Cedar Grove Trail is
on the north side of the parking lot, well before the pit toilets and picnic tables. 
Follow the trail along dry, rocky outcrops and up a moderate incline into the lush
temperate rainforest. Continue on the well-established trail down through large big-leaf
maples. Make sure to look up into the canopy, where the limbs of these giants support a
microcosm of licorice ferns, mosses and lichens. 
Once you start heading uphill again, the viewpoint sign may tempt you to follow a short
trail to the right. The end of this trail is a peaceful place to stop and have lunch, although
trees now obscure the view. Keep heading north and at the first fork in the trail, go right
(left will take you to Gillespie Road). In approximately 15 minutes you will encounter a
huge fallen cedar, one of several cedars in this grove that are well over 500 years old. 
Continue past the Cedar Grove and you will find the trail less travelled. An alder forest
on your left is an excellent birding spot in the fall and spring. Keep following the trail
until you start to descend and you will come out onto the Galloping Goose Regional
Trail. To return to the Roche Cove parking lot, follow the Galloping Goose Trail to the
right. Take the time to look at the road-cuts that made this abandoned rail line possible.
You will find patches of stonecrop, a native succulent that blooms in late spring/early
summer. 
If you have a few extra minutes and are craving more forest, turn right at the To
Viewpoint sign. This trail will take you up through the forest and eventually loops back
onto “the Goose.” This scenic route takes only an extra 10 minutes.  Before you reach the
parking lot, turn to your left to enjoy the stunning view of Roche Cove.

Getting there from Victoria


Follow the Trans-Canada Highway fromVictoria, and take Exit
14 south to Langford. Follow Veterans Memorial Parkway, then
turn right on Sooke Road. From Sooke Road, turn left on Gillespie
Road, which leads to the park entrance on the left. Allow
approximately 45 minutes driving time fromVictoria.