Portage Park Playground — Attraction in View Royal

This is a lovely park. Parking for cars is easy and there is lot of it. Fear not that this a crowded green space, because most of the cars parked outside are actually Four-Mile Pub patrons.

Back to the park. It is easy walking on good trails. It is not a huge place but it is a comfortable stroll through old-growth trees and natural bush. This is Forest-Bathing at its finest.

For those who love sun, this park features a lovely little pebble and sand beach at Thetis Cove. From the beach there are good views of Richards Island, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the peaks of the Olympic Mountain range beyond. In the summer time the water is just right for swimming.

Recently added is a children's play area and a watering station for cyclists as the park abuts the Galloping Goose trail. So this place is also very accessible by bike.

There are many benches for resting. There is one picnic table near the beach, and multiple beach access trails. Totally a jewel of a local...

The new kids playground is excellent. It has swings, a large and small play structure, a spinning/climbing structure and monkey bars. They've added a picnic bench, park benches and garbage can. There is a water Fountain for people and pets operating from March 31 to October typically.

The trails through the small forest are nice. You can access the park from either the E&N rail trail, Old Island Hwy via sidewalk or path from View Royal Ave by the Four Mile Pub.

There is a rocky shoreline Beach access as well. It's a nice spot to sit and have a picnic, although shore has a lot of rocks and not a Sandy beach. I've seen people swim here, not sure I would, and dogs are always splashing around here too.

Great spot to head to will kids for some play time on the swings or...

Best hangout ever for locals. Walk your dog amongst the many gravel trails in a forest setting. New playground for the kids. No parking lot however, which is why it's just the locals that hang out here. There's a great 2 lane paved bicycle path that runs right by the playground and the walking trails. It's called the E&N Rail Trail. No bathrooms here, but there is a water fountain in the playground. The walking trails lead to a small gravel beach for dog swimming. There's a picnic table just near the entrance to the beach area. The trails are generally off-leash, but you'll see a lot of locals walking their dogs with leash on. There's a large vacant lot adjacent to the park. Many people can be seen walking their...