Can I Take My Dog to Horth Hill Regional Park in North Saanich?

Yes, dogs are welcome at Horth Hill Regional Park in North Saanich, and this is one of the few CRD regional parks where an under-control dog can actually run off-leash. Horth Hill is not on the CRD's on-leash list, so the rule is simple: your dog stays under control at all times, which means voice control, within sight, and a leash carried with you. The payoff is a short forested climb to the highest point in North Saanich, with the Gulf Islands and the ferries spread out below.

Ziggy and I drive up early on weekend mornings, usually before the first ferry crowds push through Swartz Bay. It is a quiet park, the kind where you share the trail with a handful of locals rather than a procession of hikers, and the canopy keeps the climb shaded even in the middle of the day.

Is Horth Hill off-leash or on-leash?

Off-leash is allowed, with the CRD's standard under-control rule. The regional district keeps a specific on-leash list for parks and trails like the Galloping Goose, Lochside, and E&N trails, and Horth Hill is not on it, so dogs may be off-leash provided they are under control at all times, respond to voice commands, and stay within sight.

That is not a free pass to let a dog wander. Carry a leash with you, and if your dog does not have rock-solid recall, keep them on it. The park is not fenced, the trails cross a hilltop, and a dog who bolts could be gone in a second on the far side of the summit.

How long is the trail to the viewpoint?

The main summit route is about 2 km round trip with roughly 75 metres of elevation gain, and it takes most people about an hour at a relaxed pace. It is rated easy, so it suits puppies, seniors, and dogs who like a proper sniff along the way.

If you want more ground, the perimeter loop runs about 2.7 km and links back into the summit trail. On a cool October morning we usually do the perimeter on the way up and the shorter route on the way down, which gives Ziggy a real workout without turning the morning into an expedition.

What can I see from the top?

The summit sits at 136 metres, the highest point in North Saanich, and the view is the reason to come. You look out over Satellite Channel to the Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands, with Haro Strait beyond, and the ferries crossing in and out of Swartz Bay make the panorama move.

On a clear day it is genuinely spectacular, and in the fall the light gets warm and low. It is one of those spots where you stand at the top with the dog at your feet and realize why people move to the Peninsula in the first place.

Where do I park and what else is nearby?

There is a proper parking lot off Tatlow Road, reached from the Wain Road exit on Highway 17, with washrooms near the lot. From downtown Victoria it is about a 35 minute drive, and from Sidney it is only about 10 minutes.

The park sits about 2 km west of the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, which makes it a natural stop before or after an island trip with your dog. Pair it with a walk on the Lochside Regional Trail for a full Peninsula morning.

When is the best time to go with a dog?

Fall is the best season. The crowds thin out, the forest floor turns gold under the maples and firs, and the cooler air is kinder to a running dog than summer heat. Mornings are the quietest, and weekday mornings are quieter still.

Summer works too, because the trail is shaded for most of the climb, but expect more company and bring water. Winter stays mild enough to walk most days, and the bare trees open up views you miss in summer.

Why Horth Hill access matters when you are house hunting

When clients ask about the Peninsula, I point to Horth Hill as the neighbourhood's backyard. Homes in North Saanich and east Sidney put this park close enough that an off-leash run becomes a front-door routine instead of a car ride, and the summit view is a daily reminder of what the area is about.

What I look for with buyers is the pairing: a fenced yard for the early and late bathroom breaks, and Horth Hill, the Lochside Trail, or the Sidney waterfront five minutes away for the real exercise. The Happy Homes Team knows the Peninsula street by street. Book a consultation and we will match the house to your dog's routine, not the other way around.