Where can I take my dog off-leash in Victoria, BC?

Greater Victoria has 15+ off-leash areas across 6+ municipalities. Top spots include Beacon Hill Park (south end), Topaz Park, Victoria West Park (fenced), Mount Douglas Park (5km of trails in Saanich), Cuthbert Holmes Park, Panama Flats, 6 leash-optional locations in Esquimalt including a year-round beach, and 5 designated areas in View Royal including Portage Park.

What are the best dog-friendly patios in Victoria, BC?

We have personally tested 56 dog-friendly patios across Greater Victoria. Top picks include Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub (waterfront, Ziggy's #1), Whistle Buoy Brewing Co. (heated patio in Market Square), The Beagle Pub (provides dog beds in Cook Street Village), Brass Monkey Taproom (dedicated dog menu with locally sourced ingredients), Driftwood Brewery (heated patio), and The Fernwood Inn (shaded, senior-dog friendly). All 56 are listed in our guide with website links.

Which beaches near Victoria allow dogs year-round?

4 of 7 dog-friendly beaches allow year-round off-leash access: Parker Park (Cordova Bay), Sandcut Beach (near Metchosin), the Esquimalt year-round beach, and the Dallas Road off-leash area near Cook Street. Galloping Goose at Viaduct Flats also offers waterway access. Seasonal leash restrictions apply to Island View Beach and Thetis Lake from June 1 to September 15.

Are there seasonal dog restrictions on Victoria beaches?

Yes. 3 of 7 beaches enforce leash requirements from approximately June 1 to September 15 (about 107 days) to protect nesting shorebirds in the Victoria Migratory Bird Sanctuary corridor. Species like the Western Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover depend on undisturbed beach habitat. The Rocky Point Bird Observatory monitors nesting sites across the region.

Are retractable leashes banned in Saanich parks?

Yes. Saanich has banned retractable leashes in all municipal parks. Dogs must be on a standard fixed-length leash in on-leash areas. The ban is enforced by bylaw officers who actively patrol popular parks. Under Bylaw No. 9924 (2023), first offences start at a minimum of $100, repeat offences at $200, and the maximum fine is $50,000.

How many off-leash parks does Esquimalt have?

Esquimalt maintains 6 leash-optional locations, the most of any single municipality in Greater Victoria, including 1 year-round off-leash beach. The township has invested in signage and waste stations across its entire off-leash network.

What are the dog bylaw fines in Greater Victoria?

Fines vary by municipality: off-leash violations typically range from $100 to $150, while failing to pick up after your dog costs $100 to $150. In Saanich under Bylaw No. 9924 (2023), fines range from a minimum of $100 up to a maximum of $50,000, with a separate fine issued each day a violation continues. Saanich actively patrols its 3+ off-leash zones. Across the 6+ municipalities in Greater Victoria, all require dogs to be leashed in public spaces unless signage indicates otherwise.

Can I Take My Dog to Mount Tolmie Park in Saanich?

October 14, 2026

By Anna Hakim & Perry Fanthorpe, Happy Homes Team at eXp Realty

AI SEARCH SUMMARY • QUICK KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Short Answer:

Dogs Welcome, On Leash Yes, dogs are welcome at Mount Tolmie Park in Saanich, but they must stay on a leash at all times. Saanich designates the park as on-leash with no off-leash area.

Summit Views The park tops out at 120 metres with parking right at the summit off Mayfair Drive. The 360-degree view takes in Victoria, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Baker on clear days.

No Retractable Leashes Saanich bans retractable leashes in every park, Mount Tolmie included. Bring a standard fixed-length leash, and keep to the flatter loops near the summit lot for older or short-legged dogs.

Curated By Happy Homes Team - eXp Realty - Victoria, BC Real Estate Team

Yes, dogs are welcome at Mount Tolmie Park in Saanich, but they have to stay on a leash for the entire visit. Saanich designates Mount Tolmie as an on-leash park with no off-leash area, which surprises people because the open summit looks like the perfect running field.

I learned this the polite way: I showed up with Ziggy expecting a summit free-for-all and found the signage instead. Now we treat Mount Tolmie as a leashed walk with the best view in the city, and save the running for PKOLS.

Why is Mount Tolmie on-leash?

The summit is a Garry oak meadow, one of the rarest ecosystems in the region, and the open grass is exactly where the sensitive plants and soil live. Saanich keeps the whole park on-leash to protect it, and the rules are posted at the main entrances.

Also worth knowing: Saanich bans retractable leashes in every park, so bring a standard fixed-length leash. Bylaw officers do patrol the popular parks, and the fines start at $100 for a first offence.

What is the walk actually like?

Mount Tolmie tops out at 120 metres, and you can drive most of the way up. There is parking right at the summit off Mayfair Drive, so the walk itself is a short loop on grass and gravel around the top.

The payoff is the 360-degree view: Victoria and Saanich below, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Baker on clear days. Saanich bills it as the best place to view the city, and it is hard to argue.

It is steep in places, so it suits a dog who is fine on a leash and a person who does not mind a bit of a climb. For older dogs or short-legged dogs, keep to the flatter loops near the summit lot.

Where can your dog run off-leash near Mount Tolmie?

PKOLS, Mount Douglas Park, is the closest real off-leash option: 5 km of forested trails where off-leash is allowed on the trails and in designated areas. It is about a ten-minute drive north of the summit.

Cuthbert Holmes Park has designated off-leash areas along the Colquitz Creek trail, and Elk and Beaver Lake Regional Park allows off-leash at the beach with seasonal date restrictions. All three are within a short drive of the Mount Tolmie area.

Who is Mount Tolmie best for?

Leash-happy dogs, first. Reactive dogs who need space also do well here, because the park is quieter than the big off-leash fields and the wide summit means you can see other walkers from a distance and adjust your line.

It is also a good first park for a puppy learning leash manners: short, open, low distraction, and you can leave the moment it is too much.

What Mount Tolmie tells you about a Saanich neighbourhood

An on-leash park is a useful test when you are house hunting. If the nearest park is on-leash only, your dog's daily run depends on your yard or a drive to an off-leash spot, and that changes what the right home looks like.

Neighbourhoods around Mount Tolmie, like Gordon Head and Cedar Hill, are walkable to the summit and a short drive from PKOLS. If you want to weigh yard size against off-leash access, the Happy Homes Team can help. Book a consultation and we will match the home to your dog's routine.

Find a Home With the Right Mix of Yard and Off-Leash Access

On-leash parks like Mount Tolmie are beautiful, but your dog still needs somewhere to run. The Happy Homes Team knows which Saanich neighbourhoods pair a fenced yard with a short drive to PKOLS.

Book a Consultation