What Should I Pack for a Day Hike with My Dog Near Victoria?

I have learned what to pack for a day hike with my dogs the hard way, by forgetting something essential and paying for it on the trail. A few years ago I took Ziggy to Thetis Lake on a hot July afternoon without enough water or a bowl that worked. He drank from the lake, which I would never let him do now that I know about the blue-green algae alerts that hit Thetis Lake every summer. The hike was cut short, the car seat was a mess, and I felt like an idiot. Do not do what I did.

Greater Victoria has some of the best dog-friendly hiking on Vancouver Island, from the shaded Douglas fir canopy at Francis King Regional Park to the coastal views at East Sooke. But the gear you pack changes how the day goes for both of you. Here is what I actually carry, what I have stopped carrying, and the one piece of gear I will never leave behind.

What water system do I actually need for a dog on a Victoria trail?

A single 500 ml bottle is not enough for a 30 kg dog on a 6 km hike. The rule I follow is 1 litre of dog water per 5 km for a medium-sized dog, and more on warm days. Ziggy drinks about 750 ml on a standard afternoon loop at Francis King (about 5 km of shaded trails) and more than a litre if we do the full Thetis Lake loop on a warm day.

I carry two things: a collapsible silicone bowl (the Sea to Summit X-Cup style, about 30 grams and flat enough to slip into a jacket pocket) and a 1-litre soft flask that I fill from my own supply. Do not rely on trail-side streams or lakes. Thetis Lake and Elk Lake both have blue-green algae advisories through the summer. Goldstream has tannic water that dogs will drink but that can upset their stomach. Bring your own water.

Should my dog wear a harness or a collar on the trail?

A harness, always. A flat collar works fine for a neighbourhood walk, but on a trail where your dog might need to be pulled up a steep section, helped over a fallen log, or stopped quickly near a cliff edge, a harness gives you control without putting pressure on their trachea. I use a Ruffwear Front Range harness on Ziggy and a lighter Rabbitgoo harness on Sahara. Both have a handle on the back so I can lift the dog over obstacles without grabbing their legs or scruff.

The one exception is if your dog wears a backpack that has its own chest strap system. Some Ruffwear packs integrate with their harness line. If you go that route, test the fit at home before you hit the trail. A rubbing strap becomes a raw spot by kilometre 4.

Do I need dog booties on Vancouver Island trails?

Yes, and I used to think they were a gimmick. Then I watched a friend's dog slice a pad on the sharp shale near Sandcut Beach on the Juan de Fuca trail, and we spent the rest of the afternoon carrying a 25 kg lab back to the car. Vancouver Island trails have rock that will cut a dog's paw. The shale around East Sooke, the gravel on parts of the Galloping Goose, and the crushed shells at Witty's Lagoon are all abrasive.

I pack a set of Ruffwear Grip Trex booties for Ziggy when we hike rocky or gravelly trails. They are not for every hike. On soft forest trails at Francis King or Mount Doug, I leave them in the car. But if the trail surface is sharp or hot, they go on. Summer pavement in Victoria hits 50 degrees on a 25-degree day, and the booties are useful for that too.

What leash works best on Victoria's dog-friendly trails?

A 6-foot standard leash for most trails, and a hands-free leash with a waist belt for narrow or rooty sections. The hands-free leash is a game changer on trails like PKOLS (Mount Douglas) where the off-leash Glendenning loop is narrow and you need your hands free for balance on the roots and rocks. I use a Ruffwear Roamer leash that clips around my waist and bounces a little when Ziggy pulls ahead.

For the on-leash trails at Francis King and Thetis Lake, I use a standard 6-foot leash with a traffic handle near the clip for quick control near other dogs or bikes. Avoid retractable leashes on trails. They are banned on-leash in Saanich anyway, and they create a trip hazard on narrow paths. A fixed-length leash is safer for your dog and everyone else on the trail.

What first-aid and safety gear should I carry for my dog?

A basic dog first-aid kit is easy to put together and lives in my day pack. The items I have used at least once: vet wrap (for a cut pad), gauze pads, medical tape, a small bottle of saline for rinsing dirt out of eyes, and a pair of tweezers for ticks. Tick checks are non-negotiable after every trail hike, especially in spring and early summer when the deer ticks are active around Francis King and the Galloping Goose corridor.

I also carry a tick key, which is a small plastic tool that removes ticks without squeezing the body (squeezing can push infection into the bite). And I have a rescue-slide leash clipped to my pack, a short loop leash I can use in an emergency if I need to secure the dog quickly. An emergency whistle is in my pack too. I have never needed it for a dog emergency, but it weighs nothing and has been useful for getting a lost dog's attention in thick brush near the Thetis Lake campground.

What should my dog carry in their own pack?

A dog pack is optional but useful if your dog is fit and you want to distribute the load. A well-fitted pack should carry no more than 25 percent of the dog's body weight. For a 30 kg Rottweiler like Ziggy, that means about 7 kg, which covers his own water, his collapsible bowl, a light towel, and a bag of treats. Sahara, at 23 kg and 13 years old, does not carry a pack. She earns her keep by looking dignified on the trail.

I use a Ruffwear Approach Pack for Ziggy. It has two side pouches that balance the load, a chest strap, and a handle on top. The key is fit: the pack should sit snugly behind the shoulders and not shift side to side. If the pack slides, it rubs and causes sores. Test it on a short walk before you commit to a 10 km hike.

What local trail should I start with?

If you are new to hiking with your dog on Vancouver Island, start with Francis King Regional Park in Saanich. The trails are wide, well-maintained, and mostly shaded. The 5 km loop around the park is flat enough for most fitness levels and gives you a chance to test your gear setup without the risk of a steep climb or a technical section. Dogs must be on-leash here, so it is also a good place to practice trail manners before hitting busier routes.

For a step up in difficulty, the full Thetis Lake loop (about 4 km with moderate elevation) is one of the most popular dog-friendly trails in the region. The Peninsula Trail section is the flattest option. The Summit Loop has a climb that rewards you with a view of the lake and the Olympic Mountains on a clear day. Leash rules: dogs must be on-leash at Thetis Lake, though you will see people letting their dogs off in the back sections. Do not risk the fine.

For experienced hikers with confident dogs, the Aylard Farm trailhead at East Sooke Regional Park gives you access to the rugged coastal trail that runs along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This is a serious hike with steep sections, cliff edges, and potential wildlife encounters (cougar and bear signs are posted at the trailhead). Dogs must be on-leash. Pack booties and more water than you think you need. The coastal section has no fresh water access.

How trail access connects to home life

The best part of living in Greater Victoria with a dog is having trail systems 15 minutes from your front door. When we help clients find a home here, access to trails is one of the top factors for dog-owning buyers. A home near Mount Doug in Saanich puts you within walking distance of the leash-optional loop trail. A home off the Galloping Goose near View Royal gives you miles of off-road trail along the water. A home in the Gordon Head or Broadmead areas of Saanich puts you minutes from Francis King and a dozen smaller parks.

The neighbourhoods that connect best to trail networks are the ones with larger lots, quieter streets, and mature green space. If hiking with your dog is a regular part of your week, those are the areas worth focusing your home search on.

Next steps

For the full list of dog-friendly trails across Greater Victoria, see our complete trails guide. For off-leash rules specific to Saanich, our PKOLS off-leash guide covers the leash-optional loop. And if you are thinking about trail access when choosing a home, our guide to yards and green space for dog owners covers what to look for in a property.

Heading out for your first trail hike this week? The Happy Homes Team can help you find a home near the trails you will come to know by heart. We live here and hike here with our own dogs. Book a call to talk about your next move.