by Sheila Molloy | photos by Sheila Molloy & Stephanie Staples –
The important watersheds and subwatersheds that exist down the Saanich Peninsula and into the District of Saanich create distinct landscapes in our beautiful environment and are maintained by many important conservation efforts that restore the land and build our connections to it. We visited two key conservation areas to learn and appreciate these amazing green spaces.
Rithet’s Bog (www.rithetsbog.org) is a 42-hectare nature sanctuary, named for R. P. Rithet who farmed the area, and was donated to the people of Saanich by the Guinness family in 1994.
Primary street access is from Chatterton Way or Dalewood Lane, and at that junction you will find a large information kiosk and a bike rack. Please keep dogs on a leash or chain and lock your bike at the bike rack as no cycling is permitted on the trail.
Route Details
The 3.2km loop trail is an easy route. The surface is fine hard-packed gravel with a few elevated boardwalks. It is flat overall, with some small undulations. You will pass by low-lying marshes, wet meadows and bog forest which are home to a variety of birds, butterflies and small animals.
It is one of the last remaining peat bogs on the Saanich Peninsula.
Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary (www.swanlake.bc.ca) is a wetland with an incredible array of rare native plants, over 180 bird varieties, and small animals including muskrat, river otter and mink. Swan Lake was formed 12,000 years ago when the last glacier receded and is comprised of two distinct areas: the low wetland area of Swan Lake, and the rocky forested hilltop of Christmas Hill.
Address is 3873 Swan Lake Road. From Mackenzie to Nelthorpe Street, right on Sevenoaks Road, left on Rainbow Street, and then left on Ralph, which will take you to the main parking lot with ample spaces and overflow. Dogs and bikes are not permitted in this sanctuary.
Route Details
Swan Lake Loop trail is a 2.6km easy walk with a floating boardwalk that allows you close access to the wetland area. While mostly flat, there are some hills of varying heights with low dips that can be muddy after a rain. The journey around takes you past rock walls, marsh grasses, and cattails beside the lake.
Educational programs and events are available for all ages. Nature trails and parking lot are open dawn to dusk every day.
Things to Note
• Toilets are available in the Swan Lake Nature House a short walk from the parking lot.
• There are no washroom facilities at Rithet’s Bog.
• There are many rest benches along the way on both loop trails.
• Love birds? Bring your binoculars! Both sanctuaries have long lists of birds to search for and recent sightings can be found on E-bird:
Rithet’s https://ebird.org/hotspot/L330866
Swan Lake: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L348441.
