MALAHAT
MALAHAT
Malahat is an unincorporated region north of Victoria. A rugged mountainous community famous for the scenic but sometimes treacherous stretch of highway known as the Malahat Drive. The Malahat Drive is loved for its scenic beauty, climbing steeply to a summit of 356 meters, it offers a spectacular view. But it is also hated for its history of horrific crashes. Over the past few years, much effort has been exerted into the development of making this route safer. Kilometres of barriers have been added in the steep and windy sections of the road to prevent any more accidents.
Malahat residents generally visit Mill Bay or Langford for their shopping needs as the region does not have any commercial centre.
What Malahat offers is a quiet lifestyle surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty with most of its properties perched like eagle’s aeries on the steep slopes. Perfect locations to enjoy the spectacular views of the Saanich inlet.
Malahat Sub-Area Attraction Pages:
Spectacle Lake
Located just after the north end of the Malahat drive, Spectacle Lake Provincial Park is a small nature park that packs a big punch. This park is spring-fed and offers the only site on Vancouver Island for Eastern Brook trout fishing. It is also stocked regularly with Cutthroat Trout, making it a popular location for anglers. Although Spectacle Lake Provincial Park may be too small to allow for overnight camping, it offers a variety of activities suitable for families and individuals alike.
Highlights of Spectacle Lake Provincial Park
- Canoeing/Kayaking
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Skating
- Short hikes
- Wheelchair accessible boat launch
- Pit toilets at the beach
The area surrounding Spectacle Lake was logged before the 1960s, and the lake itself was dammed and used to boom logs that were about to be put through the sawmill that operated there in the 1940s. In spite of this, the park remains a lush, mature forest with plenty of natural beauty.
Activities at Spectacle Lake Provincial Park
One of the best things about Spectacle Lake Provincial Park is its accessibility. All of the facilities are wheelchair and stroller friendly, including the boat launch. Even the trails around the lake are short and easy, making it possible for families with strollers to enjoy a pleasant walk.
Like many of the Capital Regional District’s lake parks, Spectacle Lake Provincial Park can accommodate the usual water activities, which include swimming, canoeing, and fishing. However, it is also popular for ice skating in the winter, as it is one of the first lakes to freeze on Vancouver Island.
In spite of the fact that the forest around Spectacle Lake is not the original one, it is still a beautiful and inviting park with a lot to offer. Whether you are looking to spend time with your loved ones enjoying the summer sun, or you come in warm clothes and ice skates, Spectacle Lake Provincial Park is a small park that leaves a lasting impression. It will certainly become a place you will return to time and again.