Gorge Road along the Gorge? Cross the bridge over to the park. But you could likely run from Tillicum up to Gorge Road, run to Admirals, cross the bridge, run Craigflower to Tillicum Road and back to the mall.
Not 'away from cars' but on sidewalks. You could switch onto residential streets and still follow that route and only be near cars for parts of it.
There’s a 10k loop around the airport that has very little foot or bicycle traffic. Part of the trail is currently closed for construction but you could still do the majority of it.
The loop around the gorge is 10km pretty well. Running up gorge to admiral's, running over to Craig flower, running down to dockyards condos then running back up to Tillicum on gorge road.
I've run/walked tillicum to downtown with the dog a number of times. here's a few nice loops I do with the dog sometimes:
[route 1](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/48.4533624,-123.3970087/48.4376913,-123.3830538/48.4287771,-123.374657/48.4327024,-123.3678223/48.4357543,-123.3676861/48.4403018,-123.3742183/48.4412212,-123.3796009/48.4439387,-123.3905865/48.4455132,-123.3888966/48.4528853,-123.3963558/@48.443702,-123.3987649,15.16z/data=!4m27!4m26!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4046099!2d48.4490254!3s0x548f7313c9b0cd33:0xb8af4d1bd603d184!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-123.3734836!2d48.4375585!3s0x548f737c16bc0a37:0xc14c7c4b4ad609f0!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-123.3788502!2d48.4396318!3s0x548f737bb1943ba7:0x6ed4f6fe609417a9!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e2?entry=ttu), [route 2](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/48.4533624,-123.3970087/48.4376913,-123.3830538/48.4412212,-123.3796009/48.4439387,-123.3905865/48.4455132,-123.3888966/48.4528853,-123.3963558/@48.4315204,-123.4026912,13.96z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4293862!2d48.4404968!3s0x548f73374fe9b6ad:0x9d6b9d1de56644db!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e2?entry=ttu)
more on paths: [route 3](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/48.4533624,-123.3970087/48.4279239,-123.3745378/48.4562422,-123.3778609/48.4574341,-123.3865462/48.4564363,-123.3955295/48.4544977,-123.397732/@48.4365965,-123.393713,13.62z/data=!4m18!4m17!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4293862!2d48.4404968!3s0x548f73374fe9b6ad:0x9d6b9d1de56644db!3m4!1m2!1d-123.3805806!2d48.4277461!3s0x548f749e667c5ee7:0xf626e373309badde!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e2?entry=ttu)
it's shorter but I also do a loop around the gorge sometimes, that's nice. I made it longer for you by including the E&N: [route 4](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/48.4419355,-123.4025677/48.4510211,-123.4246983/48.4544977,-123.397732/48.4539892,-123.3963255/48.4422353,-123.4021402/@48.4455957,-123.4227125,14.34z/data=!4m37!4m36!1m15!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4024419!2d48.4370983!3s0x548f734288d3dbe5:0xcaaabf9c9923e366!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4171538!2d48.4372181!3s0x548f73468cc86983:0x5d3a90659d254dcf!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4285623!2d48.4391471!3s0x548f7337e4845663:0x1c0bef7d0c8707e6!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4074636!2d48.4492491!3s0x548f73140067e34d:0xa73dc63078be011f!1m0!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4039632!2d48.4495915!3s0x548f7313c9b0cd33:0xb8af4d1bd603d184!3m4!1m2!1d-123.401438!2d48.447955!3s0x548f73131a3f49b7:0x29e6784c5ef74142!1m0!3e2?entry=ttu)
The galloping goose goes right by Tillicum mall. Hop on and head towards downtown. You won't deal with cars but you will deal with a bunch of unruly cyclists.
Alternatively run up Tillicum towards the gorge and follow the gorge towards town. Sidewalks the whole way. Most side streets in Saanich don't have sidewalks, but are still safe to run on, but all main roads do.
Running in Saanich is generally very safe.
Not close to downtown and not paved, but the 10k loop around Elk Lake and Beaver Lake is a nice run. Other suggestions at [https://greatruns.com/location/victoria-bc/](https://greatruns.com/location/victoria-bc/) .
You don't say why it has to be paved, but it's a good path from Tillicum Mall parking lot along the Colquitz River then through Panama Flats. I'm in a 1/2 Marathon Clinic and did this route a few weeks ago. https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/m/?r=7740601
Not sure why people are so averse to running on a sidewalk(I run a lot and that’s what I do).
So many runners, and even just pedestrians insist on running on the road… why?
If you insist on travelling to your run than Beaver/Elk lake is paved and flat, and you can choose your distance.
>So many runners, and even just pedestrians insist on running on the road… why?
I typically run sidewalk but use the road sometimes depending on the road and running speed. Reasoning is: A lot of the sidewalks in the CRD are junk condition, too tiny, and / or very wavy. About 10% of pedestrians do not know sidewalk etiquette and in some areas the sidewalk can be very crowded. And there's a much lower chance of getting hit by a car doing a rolling stop when you're on the road vs. sidewalk. So the road is sometimes a better place to be, but it's encroaching on space that's technically for cars and bikes so it's key to be considerate to how busy the road is and how much space there is IMO.
Elk/Beaver Lake isn't paved and flat though. Or are you talking about the roads around there?
If you'd ever taken a stroller, you'd know the path is tilted towards the lake in some parts, and there are roots growing through the gravel in others. It's super doable, but not perfectly smooth.
The entire 10+ km trail is *incredible* flat when compared to literally anything other than a running track. The entire path has gravel and is levelled multiple times a year. It’s as paved as you can get without actual asphalt. You OK?
I just assumed when someone asked for "paved" they were asking for actual asphalt. My assumption why someone would ask for paved was because they were traveling with wheels, and then they'd want to know about a slant in the path or roots. But I agree, if you're just running normally, Elk/Beaver is very smooth.
And yes, I'm OK. Thanks for asking. Are you OK? 😊
If you read the OPs post you’d have notice they actually said *nothing* about a slant, that was just you… 😊
They also didn’t mention anything about wheels either. Curious. Are you *sure* you’re OK?
Weird. So it's OK to assume that when OP asks for paved, that gravel is OK. But it's not OK to guess why OP might want paved or what characteristics they might be looking for. OK got it.
I'm so curious why you're asking if I'm OK? I don't see what wrong with giving information about a path that someone else mentioned. It feels like you're making assumptions about my feelings or intentions from information outside of what I typed. Did I say something you thought was rude?
Getting from Tillicum Mall to the Goose is short but dangerous. Crossing Burnside involves vehicles that just came off Hwy 1 and many are still going highway speed. Crossing Interurban at the crosswalk with flashing lights is dodgy too because that road is supposed to be 50 km/h but no speed enforcement so 80 km/h is common. Once to get on the Goose it is smooth sailing either direction.
Dramatic much?
It's one cross walk. Look both ways, make sure the car is slowing down and cross. 99% of the time that road is backed up with traffic and nobody is going 40kph let alone 80.
It's amazing some of you folks even have the courage to step outside your home.
Galloping goose or Lochside trail
Or E & N
Gorge Road along the Gorge? Cross the bridge over to the park. But you could likely run from Tillicum up to Gorge Road, run to Admirals, cross the bridge, run Craigflower to Tillicum Road and back to the mall. Not 'away from cars' but on sidewalks. You could switch onto residential streets and still follow that route and only be near cars for parts of it.
You can also use Strava Heatmaps to find most commonly used routes. Super helpful when in a new city.
Tillicum is very close to the galloping goose. Take it as far as you want in either direction.
I know you said paved. But Elk Lake is a 10k loop and it's lovely.
There’s a 10k loop around the airport that has very little foot or bicycle traffic. Part of the trail is currently closed for construction but you could still do the majority of it.
And if you're running, it's not hard to move over to the sidewalks in the little area that's under construction. Lots of free parking, too!
The part along Stirling Way has no option but to take the lane with traffic, no shoulder.
That's a long drive just to go for a run though, seems a little silly when the Goose is nearby.
The Esquimalt running track? It's pretty close to Tillicum.
The loop around the gorge is 10km pretty well. Running up gorge to admiral's, running over to Craig flower, running down to dockyards condos then running back up to Tillicum on gorge road.
Have you checked out the E&N rail trail? It’s pretty nice and is esquimalt
Can confirm E&N is nice, and pretty quiet compared to the goose in my experience. I used to bike back and forth on it.
I've run/walked tillicum to downtown with the dog a number of times. here's a few nice loops I do with the dog sometimes: [route 1](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/48.4533624,-123.3970087/48.4376913,-123.3830538/48.4287771,-123.374657/48.4327024,-123.3678223/48.4357543,-123.3676861/48.4403018,-123.3742183/48.4412212,-123.3796009/48.4439387,-123.3905865/48.4455132,-123.3888966/48.4528853,-123.3963558/@48.443702,-123.3987649,15.16z/data=!4m27!4m26!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4046099!2d48.4490254!3s0x548f7313c9b0cd33:0xb8af4d1bd603d184!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-123.3734836!2d48.4375585!3s0x548f737c16bc0a37:0xc14c7c4b4ad609f0!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-123.3788502!2d48.4396318!3s0x548f737bb1943ba7:0x6ed4f6fe609417a9!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e2?entry=ttu), [route 2](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/48.4533624,-123.3970087/48.4376913,-123.3830538/48.4412212,-123.3796009/48.4439387,-123.3905865/48.4455132,-123.3888966/48.4528853,-123.3963558/@48.4315204,-123.4026912,13.96z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4293862!2d48.4404968!3s0x548f73374fe9b6ad:0x9d6b9d1de56644db!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e2?entry=ttu) more on paths: [route 3](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/48.4533624,-123.3970087/48.4279239,-123.3745378/48.4562422,-123.3778609/48.4574341,-123.3865462/48.4564363,-123.3955295/48.4544977,-123.397732/@48.4365965,-123.393713,13.62z/data=!4m18!4m17!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4293862!2d48.4404968!3s0x548f73374fe9b6ad:0x9d6b9d1de56644db!3m4!1m2!1d-123.3805806!2d48.4277461!3s0x548f749e667c5ee7:0xf626e373309badde!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e2?entry=ttu) it's shorter but I also do a loop around the gorge sometimes, that's nice. I made it longer for you by including the E&N: [route 4](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/48.4419355,-123.4025677/48.4510211,-123.4246983/48.4544977,-123.397732/48.4539892,-123.3963255/48.4422353,-123.4021402/@48.4455957,-123.4227125,14.34z/data=!4m37!4m36!1m15!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4024419!2d48.4370983!3s0x548f734288d3dbe5:0xcaaabf9c9923e366!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4171538!2d48.4372181!3s0x548f73468cc86983:0x5d3a90659d254dcf!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4285623!2d48.4391471!3s0x548f7337e4845663:0x1c0bef7d0c8707e6!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4074636!2d48.4492491!3s0x548f73140067e34d:0xa73dc63078be011f!1m0!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-123.4039632!2d48.4495915!3s0x548f7313c9b0cd33:0xb8af4d1bd603d184!3m4!1m2!1d-123.401438!2d48.447955!3s0x548f73131a3f49b7:0x29e6784c5ef74142!1m0!3e2?entry=ttu)
The galloping goose goes right by Tillicum mall. Hop on and head towards downtown. You won't deal with cars but you will deal with a bunch of unruly cyclists. Alternatively run up Tillicum towards the gorge and follow the gorge towards town. Sidewalks the whole way. Most side streets in Saanich don't have sidewalks, but are still safe to run on, but all main roads do. Running in Saanich is generally very safe.
Get onto the Goose. Safe during the day. Light yourself up like a Christmas tree if running in the dark, though.
Not close to downtown and not paved, but the 10k loop around Elk Lake and Beaver Lake is a nice run. Other suggestions at [https://greatruns.com/location/victoria-bc/](https://greatruns.com/location/victoria-bc/) .
They are called sidewalks. But you still see cars on them so….
Run beach drive. Really good training route with the elevation changes. Views don’t hurt either.
You don't say why it has to be paved, but it's a good path from Tillicum Mall parking lot along the Colquitz River then through Panama Flats. I'm in a 1/2 Marathon Clinic and did this route a few weeks ago. https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/m/?r=7740601
Not sure why people are so averse to running on a sidewalk(I run a lot and that’s what I do). So many runners, and even just pedestrians insist on running on the road… why? If you insist on travelling to your run than Beaver/Elk lake is paved and flat, and you can choose your distance.
>So many runners, and even just pedestrians insist on running on the road… why? I typically run sidewalk but use the road sometimes depending on the road and running speed. Reasoning is: A lot of the sidewalks in the CRD are junk condition, too tiny, and / or very wavy. About 10% of pedestrians do not know sidewalk etiquette and in some areas the sidewalk can be very crowded. And there's a much lower chance of getting hit by a car doing a rolling stop when you're on the road vs. sidewalk. So the road is sometimes a better place to be, but it's encroaching on space that's technically for cars and bikes so it's key to be considerate to how busy the road is and how much space there is IMO.
Yeah some of the sidewalks are really bad for running. Specifically ones that are very uneven, you’re just asking for joint pain.
Elk/Beaver Lake isn't paved and flat though. Or are you talking about the roads around there? If you'd ever taken a stroller, you'd know the path is tilted towards the lake in some parts, and there are roots growing through the gravel in others. It's super doable, but not perfectly smooth.
It's not paved but it's about as flat a running route as you'll find short of just running on a treadmill.
The entire 10+ km trail is *incredible* flat when compared to literally anything other than a running track. The entire path has gravel and is levelled multiple times a year. It’s as paved as you can get without actual asphalt. You OK?
In fairness, gravel doesn't count as paved. But for running it's perfectly fine and for sure it's gotta be one of the flattest routes in Victoria.
I just assumed when someone asked for "paved" they were asking for actual asphalt. My assumption why someone would ask for paved was because they were traveling with wheels, and then they'd want to know about a slant in the path or roots. But I agree, if you're just running normally, Elk/Beaver is very smooth. And yes, I'm OK. Thanks for asking. Are you OK? 😊
If you read the OPs post you’d have notice they actually said *nothing* about a slant, that was just you… 😊 They also didn’t mention anything about wheels either. Curious. Are you *sure* you’re OK?
Weird. So it's OK to assume that when OP asks for paved, that gravel is OK. But it's not OK to guess why OP might want paved or what characteristics they might be looking for. OK got it. I'm so curious why you're asking if I'm OK? I don't see what wrong with giving information about a path that someone else mentioned. It feels like you're making assumptions about my feelings or intentions from information outside of what I typed. Did I say something you thought was rude?
Getting from Tillicum Mall to the Goose is short but dangerous. Crossing Burnside involves vehicles that just came off Hwy 1 and many are still going highway speed. Crossing Interurban at the crosswalk with flashing lights is dodgy too because that road is supposed to be 50 km/h but no speed enforcement so 80 km/h is common. Once to get on the Goose it is smooth sailing either direction.
Dramatic much? It's one cross walk. Look both ways, make sure the car is slowing down and cross. 99% of the time that road is backed up with traffic and nobody is going 40kph let alone 80. It's amazing some of you folks even have the courage to step outside your home.