Can I Take My Dog on the E&N Rail Trail in Victoria?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the E&N Rail Trail, but the leash stays on the whole way. The E&N is a Capital Regional District regional trail, and the same rule that keeps dogs leashed on the Galloping Goose and the Lochside applies here. What you get in return is the driest, flattest, most paved walking corridor in Greater Victoria, and it keeps getting longer.

I have walked this trail with Ziggy and Sahara more times than I can count, and it is the route I send clients to when they want distance without mud. It is the newest rail trail in the region, and every few months the open section grows a little farther west.

How long is the E&N Rail Trail and where does it run?

About 13.5 kilometres are open to the public as of fall 2026. The trail runs from around Esquimalt Road in Victoria through Vic West, Esquimalt, and View Royal, then out to Jacklin Road in Langford. It connects to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail near Atkins Road, so you can link the two for a genuinely long day out.

The full plan is roughly 17 kilometres. The final segment between Jacklin Road and Humpback Road has no construction timeline yet, so the Langford end is currently the turnaround point.

Are dogs allowed off-leash on the E&N?

No. There are no off-leash sections on the E&N Rail Trail, at any hour or in any season. The trail is a shared commuter and recreation corridor, and a loose dog on a paved path where cyclists ride fast is a hazard to everyone.

If you want your dog to run, the off-leash parks are a short detour away, and I list the best ones below. The leash rule on the trail itself is not a grey area, and it matches every other CRD regional trail.

What is the trail like for a dog walk?

Fully paved, mostly flat, and dry underfoot even in the middle of a wet October. That makes it the trail for senior dogs, strollers, bikes with a dog on a line, and anyone tired of washing mud out of a coat after every walk. The Humpback Connector section through View Royal is my favourite stretch: quiet, tree-lined, and easy to park near.

The busiest part is the downtown end, where commuter bikes are heavy around rush hour. The View Royal and Langford sections are the calm ones, especially on weekday mornings.

Where should I start?

At the Victoria end, pick the trail up around Esquimalt Road in Vic West. In View Royal, the Humpback Connector links to Portage Park, which has a designated off-leash area, so you can warm up on the trail and let your dog run at the end. In Langford, the trail currently ends near Jacklin Road with parking close by.

One practical note: the CRD has closed short sections for construction this fall, including a stretch in Esquimalt, so check the CRD E&N Rail Trail page before you head out.

What off-leash parks are near the E&N?

Portage Park in View Royal has a designated off-leash dog area with direct trail access, which makes it the natural pairing for an E&N walk. Thetis Lake Regional Park's dog beach is a short drive from the Langford end. And the fenced Victoria West Dog Park sits close to the downtown trailhead, an easy stop before or after a city walk.

Which neighbourhoods along the E&N suit dog owners best?

The corridor runs through four municipalities, and the housing changes character as it goes. Vic West and Esquimalt are compact, walkable, and close to the downtown end. View Royal and Langford trade some walkability for bigger yards, quieter streets, and trailheads you can reach without loading the car.

For buyers, trail access is one of the first things we ask about. A home a five-minute walk from a paved, all-weather trail changes how you live with a dog, and the E&N delivers that across a wide price range. Our View Royal guide and Langford guide go deeper on what each side of the trail actually offers.