top of page

Knockan Hill Park

Knockan Hill Park is a Garry Oak woodland in Saanich and View Royal, rich in biodiversity and Indigenous history, with scenic trails, birdwatching, and views from its namesake hill

Location

About

  • Knockan Hill Park is approximately 9.28 hectares in size

  • Historically, the Songhees People harvested camas in this area

  • There are multiple access points including Burnside Road West, Mildred Street, Tall Tree Place, Jean Place, Jean Heights, and High Street from the View Royal side of the park

  • The name "Knockan Hill" was first noted in colonial records on an 1885 map of Southeast Vancouver Island by J.D. Pemberton (Brown et al., 2008)

  • Early Scottish settlers are believed to have used the Gaelic word "Gnocan," meaning knoll or hill, to refer to the hill

  • The area is predominantly covered by Garry Oak woodlands, an endangered ecosystem that is highly biodiverse and was maintained by First Nations for thousands of years before colonization

  • Birdwatchers can find bald eagles, anna’s hummingbirds, northern flickers and house finch in the park 

Lands

  • The territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples represented by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples represented by the Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum and Malahat Nations 

Amenities

  • Walking trails

  • Lookout 

Online

Videos




bottom of page