DESCRIPTION:

This description courtesy of Pete & Natalie's page....

Hartland Surplus Lands (The Dump) The only designated mountain biking area on Vancouver Island. Located within sniffing distance of the prettiest landfill you have ever seen (only in Victoria would you find such immaculate garbage). The riding takes place on Mount Work about 16 to 21 km outside of town, depending on which entrance you use. Officially riders are supposed to use the Hartland Ave entrance; you take West Saanich Road until about the 5400 block and look for Hartland Road on your left. Follow Hartland until you get to the dump entrance.

The city was nice enough to build us a parking lot complete with toilets and an area to wash your bikes so I guess we should use it. This is the entrance you should use if you drive. Take the trail directly across the road from the parking lot and work your way under the power lines towards the forested hills you can see to the north. This area is also riddled with trails with new ones popping up almost weekly. It seems that ever since the area welcomed bikes some riders have felt free to cut trails wherever they please. This has led to trails of incredible stupidity and erosion on a scale that rivals our local timber companies. We are all for new trails, but please build smart. If you are riding out, the preferred entrance is at the fire hall on Woodridge Place. From town get yourself on West Burnside heading north, you will cross Helmcken Road and enter more a rural area go about 2 km and look for Prospect Lake road on your right. Head up winding Prospect Lake road until it forks at the horse farm, then take the left. You will now be on Munns Road, which twists and turns for about 3 km. At the bottom of a hill with a sharp left you will see West Ridge Place. Turn right here and then take a quick left onto WoodRidge stay on that till you reach the fire hall and the forest of NO PARKING signs. You'll know you're in the right spot if there are a bunch of cars parked there.

The dump is a bit easier to get lost in than the Highlands, but if you have time you are pretty safe to just take trails at random, maybe bring along an extra powerbar just in case. In general the trails tend to be a bit more technical. Lots of tight singletrack, roots, rocks, logs and nasty little drops that make this area very fun for those with moderate to strong bike handling skills.

HOW TO GET THERE:

FROM DOWNTOWN VICTORIA:

Go NORTH on Blanshard St. which will turn into the Pat Bay Highway(17). Take the Royal Oak Exit. TURN LEFT at the traffic light onto Royal Oak drive. TURN RIGHT onto West Saanich Road. Turn LEFT onto Hartland Road. Go to the end. Just before the entrance to the Landfill, the Parking Lot is on the RIGHT, and the entrance is signed well on the LEFT. Ride on!

FROM SWARTZ BAY:

Travel SOUTH on the Pat Bay Highway (17). Take the Royal Oak Exit. Turn RIGHT onto Royal Oak Drive. TURN RIGHT onto West Saanich Road. Turn LEFT onto Hartland Road. Go to the end. Just before the entrance to the Landfill, the Parking Lot is on the RIGHT, and the entrance is signed well on the LEFT. Ride on!

FROM DUNCAN:

Travel SOUTH on Highway One (Island Highway). Turn LEFT at the  McKenzie Street Exit. Follow signs to Highway 17 NORTH (it says Ferries). Take the Royal Oak Exit. TURN LEFT at the traffic light onto Royal Oak drive. TURN RIGHT onto West Saanich Road. Turn LEFT onto Hartland Road. Go to the end. Just before the entrance to the Landfill, the Parking Lot is on the RIGHT, and the entrance is signed well on the LEFT. Ride on!