John Dean Park

ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱/John Dean Provincial Park is a compact 173-hectare reserve on the Saanich Peninsula of Vancouver Island, northeast of Victoria. The name ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ comes from the WSÁNEĆ (Saanich) peoples' language and designates a place of deep traditional and spiritual importance — a recognition formally embedded in the park's dual name. Established in 1921, it is among British Columbia's oldest provincial parks. Trails wind through old-growth coastal forest of Douglas fir and arbutus trees to the peninsula's high points, where clear days reveal sweeping views across Haro Strait toward the San Juan Islands. The park's small size belies its ecological and cultural density, making it a meaningful stop beyond a standard day hike.