Camosun Bog

Located in Pacific Spirit Regional Park by the University of British Columbia (UBC), Camosun Bog is an area of marshland with walking trails.

This article contains information about the bog and the trails around it. There is also a video of the bog and the boardwalk around it.

Vancouver’s Camosun Bog

Camosun Bog is an interesting place to explore. The area is full of marshland, wooden boardwalks, dirt trails, forest and wildlife. Below you’ll find information about where the bog is, how to get there and what to expect.

Where is Camosun Bog?

Camosun Bog is in Pacific Spirit Regional Park which is a massive park surrounding the University of British Columbia. The bog is a small part of the larger park. Meanwhile, Camosun Trail is one of many trails.

The bog and surrounding trails are bordered by Imperial Drive, Camosun Street and West 16th Avenue.

Trails from Camosun Bog lead into the extensive Camosun Trail network. This track begins at one point at the corner of West 16th Avenue and Imperial Drive near Camosun Park. The entire area is a great place for walks.

Click Pacific Spirit Park Map for a map of this beautiful area around UBC.

How to Get to Camosun Bog

There are a few ways to get to Camosun Bog. A number of trails lead to it. There isn’t one big main entrance or one main parking area. Instead, there are a number of smaller access points.

The closest access to Camosun Bog is from near Queen Elizabeth School. The school’s address is 4102 West 16th Avenue. If you turn south onto Camosun Street from West 16th you’ll find street parking just past the school between around 18th Avenue and 19th Avenue. It’s about a five-minute walk from there to the bog.

There is also a trail starting at the end of West 21st Avenue a block from Crown Street. Another one is located near the corner of Crown Street and West 24th too. There are other trails leading to Camosun Bog from the grounds of Queen Elizabeth Elementary School as well, including one starting at the corner of West 16th Avenue and Imperial Drive.

What to Expect at Camosun Bog

Camosun Bog itself is a fairly small protected area of marshland. Around it is a boardwalk that makes a loop. It takes about 10 minutes to walk the full way around. Surrounding it is forest and other trails. It’s a pretty spot.

The bog is an open area. You can explore the immediate area in about 45 minutes. However, there are trails throughout Pacific Spirit Park so you could walk for hours if you wanted.

The terrain in the immediate area around the bog is level and easy to get around. It’s pretty flat from the entrance by Queen Elizabeth School off Camosun Street. However, there are stairs on the other side of the bog which is just a short walk away. So the bog area is wheelchair-accessible if you access it from the right spot, but not all the trails.

Restoration of the 2,000+ year-old area of reclaimed peat and marshland has been going on for many years. The result is the building of boardwalks through the forest and the reintroduction of natural vegetation. It’s a nice place to explore.

Since it only takes about 10 minutes to walk around the bog, it isn’t the only thing you’ll want to see in the area. People explore the attraction because of the trails. The bog is a nice feature of the trail network but there’s more to explore.

Animals at Camosun Bog

Dogs on leash are permitted in the bog area but bicycles aren’t. In different parts of the nearby Camosun Trails, however, dogs on leash, bicycles and even horses are allowed. There is also an off-leash area on one of the trails.

Other than dogs and the very occasional horse, other animals you might see include squirrels and birds. Lots of other critters live in the area too but aren’t always easy to spot. Don’t expect to see any large wildlife like deer or bears because the park is within the city. There could be coyotes or racoons in the area but you likely won’t see them.