The reservoir was used to increase water pressure from the original city water supply from Elk Lake, but this source of water for Victoria is no longer used, so the partly-filled reservoir is now home to some resident Glaucous-winged Gulls and some seasonal ducks and geese. The view from the trail around the reservoir is superb. From this location, look south over the crowns of the Garry Oaks below you to the downtown centre of the city, the harbour, and on a clear day across the Juan de Fuca Strait to the magnificent Olympic Mountains.
Nearby Spencer Castle was once a private home looking east from the top of Smith Hill. It is now a condominium complex, although the original "castle" is still used by the residents as an activity centre. Please note that Spencer Castle is private property - please don't wander through it. Late summer sees the blackberry pickers descend on the vines that grow so profusely all around the foot of the reservoir below the trail. Nearby Summit Park offers a popular respite from the noisy arterial roads that surround this park.
You can read the history of this park and surrounding neighbourhood and go on a self-guided walking tour by downloading this pdf The top of The Rise (the street name) is a dead-end with some parking, so the inevitable human activities happen in this area. Please pick up some of the resulting debris and put it in the nearby garbage can, just to show everyone that cachers are good people!
This cache is easily accessible from nearby roads and the gravel trail around the reservoir. This area is dog-friendly (bring poop bags please), and it is wheelchair friendly, although the gravel is a bit bumpy. The stairs into Summit Park from the reservoir are steep. Please watch for muggles in this area.
Congrats to the Draglings for FTF! PLEASE BRING A PENCIL OR PEN TO WRITE IN THE LOG.