Portage Inlet Real Estate Waterfront and inlet-side homes near Cuthbert Holmes Park
Water views, wildlife and established homes around Portage Inlet and Cuthbert Holmes Park, about 15 minutes from downtown Victoria. Prices, sales and what to check, from REALTOR® Robin Scrimger.
Portage Inlet is a residential neighbourhood around the shores of Portage Inlet, the quiet tidal basin at the head of the Gorge Waterway, along streets like Murray Drive, Arundel Drive and Westing Road. Homes range from established family houses to waterfront properties with inlet views.
Nature is close: Cuthbert Holmes Park’s forest trails follow the Colquitz River to the inlet, and paddlers can launch toward the Gorge. Tillicum Centre and the Trans-Canada Highway are a few minutes away.
Use the board map for real estate searches and SaanichMap for municipal property layers.
Getting around
How long is the commute from Portage Inlet to downtown Victoria?
Most Portage Inlet addresses are about 15 minutes from downtown Victoria outside rush hour and 25–30 minutes at peak, via the Trans-Canada Highway or Tillicum Road.
Approximate drive times from Portage Inlet
Destination
Approximate drive time
Tillicum Centre
About 5 minutes
University of Victoria
About 20 minutes
Downtown Victoria
About 15 minutes (25–30 at peak)
Victoria International Airport
About 25 minutes
Swartz Bay ferry terminal
About 30 minutes
Walk Score, Bike Score and transit
Portage Inlet is mostly car-dependent. Saanich as a whole averages a Walk Score of 40. Buses run along Tillicum Road and the nearby Trans-Canada corridor.
Homes and prices
What types of homes are in Portage Inlet?
Portage Inlet is detached houses, including waterfront homes on the inlet. For context, Saanich West’s October 2026 benchmarks were $1,023,500 for a single family home, $755,600 for a townhome and $505,500 for a condo.
Detached houses
$1.05M – $1.67M
Established family houses and waterfront homes on the inlet. 7 sales in the past year, median $1.30M, 21 days on market.
Portage Inlet real estate market: November 2025 – November 2026
Portage Inlet market snapshot, Nov 1, 2025 – Nov 10, 2026
Measure
Portage Inlet
Sales, sold and pending
7 (7 detached houses)
Detached houses: median price, range
$1,295,000; $1,050,000 – $1,665,000
Detached houses: median days on market, average sale-to-list
21 days; 95%
Saanich West benchmarks, Oct 2026
Single family $1,023,500 (−4.8% year over year); townhome $755,600; condo $505,500
Robin’s read: Portage Inlet saw 7 sales this past year: 7 detached houses. Detached homes sold at a $1.30M median after 21 days, at 95% of asking on average. 0 of 7 sales closed at or above asking, and the quickest went firm in 8 days. Waterfront and view homes on the inlet command a premium; one small home on a prime lot sold for about $1,100 per square foot.
Recent Portage Inlet sales
Recent Portage Inlet sales, Nov 1, 2025 – Nov 10, 2026
Address
Type
Sold price
Finished sq ft
Days on market
Sale-to-list
920 Arundel Dr
Detached house
$1,665,000
2,861
21
98%
3711 Grange Rd
Detached house
$1,648,000
1,499
17
97%
2783 Murray Dr
Detached house
$1,385,000
2,683
101
94%
2895 Murray Dr
Detached house
$1,295,000
3,047
45
96%
956 Westing Rd
Detached house
$1,275,000
3,199
126
91%
2868 Glenwood Ave
Detached house
$1,150,000
1,286
19
92%
3111 Esson Rd
Detached house
$1,050,000
2,341
8
98%
Pending means sold firm with conditions removed; ownership has not yet transferred.
How Portage Inlet compares with nearby neighbourhoods
Detached sales by neighbourhood, Nov 1, 2025 – Nov 10, 2026
Detached sales, sold and pending, Nov 1, 2025 – Nov 10, 2026. Portage Inlet carries a waterfront premium over neighbouring Tillicum and Gorge.
Source: VREB MLS® data compiled by Robin Scrimger (subarea sales Nov 1, 2025 – Nov 10, 2026) and the VREB October 2026 statistics package.
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The homes
What should you check before buying in Portage Inlet?
These are the items that most often change a buyer’s decision, or the price, in Portage Inlet.
01Waterfront rules. Shoreline work, docks and setbacks along the water are regulated. Confirm permits and Saanich’s shoreline and streamside rules before planning changes.
02Flood and drainage. Low-lying waterfront lots can face drainage and tidal issues. Ask about drainage history and insurance.
03Building age and updates. Many homes here date from the 1950s to the 1980s. Ask about the roof, windows, electrical, plumbing and any oil tank history, and get a full inspection.
04Suites and garden suites. Saanich allows secondary suites and garden suites in many single-family zones, subject to rules and permits. Confirm the zoning, and that any existing suite is permitted, before counting on rental income.
05Trees and lot changes. Saanich regulates the removal of larger trees. If you plan to add on, build a garden suite or clear part of the lot, check the tree rules first.
06Permits. Additions, suites, decks and renovations should have permit records; unpermitted work can affect financing and insurance.
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The everyday
Things to do in Portage Inlet: parks, trails and everyday errands
Water and nature are the draw.
Nature
Cuthbert Holmes Park
Forest trails along the Colquitz River where it meets Portage Inlet, right beside Tillicum Centre.
Paddling
Portage Inlet and the Gorge
Quiet water for kayaks and canoes, with the Gorge Waterway leading toward downtown.
Waterfront
Gorge Waterway
Waterfront paths along Gorge Road West, paddling on the Gorge, and a popular swimming area at Gorge Park across the water.
Errands
Tillicum Centre
A full-service shopping centre on Tillicum Road with groceries, a cinema, restaurants and everyday services.
Recreation
G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre
Saanich’s ice arenas and recreation programs on Tillicum Road, next to Tillicum Centre.
Schools serving Portage Inlet
Saanich is served by two school districts, Greater Victoria (SD61) and Saanich (SD63), and catchments follow the exact address. Families should confirm the assigned elementary, middle and secondary schools before writing an offer. Robin can confirm the catchment for any listing you’re considering, or check the district shown for the property in SaanichMap.
The details
Frequently asked questions
01Where is Portage Inlet?+
Portage Inlet is a neighbourhood in the District of Saanich around the shores of Portage Inlet at the head of the Gorge Waterway, near Tillicum Centre, about 15 minutes from downtown Victoria, BC. On the MLS® it is the Portage Inlet subarea of Saanich West.
02How much does a home cost in Portage Inlet?+
From November 2025 to November 2026, Portage Inlet sales included detached houses $1.05M – $1.67M (median $1.30M) (VREB MLS® data).
03How long is the commute from Portage Inlet to downtown Victoria?+
About 15 minutes by car outside rush hour and 25–30 minutes at peak. Buses run along Tillicum Road and the Trans-Canada corridor.
04Is Portage Inlet walkable?+
Mostly no for errands, though Cuthbert Holmes Park and Tillicum Centre are close to some addresses.
05Are there waterfront homes in Portage Inlet?+
Yes. Some homes back directly onto Portage Inlet. Waterfront and view properties trade at a premium to the neighbourhood median.
06What schools serve Portage Inlet?+
Saanich is served by two school districts, SD61 (Greater Victoria) and SD63 (Saanich), and catchments follow the exact address. Confirm the assigned schools for a specific home before writing an offer.
07Who is a good REALTOR® for Portage Inlet?+
Robin Scrimger, PREC, Team Lead of the New Chapter Real Estate Team at Coldwell Banker Oceanside Real Estate, represents buyers and sellers across Saanich West, including 938 Westing Road in Portage Inlet. Reach Robin at 778-400-6047.
Thinking about buying or selling in Portage Inlet? Robin will walk the home with you, flag the issues that matter on this type of property before they become surprises, and pull recent comparable sales for the exact address. Call or text 778-400-6047 or email Robin@NewChapterRealty.ca.
