Goldstream Provincial Park:
Natural Beauty, Minutes From Town!
Goldstream Provincial Park has been on my list of favourite places since I first visited more than 25 years ago. It simply never disappoints. And my love for the park seems to have worn off on my son because he and his friends visit even more often than I do!
Goldstream Provincial Park: a magnificent example of natural beauty
The park straddles the Trans-Canada Highway with the campground facilities on one side and the day use area and Freeman King Visitor Center on the other. Visitors are cautioned not to cross the highway. Many will travel between the two sides via a culvert located near the Visitor Centre but this is not recommended during times of heavy rain.
Forest floor coming alive in the late winter sun.
Because of the majestic beauty of the park – massive trees, beautiful waterfalls and a meandering river – and convenient location, it is a favourite for locals and tourists alike. Goldstream Provincial Park is the perfect escape from urban life located just 16 km from downtown Victoria.
Book your private guided tour of Goldstream now!
The park is popular year-round but things really ramp up in the fall with the annual chum salmon spawning run. During this time thousands of salmon return to the place of their birth to reproduce. Salmon born here will spend 4 years in the open ocean before returning and continuing the circle of life. With all the dead fish, the “clean up crew” swoop in for their annual feed. This includes the impressive bald eagles as well as hawks, gulls, ducks and crows.
Protective measures put in place at the estuary a few years ago are proving quite beneficial with bald eagles returning to the area in record numbers. The Eagle Extravaganza is equally as popular as the salmon run, making the entire fall and early winter an active time at the park.
But not every visitor is here for the wildlife. People come to the park to:
- view the 600-year-old Douglas Fir and Western Cedar trees
- see groves of Arbutus – Canada’s only broadleaf evergreen and found exclusively on the southwest coast of British Columbia
- hike Mt. Finlayson – at 419 m it is one of the highest points in Greater Victoria
- enjoy the extensive trails that range from easy, wheelchair accessible walks to more demanding hikes along creeks and through forests. Trail users are cautioned that some terrain is steep and rugged; to dress for the conditions and allow ample time to return in daylight.
- light a fire in one of the established fire pits and enjoy a picnic lunch
- view the impressive 47.5 m Niagara Falls (yes, we have one too) which flows over a rock cliff into a beautiful clear canyon below
- overnight camp at one of the 159 sites
Although outside the boundaries of Goldstream Provincial Park, many people came to the area to access the Goldstream railway trestle. The hike up to the trestle was considered difficult but the views still drew many crowds. This particular hike was discouraged as the trestle is private property and accessing it was considered trespassing. The tresle was also dangerous as there was a lack of safety sidings, the spacing of the beams are inconsistent and it can be very slippery, sadly leading to multiple accidents and fatalities . As of September 2021, permanent barriers have been installed to prevent further illegal access.
From easy walks for the whole family to strenuous hikes for the more adventurous, this park has something for everyone – see you soon!
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