Goldstream Provincial Park

Goldstream Provincial Park
Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

The 376 hectare provincial park is home to many diverse eco systems including riparian, mountain and forest environments. Goldstream is part of the Nanaimo Lowlands Ecosection and the Coastal Douglas Fir Biogeoclimatic Zone.

The highlights of the park include a waterfall, a salmon spawning river, Bald Eagle and Bear migration during salmon spawning season and hiking trails through forests and up into the nearby mountains connecting to wide ranging views.

The Goldstream Provincial Park is a woodland forested park created to protect the riparian river environment and the salmon who spawn in the river every year.  Goldstream Park is, probably, best known for its annual salmon spawning runs during the months of October through November. The runs attract thousands to the park, as well as, hundreds of bald eagles and a few black bears further up stream.

The forested parkland includes forests with some 600-year-old Douglas Fir trees and groves of Western Red Cedar, Western Yew, Hemlock, Red Alder, Dogwood, Maple, Arbutus, Lodgepole Pine and Black Cottonwood trees.

The forest floors in the park are rich in flora and fauna. Some of the plants spew out vibrant spring colors. Some of the flora and fauna includes western trillium, calypso, dense spike primrose and the pacific waterleaf.

This Victoria park has over 16+ kilometres of hiking trails to explore. Some are level, easy going trails suitable for all fitness levels and are wheelchair friendly. Then there are others which are challenging elevation trails leading to summit views.

Mt. Finlayson is one of those challenging trails. It is an elevation hike leading to the top of the mountain resulting in rewarding views overlooking Victoria, the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Some of the services in the Goldstream Provincial Park include a large day-use/picnic area with a picnic shelter, woodstove, flush toilets, fire rings, numerous picnic tables and an Interpretive Centre.

The nearby campground has a sani-station/dump which is only available from March 15 to October 31. There are hot showers, pit toilets and an amphitheatre but there is no swimming area or a boat launch.