Goldstream Provincial Park
Temperate rainforest of ancient Douglas firs and western red cedars, with chum salmon runs and bald eagles in autumn and winter, and trails leading to the 47-metre Niagara Falls.
Goldstream is about 20 km from Victoria and was briefly a gold-rush site in the 1860s. The park protects old-growth forest of Douglas fir and western red cedar, some over 600 years old. From late October to December, thousands of chum salmon swim up Goldstream River to spawn, drawing large numbers of bald eagles. December is the peak season for eagle watching, and the visitor centre offers guided talks. Trails reach the roughly 47-metre Niagara Falls (most spectacular in the rainy season) and the towering old railway trestle. Admission is free, but parking is limited.
Opening hours
All day; visitor center approx. 9:00–16:30
Nearby sights
- Hatley Castle & Park
- Malahat SkyWalk
- Fisgard Lighthouse & Fort Rodd Hill
- Butchart Gardens, Victoria
- Victoria Butterfly Gardens
- Sooke Potholes Provincial Park
- Dallas Road Waterfront & Ogden Point Breakwater
- Fisherman's Wharf