Goldstream Park - Victoria
It is a natural jewel in the crown of Vancouver Island’s provincial parks. Although located a mere 16 km from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Park seems far removed from the hustle and bustle of B.C.’s capital city. Centuries old trees, majestic waterfalls, a pristine estuary, and a meandering river are only a few of the natural features that can be found on Goldstream Park’s 477 hectares.
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Trails in the park range from easy, wheelchair accessible walks to strenuous hikes and tracks along creeks, through forested uplands and past abandoned gold diggings from the days of the Gold Rush. More adventurous hikers can climb to the top of Mount Finlayson, one of the highest points in Greater Victoria, to enjoy the fabulous views. Another trail leads to the stunning Niagara Falls, which at 47.5 meters is almost at high as its famous namesake.
Goldstream Park protects the dramatically different terrain of two distinct vegetation zones. The park is home to 600-year-old Douglas fir trees and western red cedar, mixed with western yew and hemlock, red alder, big leaf maple and black cottonwood. On the drier ridges visitors can find flowering dogwood, lodgepole pine and arbutus. The arbutus, with its thick leathery evergreen leaves, red-dish trunk and peeling bark, is Canada’s only broad-leafed evergreen and is found exclusively on Vancouver Island and the southwest coast of British Columbia.
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The park also protects a number of red and blue listed species of flora and fauna, including rare wildflowers and plant species such as the Dense Spike Primrose and the Pacific Waterleaf. Protected too are various reptiles and amphibians who play a major role in conserving the Goldstream River salmon run.
From late October through early December of each year, the Goldstream River is the scene of the salmon run, one of nature’s most magnificent spectacles. Chum, coho and Chinook salmon enter the river via Finlayson Arm from the Pacific Ocean. This event draws thousands of visitors every year. Riverside trails and observation platforms provide extraordinary opportunities to view this natural phenomenon, which also attracts Bald eagles, who swoop down to devour the bodies of the spawned out salmon. Park naturalists are available at the Freeman King Visitor Center, which offers interpretive programs, exhibits, a gift shop, coffee and snacks, and informative lectures about the area’s natural history for individuals and groups. The park is open year round, and features a large picnic area with shelters, as well as vehicle accessible camping and group sites. by Tammy Liddicoat |
