Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lying20kilometers (12miles)fromtheheartofVictoria, this390-hectare (960-acre)park
straddles the TransCanada Highway northwest of downtown on its loop around the south
end of Saanich Inlet.
The park's most distinctive natural feature is the Goldstream River, which flows north
into the Finlayson Arm of Saanich Inlet. Forests of ancient Douglas fir and western red
cedarflanktheriver;orchidsflourishinforestedglades;andathigherelevationsforestsof
lodgepole pine, western hemlock, and maple thrive.
Salmon Viewing
Although Goldstream is a great place to visit at any time of year, the natural highlight oc-
curs late October through December, when mostly chum salmon—and limited numbers
of coho and Chinook—fight their way upriver through the park to spawn themselves out
on the same shallow gravel bars where they were born four years previously. Bald eagles
begin arriving in December, feeding off the spawned-out salmon until February. From
the picnic area parking lot, 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) north of the campground turnoff, a
trail leads 400 meters (440 yards) along the Goldstream River to
Freeman King Visit-
or Centre
(250/478-9414,
www.goldstreampark.com
,
9am-4:30pm daily, free), where the
life cycle of salmon is described.
Practicalities
The park's only
campground
(
www.goldstreampark.com
,
April-Oct., $28) is on the west
side of the TransCanada Highway 19 kilometers (11 miles) from downtown. It offers 161
well-spaced campsites scattered through an old-growth forest—it's one of the most beau-
tiful settings you could imagine close to a capital city. The campground offers free hot
showersbutnohookups.Manywalkingtrailsbeginfromthecampground,includingtothe
most scenic section of the Goldstream River, and back across the highway to the visitor
center. The campground entrance is on the edge of the small town of Goldstream, where
you can find a midsized grocery store.
THE SALMON LIFECYCLE
Each fall, thousands of chum salmon return to spawning grounds along the Gold-
stream River, an event that is repeated along shallow streams and rivers around the
