Goldstream Provincial Park

Goldstream Provincial Park in Langford is a 475-hectare park where rich gold rush and railway history meets old-growth forests, diverse wildlife, and the iconic annual salmon run.

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Location

Langford
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About

Goldstream Provincial Park is located in Langford and is approximately 475 hectares in size.
It’s estimated that 600,000 people visit the park each year.

History

Rumours of gold in Goldstream ignited a short yet intense gold rush in the mid 1800s. Evidence of this history still lingers, with abandoned gold and copper mine entrances scattered along the park’s hiking trails.
A prospector named Peter J. Leech discovered traces of gold on the banks of the river and named it Goldstream River in 1858.
It wasn’t until 1863, when James Douglas sent four prospectors to the river, that a ‘gold rush’ began. Initial reports were favourable but after a few months the promise of riches faded.
In 1897, The Colonist noted a copper mining prospect was underway which included some tunneling in 1899. This prospect was short-lived and fizzled out in the early 1900s (source).
The Esquimalt and Nanaimo rail line is near the western border of the park. The railway was fully operational by 1886 when Sir John A. Macdonald drove the last spike.
The railway stretches 225 kilometres from Victoria to Courtenay, a route known as the Victoria Subdivision. A 64-kilometre branch line runs from Parksville to Port Alberni, called the Port Alberni Subdivision, bringing the total length of mainline track to 289 kilometres (source).
Passenger service was discontinued in 2011. For more information on the E&N Railway, visit our Portage Park page or watch our YouTube video.
The Goldstream River was also used for power generation when a small hydro-electric plant was in operation between 1898 and 1957. In 1949, the Greater Victoria Water Board took over selling and distribution of water for domestic purposes.
Rather than logging the area, the Water Board gave 275 hectares of land to British Columbia in 1955 and the provincial park was established in 1958. An additional 55 hectares was added between 1970 and 1972. The park expanded in 1994 and 1996 through Commonwealth Nature Legacy and Crown Land additions (source).
The Goldstream Nature House
- Constructed as a clubhouse in 1947 for the Victoria Fish and Game Protection Society, the building was transformed into an educational centre in 1975 (source).
- Also known as the Freeman King Visitor Centre, this building is treasured for its connection to one of the region’s most devoted and beloved early naturalists, Freeman “Skipper” King.
- From 1961 to 1975, as the naturalist at the park and through his work as a Boy Scout leader, King inspired generations of young people to discover the wonders of the natural world.
- Today, this historic place carries on his legacy, continuing to spark curiosity, understanding, and appreciation for nature (source).

In the news

A July 30, 1880 announcement publicizing a local resort in The Colonist stated, “Pure Goldstream water supplied free of charge. This water smooths wrinkles of the old, gives health to the sick, beauty to the young, and wisdom to all”.
An 1899 edition of The Colonist referenced a Sunday concert series at Goldstream with 1,000 attendees and a round-trip tram fare of 25 cents (source).

The park features 600-year-old Douglas firs and Western red cedars, along with Western yew, Hemlock, Red alder, Bigleaf maple, Black cottonwood, Flowering dogwood, Lodgepole pine, and Arbutus.
Trails range from wheelchair-accessible options to more strenuous hikes. The park includes access to one of the highest points in the greater Victoria region, Mount Finlayson.
The ‘other’ Niagara Falls is located in the park and the falls are 47.5 meters high. Check BC Parks’ website for updates on the trail leading to the falls.
The park supports a wide range of wildlife, from black bears, cougars, and deer to smaller animals like raccoons, minks, beavers, otters, and gray and Douglas squirrels. Chum, Coho and Chinook salmon, trout, and steelhead swim its streams, and birds such as hummingbirds, bald eagles, turkey vultures, ducks, and gulls are found across the park (source).
At the Goldstream Nature House, park naturalists offer interpretive programs and engaging presentations that explore the natural history of the area for visitors of all ages.
Every autumn between late October and running through November, Goldstream becomes the stage for one of nature’s great journeys, as thousands of salmon return from the ocean to spawn.
Their colours transform, their bodies strain upstream, and a life cycle that remains partly mysterious plays out before our eyes. The event attracts thousands of visitors each year.
But the salmon are only the beginning. Birds, mammals, and forests all share in this annual feast, as the energy of the sea is recycled back into the land. At Goldstream, salmon don’t just spawn and die, they sustain an entire living ecosystem.
Each winter, the Goldstream estuary becomes a favourite dining spot for bald eagles, drawn by the rich remains of the salmon run.
When the estuary was closed to public access, something remarkable happened, eagle numbers soared and a nesting pair even returned.
By giving wildlife space and keeping people out, the estuary has become a safe haven where eagles can feed, thrive, and come back year after year.
Goldstream Provincial Park is a place where history, nature, and wildlife come together, offering a lasting reminder of the powerful connections between land, water, and life.

Lands

Xwsepsum (Esquimalt), Lekwungen (Songhees), Sc'ianew (Beecher Bay), and the W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples represented by the Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum, and Malahat Nations

Amenities