Massive trees, breathtaking waterfalls, a meandering river that meets the sea, flowers, birds, a variety of wildlife, and intriguing fish are just a few of the features that lure visitors to Goldstream Provincial Park in southern Vancouver Island, which is only 16 km from downtown
Victoria. Wildlife viewing enthusiasts must know that other than the Capital itself, this park is where they can fulfill their wildlife watching desires on southern Vancouver Island.
Whether a wildlife viewer is seeking inspiration from this stunning specimen of the wild outdoors or a naturalist hoping to add to their notebook, it's a world that appears far apart from the metropolitan exploits of British Columbia's capital city. Goldstream Park offers something new, distinct, and exciting
bear viewing,
bird watching, and other wildlife viewing opportunities are available for every month of the year.
Every year, thousands of fish – and people – flock to the park for the annual chum salmon spawning season. This natural event draws
bald eagles, who swoop down to consume the corpses of the hatched-out salmon, and
black bear to come and feast on newly arrived fish. The riverside pathways and wildlife viewing platforms give an exceptional opportunity to witness bears and bald eagles.
Black bears, cougars, and deer live in Goldstream Park, as do raccoons, minks, beavers, otters, and Gray and Douglas squirrels. The park's streams are home to salmon, trout, steelhead, and migratory and resident species, including hummingbirds, Bald eagles, turkey vultures, ducks, and gulls. The Goldstream River is the site of one of nature's most spectacular displays from late October to December each year, when chum, coho, and Chinook salmon enter the river via Finlayson Arm from the Pacific Ocean. These identical salmon hatched here three to four years ago before migrating to the sea to develop and mature. They're back to start a family. It's incredible to see them return to their native spawning beds to spawn and die. The estuary of the Goldstream River is restricted to the public (including all boaters). Because of the closure, wildlife has returned to the estuary throughout the year. Because of the closure, Bald eagles, formerly infrequently seen, are now abundant during the salmon run and nest during the summer.