Experience Bear Mountain

Goldstream Park

goldstream-park-waterJust 17 kilometers from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park lies amid the splendour of an old-growth temperate rain forest. There you can see a world class salmon-spawning stream with thousands of Chum salmon returning between October and December. It doesn’t stop there. During this amazing time of year you can visit the park and its always-changing Visitor Centre. The centre is named after Freeman King, an early naturalist who probably reached more children than any other naturalist on Vancouver Island. The centre is at the mouth of the river, overlooking the Goldstream estuary, nestled among giant black cottonwoods and red alder trees.

Mt. Finlayson 

goldstream_park_entrance_mt_finlayson_in_backgroundAre you looking to stretch your legs, get some good exercise and spend some time in nature? Would you like to watch the salmon spawn, walk through a lush ancient rain forest and treat your eyes with a magnificent panoramic view of Victoria and lower Vancouver Island? Mount Finlayson in Victoria BC’s Goldstream Park is the premier mountain to climb in the region. Locals consider this climb to be a personal challenge to anyone who lives in the area, if you are physically able, at some point you need to summit this mountain in order to prove to yourself that you can rightfully call Victoria BC your home.

Francis King Regional Park 

This park is an ideal place for visitors of all abilities to explore nature.

  • 11 kilometres of gentle woodland trails
  • spring wildflower meadows
  • a nature centre and meeting room
  • the Elsie King Trail, a cedar boardwalk with access for people with walking disabilities
  • trail connections to Thetis Lake Regional Park
Galloping Goose Trail 

Ever wonder what it’s like to ride the Galloping Goose Regional Trail from end to end?

Times Colonist reporters Louise Dickson and Carolyn Heiman set out to ride from Leechtown, north of the Sooke Potholes Regional Park, to the Johnson Street Bridge in downtown Victoria. This is an account of their journey on the old rail that became a trail.