Just 17 kilometers from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park lies amid the splendour of a spectacular old-growth temperate rain forest.

Besides being a beautiful day trip within a short distance from downtown Victoria, from October through December you can see a world class salmon-spawning stream with thousands of Salmon returning. And quite literally, within arm’s length. During this period of the year, the Goldstream River is the scene of one of nature’s spectacles as chum, coho and chinook salmon enter the river via Finlayson Arm from the Pacific Ocean. Three to four years previously, these same salmon were born here before traveling to the sea to grow and mature. Their return to spawn and die in their ancestral spawning beds is fascinating.

It doesn’t stop there. During this amazing time of year you can visit the park and it’s 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.

If you are ever in Victoria and have a couple of hours to enjoy something wonderful, visit Goldstream Park.