Goldstream Campground

With a nice variety of hiking trails, waterfalls, swimming holes, and other attractions nearby, Goldstream Provincial Park Campground is more than just a convenient spot for those who’d like to camp close to the city of Victoria; it offers a true Pacific Northwest camping experience. The rainforest surrounding the campground is incredibly lush and beautiful, made up of many tree species including western redcedar, Garry Oak, Arbutus, and Douglas fir, some of which are over 600 years old. The park’s namesake is also a salmon spawning stream, and visitors in the fall can often watch this wonder of nature take place in real time. The only thing lacking here is ocean access, but a day trip to the Sooke or Port Renfrew is always an option; there are a variety of ocean beaches within an hour’s drive.

For those who’d like to avoid the hustle bustle of the city, it’s entirely possible to leave the car parked in the campground and explore Goldstream Provincial Park for a few solid days, as several of the hiking trails within the park’s trail network are accessible right from the campground. Beautiful Niagara Falls can be accessed from the campground or a short hike from the day use area, and at over 47 meters, it is almost as high as it’s world famous namesake (although the other Niagara Falls carries much more water). The Goldstream Estuary is a great spot for bird watching, and it features a visitor center that frequently hosts educational events and activities. In 2016 the Provincial Park opened a new mountain bike park adjacent to the campground with a pump track and a loop trail for practicing skills. Check the provincial park website for more details.

Aside from the beautiful wilderness and abundant recreation activities, this campground is also perfect for families who’d like to mix in some urban tourism activities into their Vancouver Island camping trip. The city of Victoria has some great beaches and parks as well as museums, shopping, and all of the other amenities you’d expect in a medium sized urban center.

Given all that it has to offer and its proximity to the city, it’s no surprise that this campground frequently fills up during the summertime. The campground offers 159 drive-in campsites with space for RVs, but none have electrical or water hookups as is the case in all provincial park campgrounds in B.C. There is, however, potable water in several locations around the campground and a sani-station on site. The campground is open year round, however the water systems and reservation services are closed from September 15 until March 1.