One of Vancouver Island's most picturesque places is the Goldstream Niagara Falls or Niagara Falls. It fulfills all of your expectations of a natural attraction. The height is 47.5 m (155.8 ft), which drops over the rocks surrounded by a magnificent forest.
The waterfall gives you the best opportunity to test your photography skills. However, you wouldn't need any talent because the scenery is beautiful enough for your shooting to seem professional.
Goldstream Niagara Falls is fantastic in all seasons. The light green in spring when the forest is coming back to life, the lush forest and heavy stream of the falls in summer, the yellow and red forest in autumn, and cold water and snow cover trees in winter, all are wonderful and worth watching.
This masterpiece of nature is something you don't want to miss on your visit to Goldstream through the park. Even though Goldstream Niagara Falls is not the same as the Niagara Falls in Ontario, it's just as fascinating.
Niagara Falls is located in Goldstream Provincial Park near Langford, southeast of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Niagara Falls is one of many attractions the park provides. Goldstream Falls is in close vicinity of Niagara Falls. You can see one other place during your visit, Saanich Inlet; it's across the Malahat driveway, and if you feel a little adventurous, you can go and visit Glodsreams Gold Mine.
If you desire more adventure and a spectacular place to go hiking, find your way to Niagara Trestle on the west side of Niagara Falls. The access is from Gold Mine Trail or the Goldstream parking lot.
Increase your trip level and go about 6 km (3.7 miles) to the southeast for cave exploring at Florence Lake Cave.
From Victoria:
Victoria is 33.8 km (21 miles) away, and it takes about 36 minutes to get to the waterfall. The route is via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N.
Head west on Pandora Ave toward Government St. After 99 m (324.8 ft), turn right onto Government St and drive for 1.0 km (0.6 miles). Slight right toward Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N and after 72 m (236.2 ft), use any lane to turn left onto Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N. Drive for 25.3 km (15.7 miles) and take the exit. After 270 m (885.8 ft), turn left toward Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. Continue for 14 m (45.9 ft) and turn left at the 1st cross street onto Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. You will reach Niagara Falls after 7.1 km (4.4 miles).
From Nanaimo:
It takes about an hour and 6 minutes for 91.1 km (56.6 miles) of driving to get to the waterfall from Nanaimo. The fastest route is via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S.
Head east on Wallace St toward Fraser St. After 350 m (1148.2 ft), Wallace St turns slightly right and becomes Victoria Crescent. Drive for 170 m (557.7 ft), then turn left onto Esplanade. After 36 m (118.1 ft), turn right onto Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. Drive 90.5 km (56.2 miles) more to reach Niagara Falls.
"Goldstream Trestle" is a trail that gives you access to the Niagara Falls basin via Goldstream Trestle. It is a 2.6 km (1.6 miles) moderate, out and back trail with a 172 m (564.3 ft) of elevation gain near Langford. The best time to use the path is from May until October. Dogs must be kept on a leash.
The Victoria Water Board gave the lands of the Goldstream Park to the people of BC in 1958. In 1994 and 1996, the additional lands were given by the Commonwealth Nature Legacy and Crown. Goldstream Park used to be a traditional fishing ground for the local people.
A deserted mine and some shafts and tunnels are the only reminders of the Gold Rush in the mid 19 century.
Goldstream Park is open to many activities, such as cycling. Bicycles are only permitted on paved roadways from the day-use area to the Freeman King Visitor Centre. Note that bikes are allowed on park trails.
Hiking is an exciting activity, especially with the view and massive network of the park's trails. To protect nature while you're enjoying it, please stay on the marked trails. In this way, the disturbance or damage to the ecosystem will be at the least.
Interceptive programs are available at the open-air theatre at the campground. Sadly the park has no programs for the 2020 season.
Underneath the waterfall, there is a pool that you can swim, but it could be dangerous since the derbies get a wash down by the stream, so it's safer if you use another spot for swimming in the park.
Goldstream Park is home to a rare and precious ecosystem, a wide range of flora and fauna, black bears and cougars, and fish species like salmon and trout.
Sitting Lady Falls or Witty's Lagoon Falls with a wonderful forest around, and the moss-covered rocks is a magical place, something out of a fairy tale but near Victoria. The waterfall with 100 m (328 ft) height is divided into two parts, like a fork, making a unique shape worth visiting. The good thing about Sitting Lady Falls is the variety of birds living in the area.
Goldstream Niagara Falls or Niagara Falls can meet your expectations of a natural attraction. The height is 47.5 m (155.8 ft), which drops over the rocks and is surrounded by old trees like Douglas fir and red cedar. The opportunities to take photos are everywhere; there is no need to search. Just drive to the west side of Langford to find it at Goldstream Provincial Park and hike through Goldstream Trestle to observe all the beauties.
Sometimes a stunning waterfall is all you need. Pass the magical trails with the wooden stairs in Goldstream Provincial Park, which lead you to a beautiful waterfall. Goldstream Falls is like a hotspot in a fairyland with a lush forest view, a dream that comes true, a perfect place to relax and refresh your mind and soul. The scenery can motivate anyone to go camping, hiking, or devoting time to relax and enjoy the beauty.
Wear decent hiking boots for a moderate hiking trail near Sooke. It is not for the faint of heart, but it is an enjoyable trail that leads you to Grass Lake and featuring Monument Mountain makes it possible to have amazing views from the top. Doing the Grass Lake Trail overnight and camping by the lake turns it into a memorable trip. Enjoy the trail in warmer seasons and get a dip into the lake.
It is time to put your heart into hiking and step into a moderate multi-use trail with some great views along the way and on top. Mount Manuel Quimper has a beautiful summit worth the climb, which gives you excellent vistas of Sooke Harbour and a chance to visit one of the last fire lookouts left on the island.
Here is a highly recommended and well-marked trail for challenges enthusiasts. Hiking on Mount Empress from Sooke Potholes via Mary Vine and Todd Creek Trails offers you insane 360° views of the Sooke Basin, Victoria, and San Juan Islands.
Hiking on the entire East Sooke Coastal Trail is an experience not to be missed! This beautiful trail is a mix of the fantastic coast and beautiful greenery. Hiking boots are required! The route takes you along bluffs and cliffs by the Pacific Ocean that worth it for the views. This well-marked trail can take full-day hiking in East Sooke Regional Park.
The East Sooke Coast and Interior Trail Loop is a well-marked trail with beautiful scenery. It is a combination of an easy access road and a more challenging coastal pass, which offers you incredible viewpoints. This excellent trail is along the Pacific Ocean and allows you to see marine life such as whales from a distance.
Extraordinary opportunities to make your diving experience memorable in the heart of Greater Victoria, including high-ranked spots for diving. These spots provide you with inevitable diving opportunities which allow you to explore the alien underwater world of Victoria's waters saturated with magnificent creatures. Do not miss it for the world.
Looking for a reliable place to go whale watching for the first time on Vancouver Island? Why not starting with Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club, one of the famous Yacht Clubs on the island. You will have the opportunity to observe these gigantic creatures and probably other sea creatures in the waters of the Salish Sea.
Start your whale watching journey with Van Isle Marina, a critical marine zone on Vancouver Island, capable of serving 200 boats simultaneously, which has made it an ideal destination for the fans of whale watching. There is a high chance to observe other sea creatures other than whales.
While exploring Sooke Area, if you happen o take a long calm walk on the Otter Point shoreline, you may see whales from the beach. Otter Point Park provided you with other activities, too, such as hiking, wildlife and birdwatching, and also a scenic nature to appreciate.
As one of the best tourist attractions of Sooke and Vancouver Island, West Coast comprises many outdoor excitements that cannot be denied. You are provided with different wildlife to watch and various food to eat, not to mention that you observe a rare nature that is outstanding. So, chances are high to see different whales and other marine creatures.
You would better plan a visit to Cabin Point Coastline between April-September. It is the best time for those preparing for Sooke Whale Watching in one of the famous coastlines for it in the Salish sea. You are given adequate opportunity to gaze upon these marvellous sea creatures.
Beechey Head and its loop are two of the hot spots for whale watching in Sooke. In addition to fantastic opportunities for whale watching, Beechey Head is a hiking and nature trip location that offers you excellent activities, such as birdwatching.
Spirit Bay has a rich community offering settlings for whale watching lovers beside incredible wildlife; therefore, it would be an excellent point to start your Sooke Whale Watching. Plus, it has a cute beach. You cannot get over the beauty of it and its scenic views.
Featuring wildflowers and fantastic sceneries, Creyke Point Trail is a suitable spot for whale watching, bird watching, and nature trips with splendid beaches and forests. So if you are having a great time in Sooke, remember to stop by Creyke Point to have more fun.
Located in the heart of Victoria and adjacent to many whale watching operators, Victoria Harbour Ferry is a starting point for your whale watching tour. Many visitors come here to watch whales annually; not only whale watching but open waterways of Salish make Victoria Harbour Ferry a remarkable place for anglers, wildlife followers and daily tourists.
Spiral Beach in Victoria is where the blue of the sea and sky and the Olympic Mountains at a distance is situated in a perfect picture. There are hills along the beach to stand on for a wide view. Walk on the sands and pebbles with the driftwoods around on the beach. Listen to the waves, walk on the shoreline, and have the storm watching pleasure in the fall and winter.
McNeill Bay has plenty of benches along the seawall to sit and enjoy the landscape of Trial Island, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Olympic Mountain. Do exciting water activities on McNeill Bay Beach and experience its wonderful esplanade and photogenic scenery. It is considered one of the fantastic off-leash dog beaches in Victoria.
Langford is a city on the south coast of Vancouver Island and heaven for golfers. You can stay at lodgings and play at challenging hillside courses and enjoy yourself at luxurious advantages like the Amatista Spa. Beautiful parks surround the city, so go hiking through scenic forests or have peaceful moments beside lakes. Langford offers shops, family activities, sheep farms, and a bike park.
Gonzales Bay is a small scenic bay with a crescent-shaped beach. Its sandy beach is often quiet and peaceful. Walking on the Gonzales Bay beach near the ocean can help to release the world's anxiety. Lie on the beach and see the peaks of Olympic Mountain and enjoy the Mediterrane climate. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach from September through May.
A trail leads you to Fisgard Lighthouse NHS, the first lighthouse on the west coast of Canada. This historic lighthouse is still operating, but the entrance is not allowed. The keeper's house is open to the public which comprises wonderful exhibitions. There you can see shipwrecks, far-flung lights, storms, and the working equipment the lightkeepers used about a century ago.
Sooke is known as the Tall Tree Capital of Canada. The area's popularity is mainly based on tourists visiting the wilderness parks, hiking the West Coast Trail and the extremely popular Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Sooke is also famous for its beaches and is a destination for cycling and mountain biking. The arts community of Sooke is vibrant and hosts the annual Sooke Fine Arts Festival.
Point Ellice House Museum and Gardens is a place for history enthusiasts and gardens and interior design lovers. It is a 19th-century Victorian home and garden full of everything nostalgic to you. As one of Victoria's oldest homes, it is located overlooking the scenic and historic Selkirk Water/Gorge Waterway. It includes vegetables, cut flowers, a small fruit orchard, and a greenhouse.
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria or AGGV is home to artworks from talented artists of Canada and Asia. The building complex of the gallery includes the Spencer Mansion and the exhibition galleries. It also has gardens with a Japanese Shinto shrine. The art gallery is kid-friendly, and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. The gift shop has gorgeous merchandise.
Located in Victoria, the Royal BC Museum is one of Canada's most significant cultural and historical treasures. It showcases natural wonders and includes artifacts, documents, specimens, and everything slightly relevant to British Columbia's natural and human history. The museum also provides a dynamic forum and a safe space for discussion and reflection.
Miniature World is among the top ten attractions in Victoria. It is the World of Smallness, the World of Story Books, and the World of Fact, Fiction, and Fantasy. It presents villages with different themes such as Camelot or the World's Smallest Operational Sawmill or Space 2201 AD and Avian 1 Spaceship. Miniature World is so unique that you may want to visit it every time you're in Victoria.
If you are a fan of sun and beach, Victoria has the warmest weather in Canada to take a sunbath and swim, and Willows Beach is located in this area. This white sandy beach is south of Willows Park and has protected water suitable for a family vacation. Get the most out of your visit when you are at the park. Have a meal or drink in its cafe with a view of the sea.
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve was established to preserve intertidal and subtidal communities that became very rich due to strong tidal currents. It features marine mammals like whales, sea lions and seals, birds like ducks, cormorants, black oyster-catchers and bald eagles. Fish species, marine invertebrates, and animals like marine algae and seagrass are among other inhabitants.
Sitting Lady Falls or Witty's Lagoon Falls with a wonderful forest around, and the moss-covered rocks is a magical place, something out of a fairy tale but near Victoria. The waterfall with 100 m (328 ft) height is divided into two parts, like a fork, making a unique shape worth visiting. The good thing about Sitting Lady Falls is the variety of birds living in the area.
Gallery Merrick is home to many native artists. The purpose of the gallery is to appreciate beauty everywhere we look. The priority of the gallery is to help working artists who make their livings out of their art. Many artists from Vancouver Island, surrounding islands, and across the country exhibit their talents here.
You may have limitations for yourself, but if you are not a beginner at cave exploring, overcome your own limits. Find a hidden gem in Langford, somewhere that few people know. Florence Lake Cave is a mystery waiting to be discovered for professional cavers. Some believe that it is the largest cave in Greater Victoria. Don't waste your time hesitating and pack your bag for a challenge.