Niagara and Goldstream Waterfalls

These two stunning waterfalls just outside Victoria in Goldstream Provincial Park make for the perfect family-friendly adventure. They are short, easy to do, with a waterfall reward at the end. We recommend starting with Niagara Falls and then working your way back to Goldstream Falls.

Niagara Waterfalls

Niagara Falls, just outside Victoria, shares its name with the famous Ontario waterfalls but stands at 156 feet. Although much smaller than the Ontario falls, they are located in a beautiful and easily accessible spot.

Directions

To get there from downtown Victoria, first follow Douglas Street northbound. Next, park at the Goldstream Provincial Park day-use parking lot, just off Island Highway on the right-hand side. The trail begins at the far end of the lot, past the Visitor Centre. After parking, head north away from the picnic area, following the wide gravel trail. When you reach a junction, turn left, and you will come to a bridge with a tunnel on your left that goes underneath the highway. Take the tunnel and then follow the trail to the waterfall.

During summer, the tunnel is dry, making the falls easy to access. However, if you visit during spring or fall, the tunnel may be filled with water. In that case, you will need to park on the other side of the highway. To do this, drive an additional 5 km north until you reach a U-turn route marked by signs. Turn left into a small lot to turn around and drive back south. The walk to the falls from there is only about 5 minutes.

Goldstream Waterfalls

Goldstream Falls is a fantastic family-friendly hike. The trail takes you through a peaceful rainforest filled with Cedars, Douglas firs, and ferns. You can hear the sound of the creek below. To begin, park at the Goldstream Provincial Park Campground near the gatehouse. From there, the trail starts just to the left of the gatehouse, leading into the forest. The trail is 5.5km (3.4mi) long and takes about 1-1.5 hours. Along the way, you’ll walk through beautiful scenery and come to a long set of stairs descending into the canyon to the waterfall. The falls pour into a natural pool, which is a popular swimming spot. So, bring your bathing suit and water shoes for a refreshing dip!

Directions

To get to the Goldstream Campground, first head south on Highway #1. Then, turn right at West Shore Parkway and right again at the roundabout onto Amy Road. At the 3-way intersection, veer left onto Sooke Lake Road. Finally, turn right at the signs for Goldstream Provincial Park and drive down the hill to the campsite. There’s day-use parking just beyond the gate, with additional parking outside. Follow the signs to the campground.

Time: Plan for 3-4 hours for the two hikes.

Secrets from a Local.

If you love rugged West Coast secluded beaches that very few people visit, check out these 3 hidden beaches located in Victoria . Amazingly, they are all within a short distance of each other and only a 25 minute drive from downtown Victoria. Shhhh….don’t tell anyone about these beaches!

• Balmacarra Beach

This beautiful beach is located in a pretty neighborhood called Gordon Head, off a quiet remote street. Balcamarra beach is large, has lots of shade, calm waters and you might spot a seal or two. Park along the street on Leyns Rd. Beach access is at the corner of Balmacarra Rd. and Leyns Road. Walk the short forested path that leads to a steep staircase taking you down to the beach. After the beach, head to Vantreight Park, a green space along Leyns Rd. It has a nice playground for kids and a large area to play sports or let your dog run around.

The beach is located at 1890 Leyns Rd

• Arbutus Cove

A short 5 minute drive from Balmacarra Beach lies another beautiful beach called Arbutus Cove. This small pretty beach is located below Arbutus Cove Park. Take the pathway leading down to the protected beach. The beach is sheltered with a mix of sand and mostly rocky sections. Plenty of shade and calm water makes it great for kids. The best time to enjoy the most sun is early in the day. Catch the scenic views of the mountains on a clear day.

This beach is located at the end of Arbutus Cove Ln.

Hollydene Beach

Connected to Arbutus Cove beach by a outcrop of rocks, scale across at low tide but be careful as some sections are slippery. Alternatively, drive 3 minutes from Arbutus.  Holleydene beach has more sand than Arbutus Cove beach so you might prefer this beach over Arbutus. Unfortunately, the parking is minimal but we have always managed to find a spot. Once you park, to get to the beach you follow a scenic forest path leading to a steep staircase that takes you down to the secluded beach. The view from the top of the stairs is very beautiful. This beach is surrounded by towering trees, high cliffs and has great swimming in the summer.

Park off Hollydene Place.

Despite these beaches being smaller than well-known beaches like Willow’s beach and Cordoba-Gyro beach, they are much less crowded. Suntan, relax and swim! You can paddleboard at these 3 hidden beaches but the steep stairs make it difficult. Note there are no washroom facilities at these beaches.

If you’re planning to visit Victoria with your family, we’ve written two travel guides to help you with your planning. They have everything you need to plan your perfect holiday in Victoria.