Goldstream Campground – camping in the scent of Douglas firs

Goldstream Campground is located very close to Victoria in the south of Vancouver Island. Surrounded by Douglas firs up to 600 years old, it’s a wonderful place to camp beneath the giant trees. Whether you’re in a motorhome or a tent, the campground is ideal for both.

In September 2018 we spend a night at Goldstream Campground in our tent. Various hiking trails lead directly from the campsite through the provincial park of the same name – and the small waterfall at the end of the site is definitely worth discovering too!

A real highlight in the park is the salmon run. From the end of October to November the salmon migrate to their spawning grounds. Drawn by this natural phenomenon you can watch bald eagles fishing the salmon out of the water. That must be quite a spectacle, right?!

Getting there

Goldstream Campground is not far from Victoria, just 20 minutes away. If you’re coming from Victoria, follow the Trans Canada Hwy north. After about 20 kilometres you’ll reach the campground.

Goldstream Campground

When we arrive at Goldstream Campground in the morning, we manage to grab a free spot on a first-come, first-served basis. We’re really pleased about that, as it’s Labour Day in Canada. Many locals make use of the long bank holiday weekend and go camping as well. The day before we’d had no luck at Deer Park Campground in Washington and had to switch to a motel.

Goldstream Campground in a nutshell:

• The 173 campsites are beautifully set among trees and cost 35 $ per night (as of early 2019). You can find a map of the campground here.
• You can book through Discover Camping, and a proportion of the campsites is also allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The campground is open all year round, with some sanitary facilities limited in winter.
• There are hot showers, toilets and some pit toilets.
• There is a sani-dump station for motorhomes (5 $ per dump).

Because of its location right by the highway we can hear the traffic noise during the day. That’s a bit of a shame, but we still feel really comfortable on the campground. The individual sites are beautifully set among giant trees such as Douglas firs, western hemlocks and cedars. You’ll definitely find a spot here to hang up your hammock and relax for a while.

Various hiking trails lead from the campsite through the park. Here you’ll find a map of the entire park. In the afternoon, in really beautiful weather, we hike to an old railway bridge: the Trestle Bridge in Goldstream Provincial Park. From there we enjoy the view down into the valley below us. The bridge is a really lovely excursion destination and one of our highlights.

Are you planning to travel to Vancouver Island too, or have you already been? Tell us about it in the comments.