NTS Map:92B12. This is a rather short trail that is often overlooked in the Victoria area, yet a great quick side trip when visiting Goldstream Provincial Park, especially during the monsoon season and the Salmon spawn in November.
The Goldmine trail is about 1.8 kilometres long and has three waterfalls, the highest having a drop of 47 meters straight down. A train trestle towers 85 meters over the river; it's on an active line that has at least three trains per day. The trail is fairly good, fenced in the most dangerous areas.
Directions:
There are several ways to get to the Goldmine trailhead. If heading South on
the Trans-Canada Highway there is a small unmarked parking lot on the left
shoulder of the highway just after the end of the downhill portion of the
Malahat. If heading North to Goldstream Park from Victoria, the easiest way
is to park at the Goldstream day use area, walk towards the Freeman King
Nature house and scoot through a short tunnel under the highway; impassable
when it's raining though so you may have to carefully run across the
Trans-Canada at the intersection of the Nature House access road.
ByPosted By: Branky
- Sun Sep 24 14:21:33 EDT 2006
UpsideNice and quiet trail, not much traffic. The falls are magnificent in the rainy season. And the view from the trestle is great, but it is a active railway so be careful. There are lots of connecting trails to the Goldstream campground and the trail up Mt. Finlayson and the Gowland Todd park.
DownsideCrossing the highway can be tricky
CommentThere are lots of connecting trails to make this as long or as short a hike as you like. Check the BC Parks web page for trail maps etc.
ByPosted By: Bliss-ters
- Fri Feb 25 02:35:26 EST 2005
UpsideFantastic waterfall, close to city. Quiet forest hiking just off the trans Canada.
DownsideTraffic dodging. The tunnel is great when passable, otherwise park on south side of highway.
CommentBe sure to pack a flashlight to explore a very short but interesting mining tunnel.
ByPosted By: dmarr
- Fri Jan 09 10:25:25 EST 2004
UpsideRelatively little-used, except near the waterfall and trestle. Close to Victoria. Can be done year-round.
DownsideLimited views. If you do the loop you have to sprint across the highway twice (unless the water is low enough to walk through the tunnel). You also have to go through the busiest section of Goldstream Park.
CommentThis can be linked with trails (Prospector Trail, I think)on the other side of the highway to create a loop hike.
Posted By: Branky
