Niagara Falls, Trestle, and train tunnel.

A Hike in Goldstream park with a lot to take in.

• When – All times of year.
• Where – Goldstream Provincial Park (Victoria).
• Why – Destination hike to multiple view points.
• How – Hiking.
• Difficulty -moderate (steep hills and uneven ground)
• Cost – Walking is free.

Location / directions ( 48.482772 – 123.551064 )

The trailhead is located along the side of the Island highway at the southern base of the Malahat – Goldstream Provincial Park has parking available on both sides on the highway.

From the southbound lane, a small parking lot (referred to as “Golden Falls”) can be accessed directly off the highway to the right, it is NOT accessible from the northbound lane. Space is limited but it’s conveniently located directly in front of the trail head. If parking is not available here, you may continue on to the Goldstream/Mt Finlayson parking lot located ahead, turning onto Finlason Arm road, and parking in the first or second lots immediately to the left. To access the trail to the falls, follow the path north along the stream for about 250m, until you find a tunnel crossing under the highway, the hike starts on the other side of this tunnel.

The Hike

(Note: the train tracks and trestle are not part of Goldstream park, enter at your own risk as the tracks are considered private land and you are responsible for yourselves).

Hiding just off the highway are four amazing sights to be seen. Niagara falls, Niagara trestle, the 2nd trestle and the train tunnel all have amazing views and can be done in sections, from pit-stop and leg stretch to uphill grind, or even further all the way past the 2nd trestle to the train tunnel.

Starting from the “Golden Falls” parking lot (southbound lane) there is a well groomed path to the right. Following for approximately 150m, it will take you to a viewing point to see the falls (this is also where the tunnel crossing under the highway exits if you’re coming from the other parking areas). In late spring, summer, and early fall the stream is mostly dried up and you’re able to make you way up the creek bed to the base of the falls. Although the stream is barely flowing, the falls are, and they are always spectacular.

If you’re after more adventure, then the Niagara trestle will be your next stop on the list but you’re going to have to work for it. The 650m trail starts from the creek bed just before the falls – on the other side the the stream is a well worn path up a steep bank. Once at the top of the bank, the trail levels out briefly before heading up again. From this point on, the trail is pretty much all uphill, crossing over the top of the falls, and following the steep canyon edge until you arrive below the first trestle (also referred to as the Niagara trestle). Continue up until you reach level ground at the train tracks and take in the view of the surrounding area. If you’re brave, you can venture out across the trestle, but extreme caution should be taken as the railroad ties are widely spaced apart and there are no guardrails for safety. After all the hard work of climbing the trail and exploring the trestle you can decide if you’d like to turn around or continue on to the next trestle and find the train tunnel.

The next train trestle is 1.4 km north of the Niagara trestle and is an easy hike due to the flat ground following the train tracks. Upon reaching the second trestle, caution should again be taken as the spacing of the railway ties are even further apart and again there are no guardrails along the edges.

The second trestle isn’t as high, but has a curve to it, making for a bit of a different experience from the first trestle. From this point the train tunnel is only another 1km away, and again the hike isn’t overly strenuous as it follows the train tracks. The tunnel is a view point of its own and a rarity for Vancouver Island, definitely worth checking out if you’ve already come this far.

The trip back is as straight forward as just retracing your steps, and if you’re feeling ambitious you can continue exploring Goldstream nature park. Other small water falls and a small mine are accessible from the main trail, just south from the Niagara trestle and are also great to explore.