Gold River

History

Taking advantage of its deep water and abundant forests, Gold River developed in 1967 as a prototypical logging and pulp & paper industry community. Gold River quickly sprang into prosperity and established excellent community facilities. When shifting world markets brought the mill closure in 1998, many of Gold River's inhabitants were forced to relocate. Since then, the village has attempted to capitalize on its idealistic setting among picturesque mountains, lakes, rivers, ocean, and forests to develop tourism and sport fishing as its main economic supports.

Currently, Gold River serves as a base for such famous activities as the Nootka Island trek, hiking the Elk Lake trail, mountain-climbing up Golden Hinde (Vancouver Island's highest peak), and the Great Walk.

Gold River also serves as a historic point, being the closest village to the famous Yuquot, or "Friendly Cove", where British explorer Captain James Cook first set ashore. There Cook met the Mowachaht native band's chief, Chief Maquinna.

Location

Gold River is located in central Vancouver Island, at the end of scenic Highway 28, 89 kilometres (54 miles) west of Campbell River. Visitors traveling by car from the north or south Island will find the exit easily from Island Highway 19. Follow the signs through Strathcona Park, then across the bridge between the lakes.

Places to See

• Strathcona Provincial Park
  
  Strathcona Provincial Park, designated in 1911, is the oldest provincial park in British Columbia. Located almost in the centre of Vancouver Island, Strathcona park is a rugged mountain wilderness comprising more than 250,000 hectares. Mountain peaks - some perpetually mantled with snow - dominate the park. Lakes and alpine tarns dot a landscape laced with rivers, creeks and streams. Summer in Strathcona is usually pleasantly warm, while winters are fairly mild except for the higher levels, where heavy snowfalls are the norm. From November through March, snowfalls can be expected on the mountain slopes and alpine plateaus. Snow remains all year on the mountain peaks and may linger into July even at moderate elevations. Summer evenings, as elsewhere in the coastal regions of BC, can be cool and rain can be expected at any time of the year.
  
  Two areas - Buttle Lake and vicinity and Forbidden Plateau - offer a variety of visitor-oriented developments. The rest of the park is largely undeveloped and appeals primarily to people seeking wilderness surroundings. To see and enjoy much of the scenic splendor requires hiking or backpacking into the alpine regions.
  
  Buttle Lake, named for Commander John Buttle who explored the area in the 1860s, is the major body of water in the park. It and many other lakes and waterways in the park can provide good fishing in season for Cutthroat, Rainbow and Dolly Varden trout. Della Falls, whose drop of 440 meters over three cascades makes it one of the highest waterfalls in Canada, is located in the southern section of the park. And the highest point on Vancouver Island, the Golden Hinde (elevation 2,200 meters), stands almost in the centre of Strathcona to the west of Buttle Lake.
  
  Three roadless tracts within Strathcona Provincial Park--Big Den, Central Strathcona and Comox Glacier--have been designated as nature conservancy areas. Each tract contains outstanding examples of scenery and natural history that remain uninfluenced by human activity. The three areas, totaling 122,500 hectares, are dedicated to the preservation of the undisturbed natural environment. While the high mountain peaks and deep shaded valleys of Strathcona Park are dramatic, it is easy to forget that beneath your feet lays a history stretching back 380 million years. It is a history of violent volcanic eruptions on ancient seafloors and quiet interludes when gardens of sea lilies waved in gentle ocean currents. It is a history of rocks torn and folded by the extraordinary forces that can move continents, and of mountain ranges sculpted by the immensely thick ice sheets, which only vanished a few thousand years ago. No matter how long your visit, or whatever your interest, a knowledge of the geology of Strathcona Park will enhance your enjoyment of this spectacularly beautiful area.
  
  Strathcona Park benefits from excellent adjoining commercial facilities such as the Strathcona Park Lodge and Outdoor Education Centre, which offers outdoor education and wilderness skills training. The nearby communities of Campbell River, the Comox Valley, Gold River, Tofino and Port Alberni offer a full range of visitor services. Mount Washington Alpine Resort, located adjacent to the park, offers extensive alpine and nordic skiing opportunities, as well as a variety of winter and summer recreation facilities.
  
  
• Antler Lake
  
  A crystal clear lake great for a family picnic or a fresh water rod and reel experience while absorbing the scenery and the wildlife. Located off of East Road north of Gold River village near the river itself.
  
  
• Captain Cook Monument
  
  In 1778, the Europeans arrived in Canada. A Brass plaque was erected in 1903 to remember the event. This monument is on the same ground of the historic old Spanish fort located on Nootka Island in Yuquot. Access is by boat.
  
  
• Crest Creek Crag
  
  Worth a drive to see the mountain climbers trying their skills along the steep rock walls, manoeuvring around on over 100 different routes. A real treat and an eye-opener. Located 9 kilometres east of the Gold River Village on Hwy #28 by the Crest Mountain trailhead.
  
  
• Crest Mountain Trail
  
  A 5 kilometre trail with an elevation reaching over 1100 metres. Forested paths, wilderness all around, and a single log bridge leading to a lookout with fantastic views. Located 9 kilometres from Gold River, east on Hwy #28.
  
  
• Big Bend Picnic Site
  
  A picnic area nestled up to the shores of the Gold River. Enjoy your meal as you watch the kayakers and canoes floating by. Next door are the beautiful fairways and greens of the local golf course. Located on Hwy #19 south of Gold River.
  
  
• Elk River Trail
  
  An 11 kilometre 5-hour hike along the Elk River, with an elevation change of only 600 metres. The trail takes you to Landslide Lake, over some rocks, and through the lush rainforest. Access is from Hwy #28 near the Drum Lakes.
  
  
• Nootka Sound
  
  Nootka Sound was the site of the first shipbuilding, logging, and brewing (spruce beer!) by Europeans on the BC coast. The mountains and islands of northern Vancouver Island have a mysterious sense about them, as if they're always trying to hide some secret. You do have to travel farther afield here in order to penetrate its cloud-laced valleys, coastal rain forest, and the open ocean waters of its two sounds, Nootka and Kyuquot.
  
  
• Gold Muchalat Provincial Park
  
  Gold Muchalat Provincial Park, located northwest of Gold River on central Vancouver Island, offers a pristine wilderness environment for sports fishing, wildlife viewing and rustic hiking.
  
  This undeveloped park provides key winter habitat for Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer and is home to the Marbled Murrelet and a variety of fish species. Sockeye salmon spawn in the Muchalat River. Summer steelhead, Rainbow trout and coho can be found in both the Muchalat and Gold Rivers, which run through the park.
  
  A trans-valley corridor of old-growth Douglas fir and Western hemlock is protected within the boundaries of this rugged park, which has no developed facilities. A user-made trail meanders along the river's edge and deactivated logging roads allow foot access into the more heavily forested areas of the park, which was established in 1996.
  
  
• Upana Caves
  
  First discovered in 1971 during nearby road building and harvesting, the Upana Cave systems were explored and mapped in 1975 by recreational cavers. Named by cavers for the river that runs through the system, the caves have since attracted thousands of visitors.
  
  The cave interiors remain in a relatively wild, undeveloped state, without the comforts and conveniences of major North American show caves. The system is actually comprised of several caves within one group. There are fifteen known entrances within the system and caves vary in size from single rooms to branching passages of considerable length.
  
  The Upana Caves are accessible to everyone, from novice to experienced spelunker. Helmets and lights are recommended, as well as boots with rubber soles and additional protective clothing if one plans to get more adventurous or a little grubby. A year-round experience, the temperature inside the caves remains a chilly 7° Celsius, no matter what the weather is like outside, so sweaters or jackets are also a good idea.
  
  
• White Ridge Provincial Park
  
  White Ridge Provincial Park forms the backdrop for Gold River village. The name of the park is derived from the white limestone and karst topography for which the area is internationally known.
  
  The park's karst surfaces - a distinctive topography in which the landscape is largely shaped by the dissolving action of water on carbonate bedrock (usually limestone, dolomite or marble) - are significant and easy to see. White Ridge also features an extensive cave system and protects important deer and Roosevelt elk habitat. Although there may be potential for caving opportunities in the future, this area is sensitive and use is not recommended until a management plan is complete.

Things to Do

• Fishing
  
  Vancouver Island's West Coast near Nootka Sound holds a worldwide reputation as one of the finest fishing areas on the planet, salt water or fresh. From mighty salmon to gigantic halibut in the 'saltchuck', cutthroat, rainbow, and steelhead trout in fresh water, anglers here catch their limit of fish, fun, and adventure in a spectacular wilderness setting.
  
  A number of fishing charter companies in Gold River offer expert guides, fishing charters and resort accommodation. You can tackle the west coast any time of year, but summer sees most people trying their luck at catching the transient runs of Coho, Sockeye and Spring Salmon (also know as Chinook), or Tyee. For variety, try bottom-fishing for ling-cod, rock-cod, snapper and gigantic halibut (some up to 175 pounds).
  
  
• Marine Cruising
  
  Bring your own boat, rent one, or hop on the MV Uchuck III - it all begins at the Gold River government wharf near the old mill site, where vessels can be accommodated. The protected waters of Nootka Sound, the fiords and channels, the maze of islands, and the smaller communities scattered throughout are a boater's paradise.
  
  Sheltered anchorages abound, and rounding a point brings a number of surprises, from an old abandoned cannery, to the sight of a bear hunting salmon in a rivermouth. Everywhere you are surrounded by nature - virgin forest, towering mountains, eagles overhead, whales and dolphins in the water.
  
  
• Kayaking
  
  The First Nations people once ranged up and down the coast in cedar canoes, whaling, fishing, and moving to and from their winter and summer homes. Today, growing numbers of kayakers can explore the rich Aboriginal history as they visit the coastal communities, the abandoned villages and remote islands of the “Land of Maquinna”, one of the world's finest sea kayaking areas.
  
  Seek out a kayak tour company for all-inclusive packages or, if competent, go with friends - going alone can be dangerous because of the changeable weather and adverse conditions.
  
  Many kayakers load their vessels on the Uchuck III at Gold River and sail on her out to the outer coast where, using a pallet attached to the ship's boom and a winch, the crew lowers them into the water. Arrange with the Uchuck III for a return pick-up.
  
  An absolutely splendid wild wilderness awaits paddlers: uninhabited beaches; dense old growth rainforests populated by wolves and bears; waterfalls; deep fjords, and coves, secluded and sheltered.
  
  
• Surfing
  
  The giant rollers and pounding Pacific surf attacking Vancouver Island's west coast results in the 'killer' waves beloved by surfers and windsurfers. Often up to 25' in height, these waves have turned this coast into a surfer's paradise. Although Long Beach (in Pacific Rim Park near Tofino) is considered the 'Malibu of the North' and the 'Surf Capital of Canada,' record numbers of tourists and surfers make for crowded condiditons. Now some surfers have discovered the magic of Nootka Island...
  
  
• Wildlife Viewing
  
  Opportunities abound for viewing eagles, black bears, orcas, cougars, elk, sea otters, deer, vultures, and more in the pristine wilderness of Gold River and Nootka Sound.
  
  
• Caving and Rock Climbing
  
  Sometimes referred to as the “Island of Caves," Vancouver Island comes riddled with over 1,000 caves - more than any other area in Canada - with the Upana Caves near Gold River being among the most spectacular. So spectacular in fact that Gold River, with more than fifty caves nearby, serves as home to the BC Speleological Federation for the scientific study of natural caves.
  
  The caves owe their existence to the action of ground water seeping into limestone rock and combining with carbon dioxide to produce a weak solution of carbonic acid. This acid acts slowly to dissolve the limestone and to form underground caves and passageways and other fascinating formations including stalactites and stalagmites, those icicle-like rock forms.
  
  Crest Creek Crag has over 100 routes to test your climbing stamina. These rock walls draw climbers from around the world. Every local climber can tell you stories about when they were on the Crag.
  
  
• Hiking and Mountain Biking
  
  With the famed West Coast Trail becoming so crowded that people planning to hike it need reservations, the Nootka Island Trail offers a 35-kilometre hike through the same kind of wild, pristine wilderness, but without the crowds.
  
  Most start at the north end of the trail, arriving there by seaplane, or get a boat or water-taxi to drop them off at Louie Bay, just south of the Nuchatlitz Inlet. Consisting almost exclusively of beach walking, the hike allows for viewing of black bears, wolves, cougars, eagles, sea otters, whales, and sea lions in a natural and unspoiled setting. Other highlights of the trail include showering under Calvin Creek waterfall; swimming and body surfing in the ocean; exploring ancient middens and mounds where long houses once stood; investigating the life in tidal pools, and beach-combing for treasures deposited from across the ocean. Hikers arrive four or five days later at Yuquot, or Friendly Cove where the Uchuck III makes bi-weekly pick-ups.
  
  Challenging and not a trek for the unfit or faint hearted, the Nootka Island Trail offers immense satisfaction for those who hike it. If you're looking for something a little less strenuous that only takes a few hours, nearby Strathcona Provincial Park offers numerous improved trails to explore. These trails are suitable for all ages and fitness levels. This is a great way to get out with the entire family and experience the quiet beauty of the wilderness.
  
  Mountain biking enthusiasts soon discover the unending trails in the mountains surrounding Gold River, where locals have constructed trails with jumps and obstacles. A number of competitions bring riders from western Canada and the Northwestern USA to test their skills.
  
  
• Camping
  
  Although nearby Strathcona Provincial Park has a number of well-equipped camping areas featuring hookups, there are many smaller wilderness campgrounds in the region.
  
  Some of these wilderness campgrounds are land-based, some marine-accessible; all are in spectacular wilderness settings. Best of all, many charge no camping fees, only asking that users respect the facilities and follow the old scout maxim to leave the site in the same or better condition than you found it.
  
  
• Golf
  
  Gold River's Golf Course sits amidst a vibrant forest of Hemlock, Pine, Red Cedar, and Douglas Fir. Half the fun of playing this course is the spectacular scenery one encounters both playing it or while heading there. Gold River Golf Course only has 9-holes, but can be very challenging. With plush fairways and small greens, players are often forced to play some terrific target golf.
  
  
• Skiing and Snowboarding
  
  For the ultimate winter weekend getaway for family and friends visit Mt. Cain. This ski area is well known for its awesome trackless powder. The Mountain opens in mid December (snow permitting) and closes at the end of March or in early April.

Events

• The Great Walk
  
  The Great Walk is an annual fundraising event sponsored by the Tahsis Lions Club. It takes place on 63.5 kilometres of gravel logging road between Gold River and Tahsis on Vancouver Island. It covers some of the most rugged and beautiful country in the world.
  
  Great Walkers have raised more than $1,000,000.00 for many worthy charities. Walkers choose to solicit sponsors for the recognized charity or organization of their choice; others just walk for the challenge.
  
  The Great Walk starts at 4:00 AM near Gold River and officially ends sixteen hours later in Tahsis at 8:00 PM. All walkers receive a Great Walk t-shirt for making it halfway and the coveted Burning Boot Award for completing the route.
  
  
• Campbell River Salmon Festival
  
  This annual event in August features world-class logger sports competitions, outdoor stage entertainment, a parade, children's and senior's events, arts & crafts, a home show, a community corner, a food fair and miscellaneous competitions.

Contact Information

Village of Gold River Municipal Council

499 Muchalat Drive
PO Box 610
Gold River BC V0P 1G0

Phone: 250-283-2202
Fax: 250-283-7500
E-mail: villageofgoldriver@cablerocket.com
Website: www.goldriver.ca