Fall in Beacon Hill Park

Prior to the arrival of settlers, of course, the area was the traditional territory of the Salish people, who had lived here for thousands of years. A tangled web of events since then has displaced the original dwellers, but their history is evident in the petroglyphs that adorn the shoreline and in the middens of seashells mounded up beside the beaches on Strait of Juan de Fuca. The first of the Indian people arrived in the region shortly after the ice of the last glacial age had begun to retreat some 14,000 years ago.

Whilst the park boasts considerable areas of natural land in a native habitat, most of the park is beautifully landscaped and manicured with bridges, lakes and ponds, and an alpine and rock garden. Wondrous displays of exotic and native trees, including Garry Oak, Arbutus, Douglas-fir, Western Red Cedar, birch, willow and maples grace the park - to name just a few of the many.

Amongst the pond lilies of Goodacre and Fountain Lakes, a variety of waterfowl go about their business, thrilling visitors of all ages. In a copse of Douglas-fir trees an active heronry raucously sounds its presence whilst a pair of Bald Eagles nests nearby.

A delightful quiet envelops this sunny spot in Victoria, where walking trails link with neighbourhood streets that lead down into the busy hum of commercial activity. Attractions in the park include the Beacon Hill Children's Farm. The children's petting zoo at historic Beacon Hill Park gives hands-on experience, which is enjoyed by young and old.

Happiness is ... Beacon Hill Children's Farm!

Spring Hours:
March 15 - April 30 / 10:00 - 4:00
Summer Hours:
May 1 - Labour Day / 10:00 - 5:00
Fall Hours: Labour Day - Thanksgiving / 11:00 - 4:00

Other attractions include sports fields and playgrounds, a bandshell and the world's tallest free-standing totem pole. The 38.8-metre (128-foot) masterpiece was created by renowned Kwakwaka'wakw artist Mungo Martin in 1956, and lovingly restored to its original splendour 46 years later.