Mount Finlayson Trail in Goldstream Park closed due to dangerous wildlife risk

Visitors planning to hike one of Greater Victoria’s most popular trails will need to make alternate plans for the time being.

BC Parks has closed the Mount Finlayson Trail in Goldstream Provincial Park due to dangerous wildlife activity posing a risk to public safety.

According to a notice posted by BC Parks, the closure affects the trail from the Finlayson Arm Road trailhead to the southern base of Mount Finlayson and will remain in effect until further notice.

BC Parks says the Conservation Officer Service is monitoring the situation and updates will be posted on the park’s website as they become available.

The advisory does not specify what type of wildlife is responsible for the closure.

Temporary barricades and closure notices have been placed at the trailhead and the public is being asked to respect all signage and stay out of the affected area.

Mount Finlayson is one of the busiest hiking destinations in the region, attracting thousands of hikers each year with its challenging climb and panoramic views overlooking Greater Victoria, Bear Mountain, Finlayson Arm, Mount Baker and Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula.

The popular loop trail covers approximately six kilometres and gains about 439 metres in elevation on its route to the summit.

While the Mount Finlayson Trail remains closed, BC Parks says the rest of Goldstream Provincial Park remains open to visitors.

The closure advisory was first posted on June 17th and remains active as of Monday.

Anyone planning a visit to Goldstream Provincial Park is encouraged to check the latest advisories before heading out.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify the reason for the Mount Finlayson Trail closure. BC Parks says the closure is due to dangerous wildlife activity posing a risk to public safety.