EXPLORE: HIKING

From peaceful, easy walks to rugged climbs, the Cowichan countryside offers an abundance of hiking opportunities for all levels of hikers. The Trans Canada Trail,the Cowichan River Corridor, and provincial parks offer gorgeous scenery and spectacular views. From sandy beaches to sun dappled forests and historic trestle bridges there is something for every interest and level of experience. Drop by a Visitor Centre near you and pick up a map of the area showing local hiking trails.

Beaches & Parks From peaceful, easy walks to more strenouos, rugged climbs, the parks & beaches of Cowichan have something for every outdoor enthusiast. Visit Parks & Beaches

Carmannah Walbran Provincial Park From Lake Cowichan take South Shore Road (or North Shore Road) to Nitnat Main. Follow Nitnat Main and turn left at the junction with South Main and proceed to the Caycuse River Bridge. At the Caycuse River Bridge it is about 29 kilometres down Rosander Main to the park. Blue signs mark the route.It should take you about 2.5 hours to reach the park from Lake Cowichan good conditions. The area contains a spectacular and diverse forest ecosystem. It now encompasses 16,450 hectares of coastal rain forest. It is highly recommended you visit the Carmanah in the summer as it can be very wet in the other seasons. The last 40 kilometers to the park can be very rough and mountainous but has spectacular views of Nitnat Lake. Carmanah Valley Trails: From the developed campsites it is a 30 minute hike to the junction with the trail along carmanah creek. Sections of the trail upstream can be very muddy and difficult. Downstream the trail is mostly on boardwalks and quite easy to hike. The following hiking times are approximate and with good trail conditions: Points Upstream (from Junction) Three Sisters 2.5km 40 min Grunt's Grove 4.0km 1 1/4 hrs Paradise Pool 5.5km 2 hrs August Creek 7.5km 3 1/2 hrs Points Downstream (from Junction) Heaven Tree 2.0km 30 min Fallen Giant 2.3km 45 min Heaven Grove 2.6km 50 min

Cowichan River Footpath Location: Duncan/Cowichan Valley Length: 20 km one way Backpack or Day Hike: suitable all year. Duncan trailhead: Drive north from Victoria on the Trans-Canada Highway (#1) to Duncan. Turn left at Miller Road and left again at Vaux Road. Follow Vaux (which changes its name to Robertson Road) for approx 6 km to the Cowichan Fish and Game Association Clubhouse. Skutz Falls trailhead: Drive north from Victoria on the Trans-Canada Highway (#1) to the the Lake Cowichan Highway (#18) just north of Duncan. Turn west (left) and drive 18.7 km until you come to the turnoff to Skutz Falls. Turn left and follow the gravel road for about 3 km to the falls. Access the trail on the far side of the river across the truck bridge. The best loop hikes are from this trailhead. Requires transportation at both ends if doing full trail. Hazards: There is a railroad trestle crossing the river a few kilometers east of Skutz Falls. Some ties are missing from the trestle.

Heart Lake Hike up to to this pristine area. A new marked trail is now open and is 6.4km from the head of the Holland Creek Trail bridge. The new trail includes three levels: difficult, moderate and mild.

Heather Mountain To reach the summit of Heather Mountain (about 1250 metres) you will be hiking up Branch R (sign posted) for most of the way. Branch R begins about 1.5 km north of Heather Campsite on the mountain side of the main road. Branch R will fork to the right off on a switch back (marked by a stump with yellow paint currently) which will take you around on the lake side of the mountain. It should take you around 40 minutes from the gate to walk up around the switchback and passed a recently logged section of forest to the lake side of the mountain. In this section on a good day you can see the top of the mountain's secondary peak and look down upon Cowichan Lake and Heather Campsite. About 20+ minutes more brings you to the saddle (about 820 meters) between the secondary peak and the summit where the trail is not always clear. The saddle's lake side has a steep cliff and overlooks the lake as well. To reach the summit you must hike NW up the saddle to the summit trail. From the saddle to the summit the steep trail is marked. Time up this section is around 1 hours. A good way down is on the south side through the alders avoiding the gully. Summit views are magnificent - to the west the Nitinat valley, Hobiton Lake and Pacific Ocean; to the north Mts. Arrowsmith and Moriarty; to the east Mts. Whymper and Landalt and the Cowichan Valley. Trail Dangers: To reach the summit is a moderate to strenuous hike of around 3 hours and around 2.5 hours on the way back. Your elevation gain from Heather Campsite is around 1000 meters. The route itself, however, is a well maintained logging road for the first half and no rock climbing experience is required. If you miss the fork to the right of Branch R you will reach a heavily forested area and you should turn around and walk back to the fork. Carry plenty of water for your hike. Cell phone reception is poor on some sections but excellent in the sections overlooking Cowichan Lake. The area is beautiful in the summer with its alpine flowers, equally beautiful in the fall colors. In the summer the mosquitoes can be very bad, so be sure to carry a repellant. Access: Heather Mountain is located at the head (west end) of Cowichan Lake. From the Town of Lake Cowichan to the head of the lake is about 38 km (24 miles) along South Shore Road or North Shore Road. For information about gates and accessibility to Heather Mountain trails, please call TimberWest.

Hill 60 Hill 60 is a sprawling mountain stretching about nine miles along the highway. The greater part of it should only be explored by experienced hikers as it is criss-crossed by old roads and one can easily get lost. It is named after an engagement in the First World War in which many Canadians lost their lives in particular men of the Cowichan Valley. Although there are no trails you may like to try this route: a short hike up to the southeast triangulation point with a beautiful view of the whole valley. Drive 8 miles (13 km) west along Highway 18 from Highway 1 and at the end of the three-lane highway make a sharp turn right onto gravel road. There are several parking spots along the road.

Lomas Lake Location: Youbou (Lake Cowichan ) Elevation Gain: Approximately 700 meters Dayhike: Best from Late June thru Late September Backpack: Best from Late June thru Late September Trailhead: Drive north from Victoria on the Trans-Canada Highway (#1) to the the Lake Cowichan Highway (#18) just north of Duncan. Turn west (left) and drive to Youbou (take the right fork near Lake Cowichan). Continue through Youbou past the mill down the logging road. After about 2 km you will come to a bridge spanning Cottonwood Creek, immediately across this bridge there is a gated logging road, turn right here and continue along, keeping to the lower road at the first major junction. After several km you will come to a junction where the Cottonwood Creek East logging road branches from the mainline. Take this turn and continue as long as the road is passable (it has been ditched in several places and is only passable in a 4WD).

Maple Mountain Location: Maple Bay (Vancouver Island), BC Canada Length: 5 km one way Elevation Gain: 310 meters Dayhike: Suitable all year Trailhead: Drive north from Victoria on Highway 1 through Duncan to Herd Road, turn right and follow road towards Maple Bay. Turn left on Osborne Bay Road (to Crofton) and follow this to marked park entrance. Trail begins in the trees to the north of the parking area/turn around.

Mesachie Mountain Follow signs from Town of Lake Cowichan to Mesachie Lake Village, about 4 miles (6 km) Turn right onto Forest Road (signposted) Go through village, turn right and park on the flat. Continue along Forest Road, and cross bridge. The trail to Mesachie Mountain is to the right, past the barrier and following the paige wire fence; the swinging NE through second-growth timber. Follow this until you come to a T junction, then turn right onto the mountain trail. The upper part is just one mossy hill. It is about one hourís stroll from the barrier to the top and the view is excellent. Note: The main part of this trail goes through the BC Forest Service Research Station area (an active research area). You must therefore obtain permission before entering. Contact the forester at the Research Station at the office or phone (250) 749-6811

Mt Tzouhalem Location: Duncan, BC Canada Elevation Gain: Approximately 525 meters Dayhike: Suitable all year Trailhead: Drive north from Victoria on Highway 1 to Duncan. Turn right on Trunk Road (1st light after the silver bridge). Follow Trunk Road,which becomes Tzouhalem Road, until you come to a church with a grave yard out front. Park on the south side of the church. Trail description: Walk down the dirt road, across a small bridge and take the left fork at the first junction, then take the next right and follow this up taking the next junction to the left and the next sharply to the right. Soon you come across another junction with a steep hill to the right, take this fork at the top of the steep hill press on a short ways to a view point on your right. This makes an excellent rest stop.

Spectacle Lake Mt Wood Location: Shawnigan Lake, BC Canada Length: 15 km round trip Dayhike: Suitable all year Trailhead: Take highway 1 west from Victoria. Continue 0.8 km past the first Shawnigan Lake cut-off and turn left (just before the summit of the Malahat) . Follow this road to a parking area (at the first junction go left, then look for a gravel road on your right, approximately 1 km after the first junction). This road leads to the Spectacle Lake parking area.

The Trans Canada Trail Trans Canada Trail Regional Park & Trail follows the abandoned Canadian National Railway (CNR) right-of-way from Sooke Lake Road (at the south end of Shawnigan Lake) to the Holt Creek trestle in the Glenora area. It continues through to the Town of Lake Cowichan along the same ROW but under the jurisdiction of BC Parks. The trail will eventually connect with the Galloping Goose Trail in the Capital regional District and create a continuous national trail system from mile “0” at Douglas and Dallas Roads in Victoria to St John’s Newfoundland, with a branch going up through the Yukon, a distance of approximately 17,400 kilometres

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

TO DO IN MAY

> Farmer's Market

> Market in the Square

> International Half Iron Triathlon

> Window ART Displays

> Go To Events Calendar

 

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