Cowichan Valley trail: The best peaceful bike ride - See 47 traveller reviews, 41 candid photos, and great deals for Lake Cowichan, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Cowichan Valley trail, Lake Cowichan Photo : photo2.jpg - Découvrez les 632 photos et vidéos de Cowichan Valley trail prises par des membres de Tripadvisor. Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support. There are no guarantees with any information provided in this website. DUNCAN, BC – The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) and its member municipalities are keeping parks and trails open to the public to provide outdoor spaces for residents to recreate responsibly. There's a 2nd section on the Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay ferry connector that allows riders coming down the Island to take a shortcut over to the Saanich Peninsula (and the Lochside Trail) and avoid the very busy south stretches of the Island highway into Victoria. There are a number of road access points off the trail into town. The new trail allows cyclists and hikers to dodge the sketchiest section of highway. The 'Western Terminus' of the Trans Canada Trail in the scenic village of Cowichan Lake. The trail is about 122 kilometres long, stretching from the Capital Regional District all the way to the Regional District of Nanaimo. Difficulty:  Easy. The new Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, which extends the Trans Canada Trail south all the way around the 'Malahat' (local name for a troublesome Island Highway hill). Lake Cowichan to Duncan, Great Canada Trail. Since I packaged this ride page, several new Trans Canada Trail sections have been built. Cowichan Valley trail, Lake Cowichan: See 46 reviews, articles, and 41 photos of Cowichan Valley trail, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 12 attractions in Lake Cowichan. This is somebody's backyard south of Duncan on the way to Kinsol Trestle, Check out these linked pages for more local info. Nature’s. no videos have been added for Great Canada Trail. It's only ~1/2km south to the trailhead for the leg heading back east along the Cowichan River. Cowichan Trails Stewardship Society Building. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. Please read  the FAQs, research further as appropriate, and use your judgement at all times, camping options near the town of Cowichan Lake. Note that when you do the side trip to Stoltz Pool Provincial Camp (included), there's a descent, then climb back as you return to the Trail. This pic is from the CVT trail segment south from Kinsol trestle, set in from the SW shores of Shawnigan Lake. 10-0092-03 Cowichan Valley Trail (Cowichan Lake to Duncan) Distance 27 km Ascent 286 m Descent 175 m Duncan, British Columbia, Canada 1. Check out this link for a more info on Cowichan Lake and nearby camping options. Networks. Our first night was spent in Lake Cowichan and second night in Shawnigan Lake. Glenora loop and Trans Canada Trail connector. A north leg runs from Duncan roughly parallel to Hwy18 up to Cowichan Lake, then loops back towards the east coast a little south, roughly following the Cowichan River Valley. Find the right bike route for you through Lake Cowichan, where we've got 25 cycle routes to explore. Stoltz Pool Provincial Park, a favourite camping spot of mine: nothing special, but it feels like wilderness, there's good trails about, and it's good riding to reach. Robertson Road/South East Access: Located on Robertson Road in the Glenora area south of Duncan… Days for Ride:  Starting & finishing in Duncan, this could be done as a good one day ride, up to Cowichan Lake & back. Note that this new trail is more challenging, with steep sections. Find all the transport options for your trip from Duncan to Lake Cowichan right here. The south end of the Cowichan Valley Trail now connects to a new trail segment managed by the local Malahat First Nation, SW of Shawnigan Lake, and then the new Sooke Hills Trail. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. Incredible riding on well maintained, bicycle friendly trails, mostly amidst forests, in spots alongside the scenic Cowichan River, Excellent camping at Stoltz Pool Provincial Park, and up on Cowichan Lake (see below), A series of fantastic wooden trestle bridges (see photo below), including Kinsol Trestle near Shawnigan Lake, one of the world's largest and finest. Cowichan River Trail is a 5.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Cowichan Valley F, British Columbia, Canada that features a river and is good for all skill levels. A north leg runs from Duncan roughly parallel to Hwy18 up to Cowichan Lake, then loops back towards the east coast a little south, roughly following the Cowichan River Valley. What a beautiful trail and an amazing site at the end of the past we travelled. Best Duncan, British Columbia parks, trails and places explored, documented, photographed, and published by participating Canadian Travel Influencers. Lake Cowichan to Duncan is a 28 km green dirt/gravel road family friendly trail located near Lake Cowichan British Columbia. ​This page gives details on the Lochside Regional trail (and other trail connections like the Galloping Goose) to get cyclists from Victoria to Swartz Bay ferry terminal. Lake Cowichan mountain bike trail map. You'll be riding up to Cowichan Lake. If you want a fantastic ride through the forests, no vehicles about, this ride's for you. Find the right bike route for you through Duncan, where we've got 113 cycle routes to explore. When North Cowichan was developing its 2017 Parks and Trails Master Plan, the municipality discovered a big public appetite for trails, says Chris Istace, who is on the Cowichan Trail Stewardship Society board of directors. If you want to camp at Stoltz Pool Provincial Park along the way back to Duncan (a favourite campsite - recommended), you need to get off the trail onto Riverbottom Road ~9kms east from Cowichan Lake, just after the junction with Skutz Falls FSR. Modest climbs and gradients. 14 trails on an interactive map of the trail network. Colors indicate trail is missing specified detail. Before Duncan, it angles SE to Shawnigan Lake and Kinsol Trestle, one of the world's most fabulous wooden trestle bridges. This takes cyclists south around the 'Malahat' to reach near Victoria. The trail is mostly converted rail trail, however some sections early on are on side roads - all sections are truly beautiful and well worth the visit. There's lots of camping options, and more side trip options once you're out this way (see link below for more on camping options near the town of Cowichan Lake). There are a few regular roadway sections: in the town of Cowichan Lake getting from one trailhead to another (~1 km), along Riverbottom Road to get to Stoltz Pool campground (if you camp there), and along the east shores of Cowichan Lake if you choose to find a campground there. The Cowichan Valley Trail is a spectacular multi-use trail that is an integral part of The Great Trail (Trans Canada Trail) route on Southern Vancouver Island. This news comes in response to the announcement today by BC Parks of the immediate closure of all provincial parks in Here's the distance & direction guide. Areas: Cowichan Lake & SW Coast. Lake Cowichan to Duncan yet, Great Canada Trail. Focused around the town of Duncan, the Cowichan Valley is huge, stretching from Cobble Hill to Ladysmith, Maple Bay to Lake Cowichan. From Lake Cowichan, the end of the trail, there is a B.C. Search teams were successful last weekend in locating a lost Duncan man. No reviews yet, be the first to write a review or ask a question. This ride starts in Duncan, heading south on the wonderful Cowichan Valley Trail (CVT, aka Trans Canada Trail), including Kinsol Trestle, one of the world's largest wooden trestle bridges. Most all of this ride is on the well maintained CVT, often forested, away from vehicle traffic. Follow signs to Riverbottom Road. Some local art along the Cowichan Valley Trail (aka Trans Canada Trail). On average it takes 2 hours17 minutes to complete this trail. Stoney Hill Trail. It's then ~25kms up to the trailhead at the NE entrance to Cowichan Lake village. If you tackle this trip as an overnighter, or part of a longer tour, you'll be carrying gear, so you'll get a workout. was riding his 36" 'trail wheel'. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. What We Stand For. Overall, this ride is ~75kms (~90kms if you take the recommended side trip to Stoltz Pool to camp). Making it look easy .... Just when I was feeling pretty rugged along the Cowichan Valley Trail, this unicyclist (no hands, no less!) The top map shows the overall route. I'm recommending this, though, as an overnighter: up to Cowichan Lake on the segment paralleling the highway. The full trail is much longer but we were on a short visit so only manage a part of it. From the Water Road junction, it's ~11kms SE along the trail to Kinsol Trestle. Turns out the rides around Cowichan Lake are very popular, so I thought I'd best link in a little more local info on the town of Cowichan Lake as well as nearby camping options I like. Become a Member Today. Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. Highway 18 Connector/Middle Access: Located off Highway 18, the Highway 18 Connector provides access to the Stoltz Pool campground, group campsite and day-use areas. The Cowichan Valley Trail is open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders that want to experience all of the wonderful views available. Turn left on Skutz Falls Road, then left on Riverbottom road. Lake Cowichan to Duncan trail on your website. From the end of this stretch you can now connect new trail segments south around the Malahat highway. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension. Or - if you want to continue south on the new Sooke Foothills Wilderness Trail, check out the link below. The track starts at the trailhead off Tansor Road in NW Duncan (~3kms west of the highway), but there are a number of points one can access the trail. Cowichan Valley Trail (CVT) is the local name for the Trans Canada Trail (TCT), and this ride takes you through the finest extended stretch of the Trail on Vancouver Island. Terrain: Moderate rolling except for steep hills near the Duncan (east) end. Now you can keep riding from the south end of Shawnigan Lake. You see the gradual starting climb up to Cowichan lake, over 200m, but over a 15km stretch. Note that new Trail segments have been added at the south, managed by the Malahat First Nation, and then the new Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail (see more below). Cowichan Valley trail: Wonderful leisurely bike ride - See 47 traveler reviews, 41 candid photos, and great deals for Lake Cowichan, Canada, at Tripadvisor. no photos have been added for Great Canada Trail. Around the same area you should also see the trail turnoff to Horseshoe Bend Group Campsite (if you're a large group, that's the ideal place to camp, but book early in summer!). Island highway. An excellent trail map is offered by the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD). ... TCT No. From Duncan, Tofino Bus travels to downtown Victoria. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Safety: Country roads without bike lanes, sometimes busy. Map Printable guide Distance: an 8 km loop with a 3.8 km (one way) connector to the Cowichan Valley Trail Estimated Time: about 30 minutes or more. Most people get on their bikes to ride here in the months of July and August. The map below shows several locations to get on the trail in and around Duncan. You'll then see the turnoff for the Park access road (~1/2km) into the campsite along the Cowichan River. The 2nd map shows the start / finish in Duncan, and the bottom map shows the trail heads up in Cowichan Lake village. If you want to return to Duncan by road, I've included several likely route options, in blue (map below). … Lake Cowichan to Duncan bike trail trail, Directions to great-canada-trail-lake-cowichan-to-duncan trailhead, embed Great Canada Trail. Great riding. From Duncan Follow Highway 18 towards Lake Cowichan. Lake Cowichan to Duncan yet. ‘We need hiking trails, we need walking trails, we need mountain bike trails, we need urban trails.’” Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.. Sign In Duncan is along the Island highway. Submit one here. Caution - the degree of difficulty get pretty tough on the new Sooke Hills segment. Cowichan Valley Trail (CVT) is the local name for the Trans Canada Trail (TCT), and this ride takes you through the finest extended stretch of the Trail on Vancouver Island. Next day, keep following the trail south, branching SW to Kinsol Trestle & the end of the trail. You have the option of cutting back to Duncan at ~km67 if you wish, or continuing to Kinsol Trestle and Shawnigan Lake. Our first night was spent in Lake Cowichan and second night in Shawnigan Lake. If this is full park at the Skutz Falls Day Use Area. Follow signs from Skutz Falls Road via Cowichan Lake Road and Mayo Road to Riverbottom Road. Great Canada Trail. The map zooming in to Duncan also shows a track (blue) that can get you back into Duncan if you choose not to go south to Shawnigan Lake. The southern leg of the trail back reaches Duncan after ~25kms, skirting the SW part of town. Continue below pic for more directions.... Kinsol Trestle, high above the Koksilah River, reminiscent of days of old. Duncan, BC Parks, Trails and Places British Columbia Things To Do Best Parks & Trails in Canada. Great Canada Trail. Then, nearly 4kms further to the NW corner of Shawnigan Lake, then ~9kms south, mostly along the west shores of the lake, to the end of the trail at Sooke Road, where there's parking and toilets. Lake Cowichan to Duncan is a 28 km green dirt/gravel road family friendly trail located near Lake Cowichan British Columbia. There is a small amount of parking near Mayo Road. The left elevation scale only goes up to 250m, so things look hillier than they really are. Additional trail segments from Duncan to Ladysmith include vast sections of "Rail with Trail" that runs alongside the … This website does not encourage anyone to undertake activities in the backwoods without considering fully issues of safety, access and readiness. Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine the last time a trail was ridden. Cowichan River Footpath and Cowichan Valley Trail from Glenora Trails Head [CLOSED] is a 8.1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Cowichan Valley, British Columbia, Canada that features a river and is good for all skill levels. Side trip options from Cowichan Lake or the SW hinterlands, or ...... Can't recall whether this was Holt Creek or Km66 Trestle along the segment of the Cowichan Valley Trail running to the SW of the Cowichan River. Other notable trails include the 20 km Cowichan River Footpath, which winds west from Duncan to spectacular Skutz Falls, and the Trans Canada Trail, which skirts Shawnigan Lake and crosses over the 144-foot-high, knee-knocking Kinsol Trestle to Cowichan Lake, North Cowichan and Ladysmith. You could shorten the ride to ~55kms if you simply finished in Duncan (vs Shawnigan Lake). The next morning, backtrack along this 7kms stretch, including an initial nasty little climb. Cycled from Duncan to the Kinsol Trestle and back. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used from March until November. From Lake Cowichan Follow Highway 18 towards Duncan. This extraordinary loop features more than 60 km of rail trail that takes in the Kinsol Trestle, the Marie Trestle and Canyon, Skutz Falls, the Cowichan River, spectacular forests as well as Duncan, and the touristy fishing village of Cowichan Bay. There are no guarantees with any information provided in this website. Highlights definitely included all the trestle bridges, with Kinsol being the most spectacular; the gorgeous sections of the Cowichan River; and the backcountry forests and farm land views of the valley. Transit bus (Route 7) to Duncan. The link here is to the Blog page, where you'll find the post on this fabulous new Trail opened in summer 2017. I chose Waters & Cavin (~a block riding on each), which get you onto Marshall and Indian Roads (~6kms from Duncan town centre). Then, south to the gorgeous SW coast for some great riding west to Port Renfrew. To reach Stoltz Pool campsite, you'll need to ride about 6.5kms east on Riverbottom Road (a dirt track, with little traffic). From Sooke Lake Road, the Trail heads north along the west side of Shawnigan Lake, following a well-graded natural gas pipeline right-of-way and the abandoned rail grade of the 1913 Canadian Northern Pacific Railway, which now carries both the Great Trail (former Trans Canada Trail) and the Vancouver Island Trail all the way to the town of Lake Cowichan. Then you can either camp near the east end of the lake (see link here to a page with more on nearby camping), or start your return east down the more southerly leg of the Trail, and camp for the night at excellent Stoltz Pool Provincial Park. Heading south from Maple Bay on Genoa Bay road you will turn left onto the newly built Stoney Hill road. This short but rewarding trail provides amazing views from high on top of the bluffs of Sansum Narrows nestled between Maple Bay and Cowichan Bay. Lake Cowichan to Duncan trail has been added yet! Finally we turned north and connected with the Trail in its area north of the river, without reaching Lake Cowichan, since we did not have time to get there and be in Duncan at 17:30 to return the bicycles, and at that price, we could not risk having to pay another day. “Holy cow, people want trails. FLASH! There's a segment south from SW Shawnigan Lake through the Mahalat First Nation, which then connects to the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, allowing riders to avoid the notorious 'Malahat' riding stretch of the big (busy!) The intended direction a trail should be ridden. We missed seeing the 70.2 Mile bridge, which the photos I’ve seen does not seem too much. Lake Cowichan to Duncan yet. It was resounding. Sustainability – Our network of low-impact recreational infrastructure supports the region’s sustainable recreational tourism goals. It's a pretty tough ride in stretches. 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