Travel & Tourism Accommodations, Activities, Attractions, Restaurants & Information
Lake Cowichan BC Links
| Accommodations | Activities | Transportation | Restaurants | Services | Why go to Lake Cowichan |
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The town of Lake Cowichan is 1 hr and 25 minute scenic drive from
Victoria or a 1hr drive from Nanaimo. You can get
to Duncan by Bus (Coach) from Victoria and Nanaimo and
from the BC Ferry Terminals
in Nanaimo and Swartz Bay, just north of Sidney BC. However, to get from Duncan to Lake Cowichan you will need to take alternate transportation. Currently there are Regional Transit buses from Duncan to Lake Cowichan with connections to Youbou and Honeymoon Bay. By car, You must take the Lake Cowichan/Youbou Highway 18 from the turnoff just north of Duncan on Highway 1. For a great Day trip from the Cowichan Region, BC Ferries also offers you the chance to tour some of the Gulf Islands, with services from Chemainus to Thetis Island, and from Crofton to Salt Spring Island. |
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Lake Cowichan Town on Vancouver Island |
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Cowichan Lake Greeting Sign |
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 Kaatza Station Museum |
Air Travel to the Cowichan Valley
The Cassidy (Nanaimo) Airport is about a 10 minute drive north of Ladysmith. There are several daily 15 minute flights from the Vancouver Airport to Cassidy. Victoria International is the closest International Airport and is approximately a 50 minute drive from Lake Cowichan.Two smaller airlines offer services right to the Cowichan Region; Hanna's Air Saltspring contact number 1-800-665-2359 and Harbour Air contact number 1-800-663-4267.
Canadian Regional / Pacific Coastal
Phone 250-245-5121(local)
1-800-663-3721(BC)
1-800-776-3000(US)Central Mountain Air / AirBC
Phone 250-245-7123(local)
1-800-665-1177(Canada) or 1-800-426-7000(US).
When you step out of your transportation at Lake Cowichan, take a deep breath and fill your lungs with fresh air. No fumes or noise from traffic, just clean mountain air. Your are surrounded by wilderness and nature in all its forms. People here are friendly and accommodating.
The Town of Lake Cowichan is the launching point for your Lake Cowichan visit. Visit the Kaatza Station Museum and the visitor centre. Hike our many trails, fish the lakes and streams or take a houseboat tour on Cowichan Lake. Try camping at Caycuse Campsite on the south shore, Pine Point and Maple Grove on the north shore of Cowichan Lake. The Trans Canada Trail, which is on a unused rail bed in the area passes through the area and then continues south to Victoria and then on to the Lower mainland and stretches 16,000 km right across Canada. The Amazing, just recently rebuilt Kinsol Trestle is along this trail. Don't miss this massive wooden structure.
Be sure to check out the Cowichan Lake Education Centre on the shores of Cowichan Lake. Mesachie Lake, on Lake Cowichan's south shore, has a trail planted with indigenous trees at various stages of growth. In the village of Mesache Lake you can tour through over 225 trees (about 33 species) of trees from around the world.
At Honeymoon Bay, just a few kilometers down the road, you can enjoy the secluded waterfront surroundings where you can boat across the bay to the marine park, play a round of golf at March Meadows, or check out the murals at Honeymoon Bay Heritage Hall.
There is excellent camping all around the Lake Cowichan. Gordon Bay Provincial Park is one of the Island’s most popular campsites, with warm water and sandy beaches. Further down the road to the northwest you will find Heather Campsite, one of many forestry campsites.
Following the North Road, you will find the picturesque community of Youbou, nestled amongst the tall timbers and leafy ferns. You can do a circle tour of Lake Cowichan and at Youbou visit the old mill site which sits on the outskirts. visit Hard Hat Shack, the only standing building from the sawmill, now a picnic area with some local history. Check out Youbou Lanes, the only sanctioned 10-pin lanes in Canada, offering both 5-pin and 10-pin bowling and housing Youbou history. Visit Arbutus Park swimming beach and be sure to check out the amazing Youbou bar and grill.
Farther south along the lakeshore you will find the Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park, home to some of the world’s largest spruce trees and weathered cedars that are hundreds of years old. Visitors can access the park across Caycuse River Bridge. It is recommended that visitors arrange a guided tour. Contact the Cowichan lake Education Centre. While in Lake Cowichan, you are in the centre of an amazing area for tourism on Vancouver Island. In Duncan, just 20 minutes away, you are in the commercial centre of a trading area serving a population about 70,000 people. Duncan covers approximately one square mile and is jam packed with interesting shops and great shopping, activities and services most of which are centralized within about four city blocks.
Duncan is the city of Totems. Almost eighty totem poles can be found spread throughout the city, most of which are on the Trans Canada Highway and downtown. All totem poles featured in this unique outdoor museum are original art. The works represent a blending of traditions from native culture indigenous to the Pacific Northwest. There are 41 totems on the self-guided tour (follow the yellow foot prints) or you can take afree guided tours provided by the Cowichan Valley Volunteer Society. These interesting guided tours depart from the caboose adjacent to the train station on Canada Avenue. For a brief written description of the totems and each artist, please refer to "Duncan-City of Totems Walking Tour Guide".Information is available at the Duncan Visitor lnfo Centre, the Quw' utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre, the Cowichan and Chemainus Valley Ecomuseum, Duncan City Hall, or the Caboose Info Centre at the Duncan Railway Station (in season). Parking is available at the Quw' utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre and downtown.
The Cowichan Valley Museum is located in the train station. The Museum opened to the public in June of 1989. Operated by the Cowichan Historical Society, it houses an interesting collection of items and displays, recalling the area as it once was. Inside the renovated 1912 station are vignettes of the Cowichans' rich heritage and displays including turn-of-the-century home furnishings, the "Alderlea General Store", medical room, photographs and traveling exhibits.
At the Quw' utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre you can experience native cultures and traditions including education, art, and traditional weaving, beading, spinning, and entertainment. The Cowichan first people are proud to invite you to visit the Quw' utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre.The Cowichan Valley is home to approximately 12 vineyards and growing. The Valley Wine Tour is awsome. The Cowichan region is home to the newest wine-growing area in BC. Here you will find some of Europe's best known grape varieties growing amidst rolling hillsides and country lanes. Check local tourist information kiosks for information and maps.
If you would like ocean activities like scuba diving, ocean kayaking or salmon fishing you are not far from Cowichan Bay. Stop by the famous Rock Cod Cafe in Cowichan Bay for amazing fish and chips.
The amazing town of Chemainus, famous for its wall murals, is just a few kilometers north of Duncan. In Chemainus you can casually stroll through the world-famous outdoor gallery of murals and sculptures revealing the history of the area. Art, crafts and antiques await your discovery. There are ample places to dine throughout Chemainus. Chemainus also has an amazing theatre with live performances. This is yet another day excursion from Lake Cowichan.
To the west of Lake Cowichan you can find the Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park a luxuriously forested sanctuary that is without a doubt one of the most remarkable wild places on Vancouver Island. The lower Carmanah Valley was declared a provincial park in 1990, and the Walbran and upper Carmanah Valleys were added in 1995. The park offers protection to diverse forest ecosystems, including a large Sitka spruce ecosystem that represents 2% of BC's remaining old-growth forest. Carmanah Walbran is home to some of the world's largest spruce trees, some reaching heights in excess of 95 meters and living for 800 years or more. The park is also home to ancient, gnarled cedars - estimated to be well over 1,000 years old - clinging to the side hills. Nestled beneath these awe-inspiring trees is a diverse variety of flora and fauna possible only in an ecosystem that has remained undisturbed for hundreds of years.Nitnat Lake, also to the west is famous for wind surfing and fishing. Bamfield is a unique fishing village and is the north of BC's famous West Coast Trail, and if you are adventurous you can travel the back road to Port Alberni.
As you can see there is so much to see and do in this area, you should spend at least 4 to 7 days here.
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Cow Café & Cookhouse, 51 North Shore Road, Lake Cowichan, phone: 250-749-4933, fax: 250-749-4993, E-mail: |
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Aroma Neighbourhood Italian Bistro, 2-78 Cowichan Lake Road, Lake Cowichan, phone: 250-749-7799, E-mail: |
A & W Restaurant, 96 Wellington Rd; Lake Cowichan, 250 749 0111;
JJ's Chinese Food Take Out & Store, Jessie Jay; 154 South Shore Road; Lake Cowichan, 250 749 6424;Shaker Mill Restaurant, Mona Fletcher; Brent Fletcher, 72 Lake Cowichan Road; Lake Cowichan, 250 749 6350;
Youbou Bar and Grill, 10524 Youbou Rd., Youbou, British Columbia, V0R 3E1, (250) 745 3388, Fax (250) 745-3386, Email:J & V's Burgers and Pizza, 162 South Shore Road, Lake Cowichan BC Canada 250-749-7411
Stores/Services:
Lake Cowichan Visitor Centre, ph 250 749 3244, contact Katherine WorsleyLake Cowichan Cabs, 250-749-4442
Friesens Fresh Meats, Linda Friesen; 10056 South Shore Road; Honeymoon Bay, 250 749 4600;Galloping Moon Gallery, Bob Culmer; Jane Culmer, 99 South Shore Road; Lake Cowichan, 250 749 0266; E-mail: dragonandfrog@telus.net
Kaatza Art Group, Karola Schabernack; Rose Danaher, 50 West Arbutus Street; Lake Cowichan, 250 749 3650; E-mail: karolas@telus.net
Country Grocer and Deli, Joanne Pimlott; Peter Pimlott, 83 Cowichan Lake Road; Lake Cowichan, 250 749 6335; E-mail: jovillagemarket@shaw.caRexall Island Pharmacy, Erika Lucas; Sean Lucas, 62 Cowichan Lake Road; Lake Cowichan, 250 749 0149;
Lake Laundromat & Clean Warmth Services, Shaun Farrell; Susan Farrell, 241 South Shore Road; Lake Cowichan, 250 749 4022; E-mail: ssfarrel@telus.net
Pharmasave, Sean Lucas; Erika Lucas, 138 South Shore Road; Lake Cowichan, 250 749 3141; E-mail: ps271@unipharm.com
Activities:
Cowichan Lake Recreation, Linda Blatchford, 311 South Shore Road; Lake Cowichan, 250 749 6742; 250 745 3712, E-mail:March Meadows Golf Club, Carol Peterson; Wayne Speer, 10298 South Shore Road; Honeymoon Bay, 250 749 6917; E-mail: jlpeterson@shaw.ca
Kenzies Fishing Adventures, licensed to fish 44 lakes and 11 rivers - 36 years of experience, for the experience of a lifetime, give Kenzie a call, Email, phone 250 749 3594Island House Boats, for a unique on the water vacation in a spectacular Vancouver Island lake, give us a call. 1 877 750 5678, Email: