Safety: Safe off-road cycling. Combined with the CTSS, we join together collaboratively with our surrounding neighbours of the Cowichan Valley in support of trails and the many values they bring. First I biked a 1 kilometre long hill back up to the highway to the first parts store. We enjoyed the ride – and the Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut we shared after we got to our hotel room. Old rail grade through provincial park and private forest lands. The trail offers a number Show more Sandy Pool Regional Park Loop The northern branch is the Cowichan Valley Rail Trail, which stays on the north of the Cowichan River and ends in Duncan town; the southern branch is the Trans Canada trail, which crosses over to the south side of the Cowichan River and ends at the Kinsol Trestle at Shawnigan Lake. To get e-mail updates, please enter your e-mail address below. GPS coordinates, 66 Mile Day Use Area: 48 46.65N 123 5.81W, GPS coordinates, Skutz Falls Parking lot: 48 46.97N 123 57.07. Because Vancouvers Island is in the Pacific Ocean, it doesn’t get the low temperatures that a lot of Canada receives. The trail is wide, often road width, with occasional single track sections, clear, and well graded. There are numerous road crossings west of the 66 mile trestle. TRAILS APP North Cowichan has released a trails app (currently for iOS only) that includes all forestry roads and sanctioned trails for hiking or mountain biking. From there, the ride was mostly uphill, although being a rail-trail, the grade was generally less than 1%. We checked out an ice cream place but decided the 10 flavors of ice cream weren’t worth the calories. Except when I showed him the intake valve also, he noticed the crack. 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. 36 m Fitness Trail Loop is a 1.3 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Cowichan Valley, British Columbia, Canada that features a river and is good for all skill levels. The Cowichan Valley Trail is a gorgeous lightly used rail-trail. There is a nice picnic spot at the west end of the 66 Mile Trestle. Horses are also able to use this trail. There are approximately 1200 hectares of Community Parks and 823 hectares of Regional Parkland plus the Cowichan Valley Trail. The northern branch is the Cowichan Valley Rail Trail, which stays on the north of the Cowichan River and ends in Duncan town; the southern branch is the Trans Canada trail, which crosses over to the south side of the Cowichan River and ends at the Kinsol Trestle at Shawnigan Lake. The full hike from the parking lot to the end No hiccups. From Lake Cowichan town the Great Trail/Trans Canada Trail crosses to the north side of the Cowichan River valley and retreats eastward, en route to Nanaimo. Skutz Falls parking lot has room for 20 -25 vehicles. The rest of the trail is mostly seasonal swamps not suitable for treatment. The Cowichan Valley Trail is 122 km long (76 miles for those of us who are metrically challenged). The portion of the Cowichan Valley Trail, between Holt Creek Trestle and 64.4 Mile Trestle, that is closed due to unsafe conditions. The Cowichan Valley Trail is open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders that want to experience all of the wonderful views available. IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THOSE STARTING THIS TRAIL IN LAKE COWICHAN (East/ South bound): There are two trails, easily confused, that branch off from the Trans Canada Trail Head in Lake Cowichan. 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. It is very easy to confuse these when starting from Lake Cowichan. and the Skutz Falls parking lot is about 200m to the west on Riverbottom Rd. 48 49.39 N 124 03.38 W – Western Terminus of the Trans Canada Trail in the town of Lake Cowichan. Access to the Cowichan River via steep trail is possible at the 66 Mile Trestle and the 70.2 Mile Trestle for surface water requiring treatment. But it turns out the trip back was a lot faster and almost all downhill. DUNCAN, B.C. 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. Otherwise, most other surface water is small seasonal creeks and swampy areas. Cowichan Valley Trail is a 67.4 mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail located near Cowichan Valley F, British Columbia, Canada that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. When you reach Cowichan Lake village, there are signs with maps to guide you from one trail head to the other (~1/2 km), so you can loop back east. Building. If you park at the Skutz Falls lot, the Trans Canada Trail passes beside the lot on the opposite side from the river. Turn left and find the terminus immediately to your left. The tracks and ties have been removed. The Cowichan Valley Regional District board has pushed back a decision on a controversial campground development in the Cowichan estuary. So it didn’t look uphill, but after 13 miles it certainly felt uphill. To date there is a total of 92 km of constructed trail plus 28 km of road that is currently part of the trail system. Much of the trail is shaded from the summer sun which makes it ideal for year-round adventures. The Parks & Trails Division manages 206 Community Parks, eight Regional Parks, two Regional Trails and Cobble Hill Mountain Regional Recreation Area. The shaded trail ran through old-growth forest and criss-crossed the Cowichan River on old railroad trestles. Much of this trail follows the Cowichan Valley Trail: https://www.cvrd.bc.ca/121/Cowichan-Valley-Trail, This section is also included in the Trans Canada Trail: http://www.tctrail.ca/, Glenora Trails Head to 66 mile Trestle (10.9km), https://www.cvrd.bc.ca/121/Cowichan-Valley-Trail. No potable water is provided along this route. So we ended up getting some cold stuff to drink and a cookie at Subway. Cross the bridge and stay on South Shore Road until you reach the A&W restaurant. Nature’s. Wear adequate clothing and footwear. We have put together a small list of some of the favorite hikes in the Cowichan Valley that give a little taste of what the region has to offer. 66 Mile trestle day use and parking lot entrance to the left on Riverbottom Road. Malcolmson, Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau and Cowichan Valley Medical Health Officer Dr. Shannon Waters joined the meeting after that. This gem follows several regional trails, including the Galloping Goose Trail, Sooke Wilderness Trail, and The Great Trail. So Monday the temperature was in the 90’s. Then take an immediate left again onto Cowichan Lake Rd. Work out when and for how long to visit Cowichan Valley trail and other Lake Cowichan attractions using our handy Lake Cowichan visit planner. If you ever get to Vancouvers Island, you should check it out. 66 Mile Trestle day use area has room for 10 -12 vehicles. Most of the businesses were closed for Labor Day (yes, they do celebrate that in Canada). Guide and map Distance: 122 Km, but there are several access points for shorter rides. Refer to the earth view in the attached photo file below or check out the Cowichan Valley Trail website. A must-see along the trail, the curved Kinsol Trestle spans 187 metres and is one of the tallest free-standing timber trestles worldwide. The Cowichan Valley Regional District has done a great job upgrading this 26km long trail. There are no accessible points along this section aside from the access points at either end. Cowichan Valley trail is located in Lake Cowichan. You can see a map here. The trail follows an old rail grade. It runs from Shawnigan Lake, around Lake Cowichan, to Duncan. It runs from Shawnigan Lake, around Lake Cowichan, to Duncan. Most of the trail was beautiful and pleasant with a surface of crushed limestone. Surface: Gravel and hard dirt, some sand and rocks, but OK for a hybrid bike. There were also several really muddy sections: amazing considering the drought we are in. When eastbound, you have to exit the trail and follow Pine St. for three blocks to join the Trans Canada Trail and not the Cowichan Valley Rail Trail. “The winds will be from the south east and there is a possibility of wind warnings being issued for the day in … Mayo Rd meets Riverbottom Rd – Turn right to Skutz falls parking area (200m) , or turn left to 66 Mile Trestle day use parking area (1.5 km). As you approach Cowichan Lake town, cell phone access improves. Suitable for children. There was no cell phone access on the Telus network near Skutz Falls. The Cowichan Valley Trail is 122 km long (76 miles for those of us who are metrically challenged). The Denninger Trails are named after a local scout leader who helped build the network of paths. IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THOSE STARTING THIS TRAIL IN LAKE COWICHAN (East/ South bound): There are two trails, easily confused, that branch off from the Trans Canada Trail Head in Lake Cowichan. We are in our 70's and found it a bit long and sometimes tedious in continuous uphill. If you park at the 66 Mile Trestle day use area, the Trans Canada trail is a short walk south from the parking lot – follow the developed trail away from the road, towards the river. If you’d like an overview of local trails, there are several brochures available. An excellent spot for a guided tour, wine tasting and dining, Cherry Point … We are working to get a GPS track for our maps, but our current maps will continue to use the old roadside route. This section of the trail has some excellent river access points. Much of it is rail-trail, our favorite kind of ride. We did the first eight miles in less than 30 minutes. The Cowichan Valley Trail is a Vancouver Island gem, running from Shawnigan Lake to Ladysmith. meets Riverbottom Rd, the 66 Mile Trestle day use area is about 1.5 km along Riverbottom Rd. We pedaled uphill over two hours to reach Lake Cowichan, our destination and mile 0 on the Trans Canada Trail (The Great Trail). Provincial park camping is available near the 66 Mile point at Stoltz Pool Campground. Easy-peasy. That 1% grade is much more pleasant going downhill! — Crews have begun repair work on a shut down section of the Cowichan Valley Trail, a well-travelled walking trail in Duncan, B.C. The Cowichan River is one of the South Island’s signature rivers. “The Cowichan Valley can expect anywhere between five and 15 millimetres of rain on Friday, and the winds are expected to be in the 30 to 50 kilometre range,” she said. Biking The Cowichan Valley Trail Biking The Cowichan Valley Trail. There were very few road crossings – less than one per mile – and even less traffic on them. The parking lots were jammed. The trail is about 122 kilometres long, stretching from the Capital Regional District all the way to the Regional District of Nanaimo. News article here.This new 4.3 km section connects Chemainus in the South with Saltair in the North. Whether you want hilly or flat, easy or more challenging, this mountain has something to suit. No public road access is available, except at access points at either end of this trail section. The Cowichan River Footpath has a number of access points that leave the rail-bed and wander nearer the river, to join the old rail-bed again. Larger vehicles and vehicles with trailers should have no problem parking/ turning in either area. We expected to ride about 25 miles on Monday and then do another 25 on Tuesday. You can also park at the Skutz Falls parking lot – turn right when Mayo Rd. If I was younger, the Great Trail would be on my life list. Driving Directions to and GPS Coordinates of the Trail Head. We were a little concerned because we were hot and tired. On our “weekend” Tom and I headed over to Vancouvers Island, British Columbia, to ride the Cowichan Valley Trail. I had read this on the Trails BC website pre trip: "It should be noted that the Cowichan Valley Regional District does NOT have a license to maintain the section of trail from Glenora Station (north of the Kinsol Trestle) to the town of Cowichan Lake. Swimming in the Cowichan River is at the swimmer’s discretion – rapids, pools, long slow meandering sections of the river are all to be found. 50.7 km Did the Cowichan Valley trail (Trans Canada Trail on the west side of town. GPS Coordinates and Photograph of ENDPOINT of TRAIL. Parking: There are two main parking areas near this trail access, both accessed from Riverbottom Road via Mayo Road. The trail after Cowichan Lake not so much. Biking the Cowichan Valley Trail was exactly what we needed to get the job done. Cowichan Valley hikes and trails Mallory Marrs 01.22.18 If you’re taking a course at VIU’s Cowichan campus and looking for something to do after class, or otherwise eager for some adventure, here is a list of just a few of the many hikes and trails available in the Cowichan Valley. You can see a map here. 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. The board faces growing public opposition to the proposal and also a lawsuit threat from the property owners, who say the permit has been needlessly delayed. According to Istace, it has already become very popular with bike commuters. The trail was closed to the public earlier this year after a major washout between the Holt Creek Trestle and 64.4 Mile Trestle made hiking it too treacherous. Of the 28 km of road, approximately 23 km will be replaced at some point in the future with constructed trail with only 5 km remaining on roads to complete the 120 km Cowichan Valley Trail. There was a short section of cobbled rock which was challenging for Tom, who had to steer, and me as we bounced. The ride was beautiful. Please check out our local trails on Trailforks and subscribe to our Facebook page for updates. When we got to Lake Cowichan most of the people in the small town were swimming or floating on the lake. meets Riverbottom Rd. Length: 1.3 mi • Est. The first two thirds of the trail from the 66 Mile Trestle to the “Seventy Point Two Trestle” is mostly contained within Cowichan River Park, passing through protected mature second growth forests of varying ages. 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