Duncan and Cowichan Valley Adventure - Hiking

In the Cowichan Valley you will find many recreational activities to keep you busy during your visit. Golfing, hiking, fishing, windsurfing and swimming can all occupy your time.

If golf is your game or you just enjoy the occasional round then the Cowichan Valley has a course for you. Just a 15 minute drive south from Duncan and just a few kilometres north of Maple Bay you will find Arbutus Ridge, a planned community, and its fine par 72, 6500 yard course. North of Duncan is an excellent new 18 hole, 6700 yard course. Near Duncan there are two par 27, 9 hole courses ( bring the kids ). Chemainus has a beautiful 18 hole, 5777 yard course and Honeymoon Bay, on Lake Cowichan, offers a 9 hole, par 36, 3250 yard course! This is the course where Dawn Coe, one of the LPGA's top players, learned her skills. Still another 9 hole, par 27 course is located in Ladysmith and finally there is the well established 18 hole, par 70, 6200 yard course located about halfway between Mill Bay and Duncan. Bring your clubs or rent a set.

Hiking is an excellent way to experience the beautiful nature of the Cowichan Valley. Just north of Duncan, off Hwy 1, on Hwy 18, is Mount Prevost. It has spectacular views and a monument constructed by World War 1 veterans. At Shawnigan Lake you can climb to the top of Old Baldy and view the lake bottom and then walk along the railroad tracks and see the last spike in the Canadian railroad. For a really serious hike go to Port Renfrew (San Juan Harbour) from either Shawnigan Lake or Lake Cowichan and hike the Westcoast Trail. Open May 1 thru September 1 this former lifesaving trail is 77 km (48 miles) long and can take a week to complete. These are just a few of the hikes offered in the area. With the mild climate, hiking, mountain biking and camping are possible all the year round.

Are you bringing your bike? Then along the way you may want to visit the Shawnigan Lake area and tour the many mountain bike trails and active or inactive logging roads. An option is to tour the Valley by bike. There are numerous parks, campgrounds and attractions that can be visited by staying off the main highway and travelling on the gently rolling back roads. Visit the wineries, bed & breakfasts, luscious farms and neat parks throughout the area.

If you like the water there are many possibilities. The Cowichan and Koksilah rivers are excellent for fly fishing in October and November. Lake Cowichan and Shawnigan Lake offer excellent water skiing . There are rowboat, powerboat, canoe, and/or ski rental possibilities. Cowichan Bay is just one of the villages that offer a variety of fishing and sightseeing charters. You can have a really good time in a Kayak, at the right time of year either on the saltwater or in the river with whitewater. Ladysmith, Chemainus, Crofton, Maple Bay and Genoa Bay are all on the ocean's edge, near the Gulf Islands, and beautiful areas to explore. The rare, saltwater, Nitinat Lake, just a short drive from Duncan, is world renowned for windsurfing and if you just like swimming there are endless possibilities. Maple Bay and the surrounding waters offer some of the best diving in the world and Jacques Cousteau said so. And for some just plain relaxing and having fun take an innertube and drift down the Cowichan River near Skutz Falls.

During your stay you can enjoy any or all of these activities and, oh yes, you can also watch a terrific Junior B hockey team in action or even a cricket game.

Other area communities include Cobble Hill and Youbou.