Hiking

Overview

The Cowichan region has no less than half a dozen provincial parks with a huge variety of routes that range from “extreme” terrain to gentle jaunts. If mountains pique your interest, there’s the trio consisting of Mount Tzouhalem, Mount Prevost, and Maple Mountain.

Other notable trails include the 20 km Cowichan River Footpath, which winds west from Duncan to the spectacular Skutz Falls, and the Trans Canada Trail, which crosses over the 144-foot-high, knee-knocking Kinsol Trestle to Cowichan Lake, North Cowichan and Ladysmith.

On the eastern edges of the Cowichan Valley Regional District is the Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park. It’s a hop, skip and a jump from the Cowichan Valley proper, but if you’d like to see some of the world’s biggest spruce trees, be sure to set aside a day or two for a chance to hike this amazing part of the Island.