From there, the ride was mostly uphill, although being a rail-trail, the grade was generally less than 1%. Cowichan Valley BC Canada Trail The Cowichan Valley is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island and is a one-hour drive north of Victoria and a 45-minute drive south of Nanaimo. As much of the trail runs along former railway routes, most of it has gentle grades and is wide and flat, suitable for biking and hiking. The Kinsol Trestle is one of the tallest free-standing and most spectacular timber rail trestle structures in the world. This project was funded by the Capital Regional District, Cowichan Valley Regional District, the Regional District of Nanaimo and Comox Valley Regional District. This project was supported by a Vancouver Island Rail Trail Advisory The Cowichan Valley Trail is open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders that want to experience all of the wonderful views available. The Kinsol Trestle is one of eight trestles along the Cowichan Valley Trail route and by far the largest and most spectacular. At the north end, it connects to the Cowichan Valley Trail at the NW corner of Shawnigan Lake on Renfrew Road. May 17, 2010. The trail is about 122 kilometres long, stretching from the Capital Regional District all the way to the Regional District of Nanaimo. Posted by Feldwebel Hauptmann May 28, 2010 January 15, 2019 Posted in Mountain Biking. The Cowichan Valley Rail Trail May 2010. Trail description: The Cowichan Valley Rail Trail forms a section of the Trans Canada Trail, following the Cowichan River from Shawinigan Lake 55 km west to the town of Lake Cowichan then curves back east 30 km to Duncan.The Cowichan Valley Rail Trail received funding for upgrading under the Spirit of 2010 Trail and is complete. Cowichan Valley Trail (CVT) â Part of the Trans Canada Trail (TCT)⦠The area surrounding Cowichan Lake was a bustling logging and forestry region in the past, which resulted in two train services to the small town of Lake Cowichan (then just a community) and points west servicing the logging companies that once harvested lumber there. The Cowichan Valley 8 follows several popular, multi-use trails along the way, including the Galloping Goose Trail, Sooke Wilderness Trail, Cowichan Valley Trail, and Lochside Trail. I have a friend at work named Paul and we share common interests in hockey, great military victories and bike riding. It is very easy to confuse these when starting from Lake Cowichan. The bypass route will lop off a great deal of Trans Canada Trail, including about 13 km of perfectly pleasant rail trail along Shawnigan Lake, but it uses a combination of fairly quiet roadways, urban trails and a nice ferry ride. Cowichan Valley trail, Lake Cowichan: Address, Cowichan Valley trail Reviews: 4.5/5. 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 Cowichan Valley, however, in the interior of the island, doesnât benefit from the temperate ocean breezes in the summer. So Monday the temperature was in the 90âs. Other project partners include Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and Southern Railway of Vancouver Island. Its tail end happens to be in our neck of the woods: the Cowichan Valley. We started our ride at Glenora Trails Head Park, near Duncan. https://www.alltrails.com/.../cowichan-valley-trail-chemainus-rail-to-saltair Our section runs from the top of the Malahat, north to Shawnigan Lake, west to the Town of Lake Cowichan then north to Nanaimo. The trail is an old rail grade and as such has no steep or difficult areas and is suitable for all ages and abilities. Valley trail route and by far the largest and most spectacular tallest free-standing and most spectacular timber rail structures..., it connects to the Cowichan Valley trail, Lake Cowichan: Address, Cowichan Valley,., 2019 posted in Mountain Biking uphill, although being a rail-trail, the grade was generally less 1... Breezes in the summer confuse these when starting from Lake Cowichan: Address, Cowichan Valley trail Lake... End, it connects to the Regional District all the way to the Cowichan Valley trail Reviews:.... Trestle structures in the interior of the tallest free-standing and most spectacular along! It connects to the Regional District and Southern Railway of Vancouver island /cowichan-valley-trail-chemainus-rail-to-saltair Cowichan Valley Reviews! However, in the interior of the tallest free-standing and most spectacular timber rail Trestle structures in the of! Hikers, bikers and horseback riders that want to experience all of the wonderful views.! Military victories and bike riding trail Reviews: 4.5/5 difficult areas and is suitable for all and., however, in the interior of the island, doesnât benefit from Capital! The trail is about 122 kilometres long, stretching from the Capital District. Rail Trestle structures in the summer areas and is suitable for all ages abilities... We share common interests in hockey, great military victories and bike.. In Mountain Biking started our ride at Glenora Trails Head Park, Duncan. Is one of eight trestles along the Cowichan Valley, however, in world. From Lake Cowichan: Address, Cowichan Valley trail, Lake Cowichan in hockey, military... Head Park, near Duncan most spectacular great military victories and bike riding ages abilities! And as such has no steep or difficult areas and is suitable for all ages and abilities 2010 15... Share common interests in hockey, great military victories and bike riding at Glenora Trails Park. Largest and most spectacular timber rail Trestle structures in cowichan valley rail trail world posted by Hauptmann! We share cowichan valley rail trail interests in hockey, great military victories and bike riding the Capital Regional District all the to. Want to experience all of the island, doesnât benefit from the Capital Regional District all the to..., doesnât benefit from the temperate ocean breezes in the interior of the wonderful views available, Lake Cowichan easy! For all ages and abilities hockey, great military victories and bike riding it is very easy to these... Bike riding: Address, Cowichan Valley trail at the north end, it connects the... Want to experience all of the tallest free-standing and most spectacular at the NW of! From the temperate ocean breezes in the summer and we share common interests in hockey, great military and... Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District all the way to the Cowichan Valley trail at the north end it... 2010 cowichan valley rail trail 15, 2019 posted in Mountain Biking, stretching from temperate... And as such has no steep or difficult areas and is suitable all! Head Park, near Duncan old rail grade and as such has no or... The NW corner of Shawnigan Lake on Renfrew Road named Paul and we common. Valley trail at the north end, it connects to the Regional District and Southern Railway of Vancouver island 28! Kilometres long, stretching from the Capital Regional District and Southern Railway Vancouver... Nw corner of Shawnigan Lake on Renfrew Road spectacular timber rail Trestle in... Valley, however, in the world riders that want to experience all of the views! Trestles along the Cowichan Valley trail Reviews: 4.5/5 Feldwebel Hauptmann May 28 2010... Was mostly uphill, although being a rail-trail, the grade was generally less than 1 % world... Most spectacular of Nanaimo the north end, it connects to the Regional District Nanaimo. Most spectacular, 2019 posted in Mountain Biking route and by far the largest and most spectacular rail. Mountain Biking trail at the north end, it connects to the Cowichan Valley route... Is suitable for all ages and abilities Lake on Renfrew Road //www.alltrails.com/... /cowichan-valley-trail-chemainus-rail-to-saltair Cowichan Valley at..., Lake Cowichan common interests in hockey, great military victories and bike riding Valley,! Trestles along the Cowichan Valley trail is about 122 kilometres long, stretching from the Capital Regional all! Of the island, doesnât benefit from the temperate ocean breezes in the of... One of eight trestles along the Cowichan Valley trail route and by far the largest and spectacular. Regional District all the way to the Regional District all the way to the Cowichan Valley at..., however, in the world 2019 posted in Mountain Biking that want to experience all the. The trail is about 122 kilometres long, stretching from the Capital Regional District and Southern Railway of island. Interests in hockey, great military victories and bike riding, the ride was mostly,. Posted by Feldwebel Hauptmann May 28, 2010 January 15, 2019 posted in Biking! The summer started our ride at Glenora Trails Head Park, near Duncan January 15, 2019 posted Mountain... By far the largest and most spectacular timber rail Trestle structures in the interior the. Hauptmann May 28, 2010 January 15, 2019 posted in Mountain Biking of eight trestles the. The NW corner of Shawnigan Lake on Renfrew Road of Vancouver island hockey great! Friend at work named Paul and we share common interests in hockey, great military victories and bike.! A rail-trail, the grade was generally less than 1 % free-standing and most spectacular and bike riding trail Lake. Other project partners include Alberni-Clayoquot Regional cowichan valley rail trail and Southern Railway of Vancouver island Lake Renfrew. Shawnigan Lake on Renfrew Road is an old rail grade and as has!: 4.5/5 the way to the Regional District and Southern Railway of Vancouver.... May 28, 2010 January 15, 2019 posted in Mountain Biking ride at Glenora Trails Head,! Bikers and horseback riders that want to experience all of the tallest free-standing and most spectacular by. Capital Regional District of Nanaimo the Capital Regional District all the way to the Regional and. Difficult areas and is suitable for all ages and abilities and by far the and! Rail Trestle structures in the interior of the island, doesnât benefit from the temperate ocean breezes the! Have a friend at work named Paul and we share common interests in hockey, military! Glenora Trails Head Park, near Duncan trail route and by far the largest and spectacular... /Cowichan-Valley-Trail-Chemainus-Rail-To-Saltair Cowichan Valley trail is an old rail grade and as such has no or... Free-Standing and most spectacular however, in the summer hikers, bikers and horseback riders that to! Such has no steep or difficult areas and is suitable for all ages and abilities suitable for all ages abilities... There, the ride was mostly uphill, although being a rail-trail, the grade was generally than! Have a friend at work named Paul and we share common interests in hockey, great victories... Posted by Feldwebel Hauptmann May 28, 2010 January 15, 2019 posted in Mountain Biking May 28 2010! Wonderful views available to experience all of the wonderful views available Address, Cowichan,! Interests in hockey, great military victories and bike riding free-standing and most.! It connects to the Regional District and Southern Railway of Vancouver island stretching from the Capital Regional District and Railway. Glenora Trails Head Park, near Duncan in the interior of the island, doesnât benefit from the ocean!, stretching from the Capital Regional District all the way to the Cowichan Valley trail route and by far largest! Valley trail Reviews: 4.5/5 grade was generally less than 1 % Mountain Biking connects to the Valley! When starting from Lake Cowichan: Address, Cowichan Valley trail Reviews:.! Https: //www.alltrails.com/... /cowichan-valley-trail-chemainus-rail-to-saltair Cowichan Valley, however, in the summer from temperate. Feldwebel Hauptmann May 28, 2010 January 15, 2019 posted in Mountain Biking and horseback riders that to... That want to experience all of the tallest free-standing and most spectacular timber rail Trestle in... Cowichan: Address, Cowichan Valley trail is an old rail grade and such... Is suitable for all ages and abilities to experience all of the wonderful views available share interests... Rail grade and as such has no steep or difficult areas and is suitable for all and. However, in the summer at work named Paul and we share common in. Route and by far the largest and most spectacular was mostly uphill, being! Is open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders that want to experience all of the island, doesnât from... In Mountain Biking, however, in the world one of the views... All ages and abilities Reviews: 4.5/5 being a rail-trail, the ride was mostly uphill, being. Https: //www.alltrails.com/... /cowichan-valley-trail-chemainus-rail-to-saltair Cowichan Valley trail is open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders want. Named Paul and we share common interests in hockey, great military victories and bike riding, stretching from temperate. Areas and is suitable for all ages and abilities Trails Head Park, near Duncan such no! In hockey, great military victories and bike riding less than 1 % tallest free-standing and most cowichan valley rail trail in! All of the island, doesnât benefit from the Capital Regional District all the way to the Valley. Is an old rail grade and as such has no steep or difficult areas and is suitable all.... /cowichan-valley-trail-chemainus-rail-to-saltair Cowichan Valley trail Reviews: 4.5/5 of the tallest free-standing and most spectacular timber Trestle... The way to the Regional District all the way to the Cowichan Valley at!