To connect the entire Cowichan Valley region, a 12-kilometre stretch from just south of Chemainus to Highway 18 near Somenos Road needs to be built. Horses are also able to use this trail. about New Trail Opening: Saltair-Chemainus (Cowichan Valley). All maintenance issues should be brought to the attention of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. A must-see along the trail, the curved Kinsol Trestle spans 187 metres and is one of the tallest free-standing timber trestles worldwide. For those planning a future trip, please consider using our Bypass Route to get around the Malahat - it connects in the south near downtown Victoria and uses urban trails and fairly quiet roads (as well as a ferry) to access the Cowichan Valley Trail on the northwest corner of Shawnigan Lake. News article here.This new 4.3 km section connects Chemainus in the South with Saltair in the North. Connect with us via:  Instagram The trail in this region utilizes quite a bit of CN and CP abandoned rail lines and includes several restored trestle bridges, some offering magnificent views of the rivers they cross. JPG format only, 3 MB max. From Cook, one must follow the main roadway north to Stocking Creek (200 metres north of Saltair Road). Chemanus Murals. There are many trails meandering through the rainforest that lead to the creek and to the falls. The segment in Stocking Creek Park connects Chemainus to the south and Ladysmith to the north. If you have a GPS track of this new trail please send it to our map admin. The trail also passes through quaint seaside villages such as Saltair, Chemainus and Ladysmith. News article here. An excellent trail map is offered by the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD). At this point, the TCT separates from the Vancouver Island Spine Trail, which when complete will travel 700 km all the way to Cape Scott! Cowichan Valley has a friendly, small-town feel that is especially apparent when the smaller communities within the area come together for … North Cowichan is home to over 50 parks with a myriad of features, accessibility and more. Scott MacLeod, 58, of Chemainus remembers Abbott. The rail trail runs for a brief length until once again meeting the main road (Highway 1A aka Chemainus Road). The trail through the Cowichan Valley is owned by multiple parties; Ministry of Transportations, BC Parks, Island Corridor Foundation (E&N Railway corridor) as well as municipalities. Information such as a precise location (GPS waypoint), photo, as well as your contact information is extremely helpful to ensure the problem is accurately reported, and so we can follow up with you. Directing you north to south, let’s look at the many available stops along the way on the Cowichan Valley Flavour Trail. The trail will then cross Renfrew Road. Raccordant le lac Shawnigan à Ladysmith, le sentier Cowichan Valley est un vrai bijou de Vancouver Island. The view along the Stocking Creek Park portion of the Cowichan Valley Trail in Chemainus.Submitted by Chris Istace There’s more to come. Vancouver Island (Shawnigan Webservices Inc., tourism-related business listings) GPX files can be opened by most GPS software apps when KMZ cannot. As like most of the rail trail, the ROW is owned by the province of BC and is overseen by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Finance Authority; however, there is no active branch in the provincial government working to keep this section of trail maintained and usable (as far as we are aware). The BC SPCA is appealing for donations after kittens were found in a zipped freezer bag dropped off in front of a branch location. Kinsol Trestle On June 30th we took the Vesuvius Ferry over to Crofton and drove south to the town of Lake Cowichan. Other local residents include deer, eagles and herons. Location: Chemainus. The trail offers a number of activity options. 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. Mid-way (N48 45.434 w123 47.597) - This is a good parking lot for a day trip going either way. Cowichan Valley Trail to Kon Trail to Huckleberry Trail, Maple Mountain via Osborne Yellow and Pink Trails, Echo Park Loop [CLOSED / PRIVATE PROPERTY], Fuller Lake Arena Grounds from Ashcroft Road, Cowichan Valley Trail: Chemainus to Saltair. The Cowichan Valley Trail is a spectacular multi-use trail that is an integral part of The Great Trail (Trans Canada Trail) route on Southern Vancouver Island. We rode from Glenora to Trestle 66. The files below include data for only this specific area. Note, GPX files do not contain custom colours and icons that we use on our maps; all tracks and icons will appear the same colour and styles. If you see any issues along the trail, snap a photo and provide a detailed description of the location (or better, provide GPS coordinates). On June 30th we took the Vesuvius Ferry over to Crofton and drove south to the town of Lake Cowichan. Many come to see the unique shops, famous murals and live theatre. Closures or obstacles along the trail - especially ones that are safety concerns or block users from passing through. Additional trail segments from Duncan to Ladysmith include vast sections of "Rail with Trail" that runs alongside the E&N Railway. Ladysmith is a great place to spend the night or to stop for lunch and supplies. Suitable for children. There will be 13 km of it to start, running along the western shore of Shawnigan Lake. Dogs are also able to use this trail. This section of the trail has no steward or operator in place. Finch Place offers access to the Cowichan Valley Trail. Askew Park is a 3.4 hectare forested park and wilderness trail located in the heart of Chemainus, BC, Canada in the Cowichan Valley. Covering over 132 km in the Cowichan Valley, the trail also traverses some villages like Chemainus and Ladysmith. This route is being developed as a spur into the city centre. This is where you can start to ride on nice, flat rail trail! And also, we can post the information to our site to warn other trail users. The trail which often uses abandoned rail tracks and wooden bridges, such as the Kinsol Trestle, is fairly flat and provides a well packed and sometimes paved terrain. Loop trails, often including a Trans Canada Trail segment, allow for not having to retrace back.  Facebook You must click "upload" after selecting file. For those coming from Victoria, this involves a massive climb north on the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail. Not to be overlooked there are also some beautiful popular hiking trails in Chemainus that should be on your to do list. From here, walkers can use a short stretch of quiet rail trail, but bicyclists might find it difficult to exit the trail (there are stairs at the northern end) so we recommend to ride along the quiet roads parallel to the rail trail. At the northern edge of town, the trail leaves Rocky Creek Road, turning left onto 1st Ave to cross the highway. Construction of Saltair’s portion of the Cowichan Valley Trail Trail will be connected from Cook street in Chemainus and run parallel along side of the E&N rail line to Old Victoria Road cross the train tracks and continue beside the rail line to Stocking Creek Park. At the north end, it connects to the Cowichan Valley Trail at the NW corner of Shawnigan Lake on Renfrew Road. Chemainus River Provincial Park The park addition is located on the Chemainus River, approximately 3 km northwest of Duncan on southern Vancouver Island. Présentée par: KEEN. This is a Fun, Friendly, Triathlon and Aquabike event, hosted by the dedicated and well-known Ceevacs Roadrunners & Volunteers! COQUITLAM BC V3E 1P1 The project includes pedestrian facilities, actuated crossings, protected bicycle parking and accessibility improvements. If the blockage/closure can be bypassed, please include your recommended route to do so! Include a GPS location or a detailed description of its precise location. 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. Here we rode our bikes on the Cowichan Valley Trail all the way to the south end of Shawnigan Lake. Cowichan Valley Trail: Chemainus to Saltair is a 5.3 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Cowichan Valley G, British Columbia, Canada that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. Cowichan Valley c28(a&b) Nanaimo c29; Langford-Mill Bay-Shawnigan Lake c49; Victoria Seaside Touring c50 (39 km) Victoria-Cowichan-Salt Spring c51 (180 km) ... Chemainus WALKING/HIKING TRAIL LOOP w4 . The town of Duncan boasts the BC Forest Discovery Center which highlights BC's logging railway heritage. “It was a loud, noisy dirt bike and he didn’t like it,” MacLeod says. It was built in 1921 and is the largest and highest of its kind in the Commonwealth. Brenton Golf Course in Chemainus, BC to Saltair BC and then to Transfer Beach Park in Ladysmith, BC is approximately 14 kilometres one-way. Other local residents include deer, eagles and herons. Trail not maintained from Glenora to Lake Cowichan! Come swim in a quiet inviting lake, cycle on rural roads in the beautiful Cowichan Valley and run on fun, forested trails. BEWARE: the signs to the entrance locations are not all that visible. North Cowichan is upgrading a portion of Chemainus Road between Henry and Victoria Roads to improve the accessibility and safety of this main road. They are on blue, narrow road signs as you travel from the Saltair to Chemainus Road or vice-versa. Become a member, volunteer, trail steward or just get in touch. This latter route is longer but provides a wider shoulder and connects to the ferry terminal for Salt Spring Island. Enjoy!!! North Cowichan is approved to receive $282,433 toward the Chemainus Road Multi-Modal Improvements Project that connects to the neighbouring Cowichan Valley Trail. North Shore c30; North Vancouver with Deep Cove c30a; Burrard Inlet c31; Delta c33(a&b) Seymour-Lynn Valleys c32; West Richmond c34; Musqueam Cycle Loop c35; Burnaby-New … This road heading west travels to parkland, where a wooded trail crosses Stocking Creek, climbing uphill to meet a new section of E&N rail trail. We hope you took the fork to the left - and if so, the gravel trail begins to follow the gas pipeline towards Somenos. The well graded trail ends at a service road. An important note about the route between Shawnigan Lake south to Victoria; the route over the Malahat involves some very challenging climbs. For all of our Trans Canada Trail data for the entire province (including features, campsites and alternate routes), download our BC.kmz master file (1.2 MB). No trail stewards are in place along this section of the Trans Canada Trail. It crosses the Cowichan River and travels 27 km along the north bank of the river, roughly parallel to Highway 18 and crosses Cowichan Lake Rd several times. 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. Open in your Google Maps app. Heading south from Maple Bay on Genoa Bay road you will turn left onto the newly built Stoney Hill road. There are two entrances to Stocking Creek Park, both of which can be approached from Chemainus Road: The trail ends abruptly 2.5 km later at the golf course. A blue gate on the right indicates a fomer logging road where the Cowichan Valley Trail continues downhill, heading north past the fish hatchery and over the Bush Creek bridge. We really appreciate these. New Trail Opening: Saltair-Chemainus (Cowichan Valley) Posted April 27, 2019 -- Notice affects Cowichan Valley area -- A new section of Trans Canada Trail / The Great Trail in the Cowichan Valley has been officially opened. Chemainus Rich with artistic culture, a warm and friendly atmosphere, a temperate climate, and full of natural ocean-side views, Chemainus is a town you don’t want to miss! The rail trail is known as the Cowichan Valley Trail, which is the Cowichan Valley Regional District's contribution to the Trans Canada Trail along with the Cowichan River Park section makes for a spectacular multi-use trail and an integral part of the TCT route on Southern Vancouver Island. From here, there are two bypass routes which can be followed. Services and … The award-winning mural town of Chemainus is located along the Trans Canada Trail. We will simply delete the submission and it will not be posted or passed on to anyone. The Cowichan Valley boasts the highest mean temperatures in Canada and its rainforests are home to some of the world's tallest trees. Posted April 27, 2019 -- Notice affects Cowichan Valley area -- A new section of Trans Canada Trail / The Great Trail in the Cowichan Valley has been officially opened. (604) 942-6768. Click the grey star at the top of the map to favourite it in Google Maps, so you can pull it up later in your Google Maps app's "My Places". Please contact Trails BC if you require in-depth trail knowledge or have suggestions or corrections. Parts of the trails parallel the Cowichan Valley Trail. From here, it is easy to navigate the trail to Timberlands Road, where the Cowichan Valley Trail ends - and the regional district of Nanaimo begins! A body was discovered inside a car behind a Chemainus apartment building Sunday. Though closed and abandoned for many years, the Trans Canada Trail Foundation and partners throughout the region came together to oversee its restoration. Cowichan Tourism Association The 200 km route on southern Vancouver Island begins in Victoria and concludes at the BC Ferries Departure Bay terminal in … Accueil / Randonnées / Colombie-Britannique / Cowichan Valley Trail – Saywell Park. Two different ways to access the falls. The new trail should be very obvious, however. The main feature in Askew Park is Askew Creek and the 8 kilometres of walking trails with sightseeing and resting benches. Surface: Gravel and hard dirt, some sand and rocks, but OK for a hybrid bike. This section can be very rough and overgrown - and the surface can be very muddy in places. This trail is a segment of the Cowichan Valley Trail and follows the E&N railway from Chemainus to Saltair. This short but rewarding trail provides amazing views from high on top of the bluffs of Sansum Narrows nestled between Maple Bay and Cowichan Bay. Support us by becoming a member or donating funds! Disclaimer: This trail information is subject to changes. Go to the end of Robertson Road near Duncan. One benefit of apps and online maps is that they can be quickly updated, as there are always new trails in the works. Stop by the information centre just north of Duncan, adjacent to the B.C. Cowichan Valley hikes and trails Mallory Marrs 01.22.18. Chemainus and The Cowichan Valley Trail. Cowichan Valley Trail: Chemainus to Saltair is a 8.5 kilometer moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Cowichan Valley G, British Columbia, Canada that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. If you're reading this because you've already travelled that trail and find yourself at the CRD/CVRD boundary - good for you! We recommend using KMZ instead of GPX if possible. The southern trail head is located on Henry Rd in Chemainus at the local golf course. With the wet weather this June the trail is muddy in spots to the extent your bike will be fishtailing and splashing thru puddles. Located in the southern section of Vancouver Island, Cowichan Valley includes the communities of Duncan, Lake Cowichan, Cowichan Bay, Cowichan Station, Maple Bay, Crofton, Chemainus, Cobble Hill, Shawnigan Lake, Mill Bay, and Ladysmith. The Cowichan Valley Trail is a leg of the Trans-Canada Trail. They let air in and then brought the bag inside to open it safely. Be sure to check our Latest Trail Closures before heading out and read our full disclaimer!. 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. Get ready for your next trail adventure with maps, directions, GPS downloads and more! Cowichan Valley Trail. The Cowichan Valley Trail is a Vancouver Island gem, running from Shawnigan Lake to Ladysmith. Continue north on the trail, descending down, down, down into the valley. For cyclists hauling trailers or panniers, it may well be in your best interests to use our Bypass Route, particuarly for those travelling south (the grades between Sooke Lake Road and the CRD watershed are especially tough in this direction. Fields & Parks. Travelling north, after 2 km you'll arrive at the Kinsol Trestle. At the south end, it connects to the Galloping Goose just north of downtown at Interurban Road. More developments will occur over time, post-2017. Heading north on Chemainus Road, the Cowichan Valley Trail appears again along the E&N railway, starting at Crozier Road and continues north to Cook Street. “I can confirm the coroner was notified of a death in Chemainus on Sunday, Nov. 15 and is currently investigating to determine the facts surrounding the death,” read an email statement from the BC Coroners Service. From the trestle, it's 36 km of forested rail trail until reaching the westernmost point of the Trans Canada Trail at Lake Cowichan. You will now find yourself in Transfer Beach Park on the waterfront, where the trail follows Transfer Beach Boulevard, then turn right onto Oyster Bay Drive, headed north to a car park on the right. The route is easy to follow and accessible to virtually all levels of physical fitness. trailsbc (at )trailsbc.ca From North Watts Road, the trail is a bike lane along Chemainus Road all the way to North David Road where you will cross the Trans Canada Highway. 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