Vancouver Island Cowichan River Provincial Park

Cowichan River Provincial Park is the river we, at FROG Internet, grew up on. And what a beautiful environment it is for playing in and enjoying nature. The Cowichan River Park is a mecca for natural scenery spread out across 1,414 hectares! Vivid memories flash back of tubing down the currents, tumbling over the rapids and falling into vast still water canyons. We hiked to private pebbled beaches, over high river rock cliffs into the arms of Skutz Falls. It was our water playground as a child. So... be warned we might be a bit bias.

Today, Cowichan River is a designated Provincial Heritage River famous for it's Salmon and Steelhead fishery. The Cowichan River is filled with different emotions every season from rising water levels and thundering rapids to calm flowing currents. Seasons change and so does the Cowichan River as trees get caught up in the rivers fury causing log jams and sweepers unexpectedly. The monster rapids, the big boys, exist at Marie Canyon and Skutz Falls most of the year.

The main trail system in the Cowichan River Provincial Park is the Cowichan River Footpath. And it is a beauty. A good day hike, so you may want to think about having transportation at both ends of the trail, unless you access the middle of the trail. The Cowichan River Footpath is a well maintained 20 kilometre trail edging along the riverbanks of the Cowichan River. The trail leads you over rock bluffs, steep cliffs, through forests, over bridges with numerous eclectic day use, private beaches and picnic areas to stop at along the way.

The Cowichan River Provincial Park is a playground for many outdoor adventure types. The Cowichan River and the Cowichan River Footpath combined is an ideal wilderness setting for swimming, canoeing, white-water kayaking, tubing, camping, relaxing, sun tanning, fishing or hiking. There are many day use areas along the river.

How to get to Cowichan River Provincial Park

Stoltz Pool day-use area is one of the more popular ones and includes things like a boat launch, riverside trail, picnicking area with tables, parking, pit toilets, information shelter and an all-purpose playing field. Located off of Hwy #18 on the way to Lake Cowichan onto Skutz Falls Road following the signs to Riverbottom Road.

Skutz Falls day-use is an end destination or the beginning of the Cowichan River Footpath. Beauty views and good parking plus some pit toilets, picnic tables, a river pull-out and information shelter. Great spot to see the Salmon Run. Skutz Falls is all about the current and a man-made fish ladder. Located off of Hwy #18 on the way to Lake Cowichan onto Skutz Falls Road following the signs to Riverbottom Road.

Marie Canyon day-Use is a another popular pit stop for picnicking, taking in canyon views and a short hike to the bottom of the canyon. Coming back up is a challenging hill climb for some. Marie Canyon picnic area includes parking, pit toilets and an information shelter. Located off of Hwy #18 on the way to Lake Cowichan onto Skutz Falls Road.

66-Mile Trestle day-use is the historic day use area centred around the 66-Mile Trestle on the Trans-Canada Trail which includes picnic tables, some parking, pit toilets and an information shelter. The Cowichan River Provincial Park has been wise enough to restore the 66-Mile and Holt Creek Trestles. A symbolic symbol of recognition to when railway cars stacked high with logs and full of passengers would rumble over the trestles looking down onto the Cowichan River.

The Cowichan River Footpath trailheads are at Skutz Falls (above) and the other is in the Glenora area, southwest of Duncan on Robertson Road. Start with finding Duncan downtown and access Glenora Road, turn right onto Vaux Road and onto Robertson Road. This provides access to the Glenora Trailhead of the Cowichan River Footpath.