Eager to stretch car-cramped legs? The north end of the Cowichan Valley offers plenty of choice hikes. Beachcomb along stretches of rocky shoreline. Trek to mountain lookouts. Or follow a forested trail carved by an elderly recluse known fondly as "the Hermit." The Visitor Centre supplies the all-purpose Cowichan Valley Regional District Parks & Trials Guide along with individual trail maps.
Chemainus Walks
Wheelchair-accessible Kin Beach at the foot of Willow Street is a favorite hangout for kids (thanks to its playground) and family groups (who flock to its picnic area facing the sea). A short drive north of town on the Chemainus Road leads to Askew Creek Wilderness Park. A 45-minute return route bypasses large Douglas-fir, hemlock and western red cedar trees while following the creek. Keep an eye out for the eagle's nest. Two local treasures are Echo Heights Forest and the Hermit Trail. The former is an ecologically sensitive area of second-growth forest prized by environmentalists for its diverse range of native plants. Three meadows here blaze with wildflowers each spring. The magical Hermit Trail is the legacy of the late Charlie Abbott, a loner who cut a stone-lined trail through the forest and maintained it singlehandedly until his death in 1989. Find it near the Pacific Rim Artisan Village's towering gate (a legacy of Vancouver's Expo 86) a minute west of town off the Chemainus Road.
Mountain Views
Mount Prevost is the area's dominant topographical feature. Hang gliders take flight from the summit, easily reached on foot from the parking lot at the end of a 20-minute drive along a gravel road. Postcard-worthy photos of the Cowichan Valley and southern Gulf Islands can be snapped. The curious stone turret here is a memorial to lives lost in the First World War. Hikers looking to test their lung and leg power can park lower on the slope and wind their way skyward. Maple Mountain due south of Crofton off Osborne Bay Road is a carefully managed working forest featuring 14km/8.7mi of well-maintained trails. Try the challenging shoreline route (aka the "yellow trail") for optimal sea breezes off Sansom Narrows. Take it easy on the "green trail" path through second-growth forest. Or climb high on the "blue trail" for the best vistas.
Riverside & Lake Routes
A gentle half-hour loop circles the trout-stocked Chemainus Lake (originally known as Weddows Lake). Find it off River Road just west of the Trans-Canada Highway. The Chemainus River has carved a dramatic route as it rushes from Mount Sicker out to the ocean. The best access point is via Grace Road, an area known for both its river canyon and the Banyon Creek waterfall. Short, easy hikes radiate out from the parking lot here, and there are great spots for picnicking and swimming right next to the falls.
Pick up the Cowichan Valley Regional District Parks & Trials Guide along with individual trail maps at the Chemainus Visitor Centre.