Local Trails suitable for hybrid bikes, mountain bikes or e-bikes

Patty Abbott, Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre Coordinator

• West Shawnigan Lake Park on West Shawnigan Lake Road is a great starting point and lends itself for a day of biking and swimming. This is a day use park and offers picnic tables as well as a swimming area. The trail is accessible across the road and again you can go in either direction. An option is to ride south towards Victoria and left on Sooke Lake Road and connecting back to West Shawnigan Lake Road and back to the park

• The Kinsol Trestle is an ideal spot to start your ride. Plenty of parking at the Glen Eagles Road parking area in Shawnigan Lake. The Kinsol Trestle is one of several trestles along this stretch of the Trans Canada Trail and the Cowichan Valley Trail. It is one of the tallest and free standing and most spectacular wooden rail trestles in the world. You have the option of going in either direction on the trail with each offering different experiences. The most popular is going west towards the Glenora Trailhead Park which offers picnic areas and washrooms. It is approximately 13km each way. • Glenora is lovely day trip and a perfect spot to access the trail from Glenora Trail Head Park. This park offers a playground and picnic shelters as well as washrooms making it ideal for a ride with the family. If you choose to go south along the trail you will ride by vistas of mountains and farm fields. An easy ride in this direction will bring you to the Kinsol

Trans Canada Trail/ Cowichan Valley Trail Rides suitable for hybrid bikes, mountain bikes or e-bikes

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• If you choose to go west at the Glenora Trail Head Park you will be heading towards Lake Cowichan. On this part of the trail, you will meander through forests and catch glimpses of the Cowichan River and sometimes be able to access the river. There are several Trestles along this part of the trail and parks equipped with washrooms and picnic shelters. A little more remote and a little wilder.

• Skutz Falls Park is the last place where you can park and ride if your destination is Lake Cowichan. This is a very peaceful ride towards Lake Cowichan and is approximately 11 kilometres. Trestle 70.2 is the last trestle before Lake Cowichan and has easy access to the river. Lake Cowichan is only 3 kilometres from the trestle and an easy ride toward the town of Lake Cowichan. A second option is to take the Cowichan Valley Trail back to Mayo Road and then turn right and take the road back to Skutz Falls. If you parked at the falls or if wish to reconnect to the Tran Canada Trail this is the road you need to take.

• Chemainus is ideal to exploring small town history. Henry Road at the roundabout has parking and a good spot to start. This is the beginning of the trail and it takes you slowly along the railroad tracks meandering in and out of different neighborhoods. It is very easy to get off the trail and visit this charming little town and its famous murals and waterwheel park. When you are back on the trail continue north towards Saltair and Ladysmith enjoying the ocean views and making sure you check out Stocking Creek Park as you ride through.

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