Cowichan River Footpath: Full length

Park: Cowichan River Provincial Park, Cowichan Valley

20.0 km one way.

Terrain: Moderately smooth

Cowichan Fish and Game Association Clubhouse Trailhead: Drive north from Victoria on the Trans-Canada highway (#1) to Duncan. Turn left at Miller road and left again at Vaux Road. Follow Vaux (which changes its name to Robertson Rd) for approx 6 km to the Cowichan Fish and Game Association Clubhouse.

Skutz Falls Trailhead: (80 km from Saanich Hall, 3k on logging roads). Drive north from Victoria on highway #1 to the Lake Cowichan highway (BC#18) just north of Duncan. Turn west (left) and drive 18.7 km until you come to the turnoff to Skutz Falls. Turn left and follow the gravel road for about 3 km to the falls. Acces the trail on the far side of the river across the truck bridge.

Facilities available at the trailhead include:

Uses

DayhikeModerate day hike . Suitable all year.

Description

This trail is very well marked with markings every km.

This routel leads from the Cowichan Fish and Game club to the Skutz Falls parking area. Just before the 16km mark there is the trestle that you can use to cross the river, there is also a road bridge near the Skutz Falls parking area. This bridge has been greatly improved from the days when the club first hiked the trail and the trestle links the trail with the shorter North River Trail leading to the group campsite and, beyond that, the Skutz Falls trailhead. You can also continue to hike the south side of the river and cross at the forest service road (20km).

Features

This trail features canyons, fishing, forests, rivers and waterfalls.

Hazards

View trail condition reports for this trail.