Photo: BIKEPACKING.comCowichan Valley 8 Bikepacking Route

Cowichan Valley 8 Bikepacking Route

A ride described at BIKEPACKING.com

How we describe routes →

Moderate One step up. Some real climbing, or a rougher surface.

Difficulty Our overall read of how demanding a route is. We score surface roughness, climbing, singletrack, and how far it runs from services. The route publisher's own rating, a lot of busy road riding, or sheer scale can push the tier up, never down.

Derived from OpenStreetMap. Good data, not perfect. Spot something wrong? Tell us.

How we describe routes →

“Vancouver Island, located off Canada’s Pacific Coast, is a four-season playground for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. Its mild climate and diverse terrain open up endless opportunities for year-round adventures. The Cowichan Valley 8 seeks to introduce these opportunities as a two- to three-day bikepacking route, sure to be appreciated by locals and visitors alike.”
— BIKEPACKING.com

Note the publisher's caution: the paved stretch between the Kinsol Trestle and the Mill Bay ferry is busy in summer and deserves extra care.

Get the route on BIKEPACKING.com →

Where this ride goes#

Approximate lineGet the real route ↗

Map key & layers

Show stops Mute other bike trails

Food & DrinkAttractionsSuppliesCampingAccommodationBike Services

Dashed line = our rough sketch of where the ride goes. The rideable route lives at get the route from BIKEPACKING.com.

☕Stops worth stopping for584 along this route

Royal BC Museum: BC's provincial museum on the Inner Harbour; natural history and First Peoples galleries. · Victoria

British Columbia Parliament Buildings: BC's 1898 Parliament Buildings on the Inner Harbour; free public tours. · Victoria

The Fairmont Empress Hotel: landmark Edwardian chateau-style hotel... since 1908... one of the most historically significant grand hotels in Canada. · Victoria

Big Bad John's: BC's first-ever licensed cocktail lounge, opened in 1954. · Victoria

Garrick's Head: one of the oldest English pubs in Canada, operating continuously in Victoria's historic Bastion Square since 1867. · Victoria

Communities along this route#

Victoria 347Saanich 68 Langford 49 Colwood 27 Central Saanich 19 Duncan 16 Lake Cowichan 15 Mill Bay 14 View Royal 12 Shawnigan Lake 7 Shawnigan 3 Deerholme 2 Paldi 2 Goldstream 1 North Cowichan 1 Sahtlam 1

Victoria (347)

Royal BC MuseumAccredited· Museum / Gallery · $$$

British Columbia Parliament BuildingsInfo· Activity / Experience · Free

The Fairmont Empress HotelInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Luxury

Big Bad John'sWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Garrick's HeadWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Helmcken HouseWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$$

Hermann's Jazz ClubWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Irish TimesWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

John's PlaceWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Marilena Cafe & Raw BarWelcoming· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining

Plus the fast-food chains — Red Fish Blue Fish, BeaverTails, Big Wheel Burger +47 more

+287 more in Victoria →

Saanich (68)

Adrienne's Restaurant & Tea GardenWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Crust BakeryWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Hey HappyWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Galey FarmsInfo· Farmers' Market

Red Lion Inn & SuitesInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$ · Budget

Trini to D BoneInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Ukrainian Cultural CentreInfo

Cosmos Pizza & PastaWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Delicious Pizza & PastaWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Des PanjaabWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Puerto Vallarta Amigos, roast, Ali Baba's +17 more

+38 more in Saanich →

Langford (49)

Goldstream CampgroundInfo· Public Campground

Westhills Ice ArenaInfo· Community Centre · $

YMCA/YWCA WesthillsInfo· Community Centre · $

Langford Heritage Library BranchWelcoming· Library · Free

Origin Bakery & CafeWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Sushi LangfordWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

BoulderHouse LangfordInfo· Community Centre · $

Eagle Ridge Community CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free

Liberty KitchenInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Original Pho EateryInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Plus the fast-food chains — Romeo's, Edo Japan, Fatburger +15 more

+21 more in Langford →

Colwood (27)

Habitat CafeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Juan de Fuca Recreation CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free

Asian Noodle HouseInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Burger CrushInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Greenleaf Pho GrillInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

House of NutritionInfo· Specialty / Health Food

Juan de Fuca Library BranchInfo· Library · Free

Momo Sushi ColwoodInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Thrifty FoodsWelcoming· Grocery Store

CanexInfo· Convenience Store

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, BarBurrito, Firehouse Subs +8 more

+6 more in Colwood →

Central Saanich (19)

Harvest Rd.Welcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Bicycle PizzaInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Brentwood Bay Resort & SpaInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale

Brentwood Bay Village Empourium Café & Gift ShopInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Michell's Farm MarketInfo· Farmers' Market

Seahorses CaféInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Silver Rill Corn & Produce MarketInfo· Grocery Store

Brewsky's TaphouseInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Carnivore Meats & MoreInfo· Specialty / Health Food

Central Saanich Library BranchInfo· Library · Free

Plus the fast-food chains — Villages Pizza

+8 more in Central Saanich →

Duncan (16)

Alderlea Farm and CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Cowichan Valley MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Coffee On The MoonInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Corner House CafeInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Craig Street Brew PubInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Cycle TherapyInfo· Repair Shop

Duncan GarageInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Ironworks Cafe & CrepperieInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Island BagelInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Phad ThaiInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

+6 more in Duncan →

Lake Cowichan (15)

Kaatza Station Museum & ArchivesWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$

Riverside InnInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale

Island Pastry HausWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Jake's at the LakeWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Best Buy Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store

Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store

Cowichan Lake Library BranchInfo· Library · Free

River CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

The Butler's Pantry Bake ShopWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Ed's Coffee HouseInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, Subway, Tim Hortons

+2 more in Lake Cowichan →

Mill Bay (14)

Blue Dog KayakingInfo· Activity / Experience · $$$$

Bridgemans BistroInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Rusticana CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Serious CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

South Cowichan Library BranchInfo· Library · Free

BC Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store

Bru-Go's CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Mill Bay SushiInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

Thrifty FoodsInfo· Grocery Store

Thrifty Foods LiquorInfo· Liquor Store

Plus the fast-food chains — A&W, McDonald's, Subway +1 more

View Royal (12)

Six Mile PubWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Coastal CyclesInfo· Repair Shop

COBS BreadWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Nest at the LakeWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Quality FoodsWelcoming· Grocery Store

Cascadia Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store

Serious CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Six Mile Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store

Plus the fast-food chains — Starbucks, Subway, Tim Hortons +1 more

Shawnigan Lake (7)

Shawnigan Lake Beach ResortInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Luxury

Shawnigan Lake MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

Oma's Bakery & MarketInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats

Shawnigan HouseInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Shawnigan Lake Community CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free

Mason'sInfo· Convenience Store

Plus the fast-food chains — Subway

Shawnigan (3)

The Lakehouse at ShawniganInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

BicycleitisInfo· Repair Shop

Black Swan PubInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Deerholme (2)

Zanatta Estate WineryInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual

Glenora Store and CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Slice and dice these stops in the directory →

These stops come from our directory of welcoming places across BC. Spot something wrong, missing, or closed? Tell us and we'll fix it.

⛴Getting here, bike and allVictoria

Getting to this ride, bike and all#

Victoria is the handiest transit doorway for this ride. Buses, the SkyTrain, and ferries will carry you and your bike there:

Langfordbest: bus
Nanaimobest: bus
Vancouverbest: bus
Kelownabest: bus + SkyTrain + ferry

Also on the bike-transit map: Saanich · Langford · Duncan · Lake Cowichan

Or pick any two places on To & Fro →

🪶Traditional territories

This route travels through the traditional territories of the Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, ditidaqiic̓aq disib̓aʔk (Ditidaht), Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group, Lekwungen/Songhees, MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat), Quw’utsun, Sc’ianew, Te’mexw Treaty Association, Ts’uubaa-asatx, and W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip).

Territory data from Native Land Digital, for educational purposes only.

Ready to ride it?

Get the route on BIKEPACKING.com →Got the GPX? Add BC Bike Stops to it →