BC Cycle Tourism Society

Cowichan Valley: Stoltz Pool to Nanaimo

184 cycling stops along this route · Vancouver Island

78 km · Full dayModerateRide with trafficMixed surfaceGentle grades

The second leg of a Cowichan Valley crossing: 78 km from the swimming holes at Stoltz Pool on the Cowichan River north to Nanaimo, mostly paved with gravel stretches and about 400 m of climbing. Pairs with the Swartz Bay leg for a car-free island traverse ending at Nanaimo's ferries.

Our map below is a rough sketch
How to get the detailed route

The full map, turn-by-turns, and GPX for this ride are on Gravel Buddies. Our map shows roughly where the ride goes, not how to follow it.

Roughly where this ride goes#

Food & DrinkAttractionsSuppliesCampingAccommodationBike ServicesTransport

The dashed line is our rough sketch, drawn only to show where the ride is. For the real, rideable route, get the route from Gravel Buddies.

BC Bike Stops#

Nanaimo (140)

Hub City CyclesAccredited· Repair Shop
Hullo FerriesAccredited· Ferry
The Coast Bastion InnAccredited· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale
A Wee CupcakeryWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Bistro TaiyoWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Bocca CaféWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Brix + Mortar SocialhouseWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Chachi'sWelcoming· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Embers Wine & Charcuterie CellarWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
+130 more in Nanaimo →

Ladysmith (29)

Appetit Food for ThoughtInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Barnacle Barney's Fish and ChipsInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Bayview Brewing CompanyInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
BC Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store
Budget BlindsInfo· Grocery Store
Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store
Dairy QueenInfo· Ice Cream · $ · Cheap eats
Fox and HoundsInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
Great Canadian Dollar StoreInfo· General merchandise
Jas CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
+19 more in Ladysmith →

Duncan (4)

Deol Family Estate WineryInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual
Mid Island LiquorInfo· Liquor Store
Roundabout PizzaInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Sundays Coffee and ProvisionsInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

North Cowichan (4)

Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store
TeafarmInfo· Activity / Experience
Tim HortonsInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Westholme Tea FarmInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Cedar (3)

AarkulInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store
Mahle House RestaurantInfo· Restaurant · $$$$ · Fine dining

Paldi (2)

Stoltz Pool CampgroundInfo· Public Campground
Stoltz Pool Group CampgroundInfo· Public Campground

Sahtlam (1)

Wake Lake Nature ReserveInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Saltair (1)

Campers CornerInfo· Private Campground
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.