BC Cycle Tourism Society

Cowichan Valley: Swartz Bay to Stoltz Pool

100 cycling stops along this route · Vancouver Island

83 km · Full dayAmbitiousCalm streets, some sharingMixed surfaceSome climbing

From the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, this 83 km leg crosses to the Cowichan Valley and follows trail and quiet roads to Stoltz Pool on the Cowichan River, where the provincial park campground and famous swimming holes wait. Nearly half gravel with about 560 m of climbing. Pairs with the Nanaimo leg for a two-day, ferry-to-ferry island crossing.

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 Services

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#

Sidney (32)

Russ Hay's The Bicycle ShopAccredited· Repair Shop
900 BistroWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Alexander's Coffee BarWelcoming· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Charles Dickens' PubWelcoming· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
Fish on 5thWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Fresh Tandoori Flavour Indian Restaurant SidneyWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
J Kitchen Korean & Japanese RestaurantWelcoming· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
PanagoWelcoming· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Save-On-FoodsWelcoming· Grocery Store
Scotty's Dog ShackWelcoming· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
+22 more in Sidney →

Central Saanich (28)

Harvest Rd.Welcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
McDonald'sWelcoming· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Tim HortonsWelcoming· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
BC Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store
Beauregard CommonsInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Bicycle PizzaInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
Brentwood Bay Resort & SpaInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale
Brentwood Bay Village Empourium Café & Gift ShopInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Brewsky's TaphouseInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Carnivore Meats & MoreInfo· Specialty / Health Food
+18 more in Central Saanich →

Mill Bay (15)

A&WInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
BC Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store
Blue Dog KayakingInfo· Activity / Experience · $$$$
Bridgemans BistroInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Bru-Go's CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
McDonald'sInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Merridale EateryInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Mill Bay SushiInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Rusticana CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
South Cowichan Library BranchInfo· Library · Free
+5 more in Mill Bay →

North Saanich (14)

Stonehouse PubAccredited· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual
barBURRITOInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Canadian TireInfo· General merchandise
Co-opInfo· Convenience Store
Dominion Brook ParkInfo· Park / Nature · Free
Domino'sInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Firehouse SubsInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
NoodleboxInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Patricia Bay Visitor CentreInfo· Visitor Centre
Popeyes Louisiana ChickenInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
+4 more in North Saanich →

Shawnigan Lake (6)

Oma's Bakery & MarketInfo· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Shawnigan HouseInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Shawnigan House Coffee + ChocolateInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Shawnigan Lake Beach ResortInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Luxury
Shawnigan Lake MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free
SubwayInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats

Paldi (2)

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

Cobble Hill (1)

Merridale Cidery & DistilleryInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual

Sahtlam (1)

Glenora Trails Head ParkInfo· Park / Nature · Free

Shawnigan (1)

The Lakehouse at ShawniganInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
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.