Cowichan Valley Trail

A ride mapped and described by Let's Go Biking

78 cycling stops along this route · Vancouver Island

88 km · Full dayModerateCalm streets, some sharingMixed surface

The Cowichan Valley Trail follows historic rail grade through forest and along the Cowichan River, with access points serving everything from 6 km family outings to the 28 km Duncan-to-Lake-Cowichan run, or an 88 km loop that adds road riding to Shawnigan Lake, crossing the great Kinsol Trestle country en route. Flat, shaded, and transit-reachable, it is the valley's backbone ride.

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 Let's Go Biking. Our map shows roughly where the ride goes, not how to follow it.

Get the book from Let's Go Biking →

Communities along this route#

Duncan 41 Lake Cowichan 15 Shawnigan Lake 7 North Cowichan 3 Cobble Hill 2 Cowichan Station 2 Eagle Heights 2 Hillbank 2 Koksilah 2 Shawnigan 2

Roughly where this ride goes#

Approximate lineGet the real route ↗

Show stops Mute other bike routes

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 book from Let's Go Biking.

BC Bike Stops#

Duncan (41)

49th Parallel GroceryInfo· Grocery Store

Ali Baba PizzaInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Bulk BarnInfo· Grocery Store

Burger KingInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats

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

Corner House CafeInfo· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats

Coronation MarketInfo· Convenience Store

Cowichan Valley MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

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

Cycle TherapyInfo· Repair Shop

+31 more in Duncan →

Lake Cowichan (15)

A&WWelcoming· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats

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

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

SubwayWelcoming· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats

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

Best Buy Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store

Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store

Cowichan Lake Library BranchInfo· Library · Free

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

J&V DinerInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual

+5 more in Lake Cowichan →

Shawnigan Lake (7)

Mason'sInfo· Convenience Store

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

Shawnigan HouseInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Shawnigan House Coffee + ChocolateInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Shawnigan Lake Community CentreInfo· Community Centre · Free

Shawnigan Lake MuseumInfo· Museum / Gallery · Free

SubwayInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats

North Cowichan (3)

Baan-Do's Stir FryInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats

Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store

Tim HortonsInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats

Cobble Hill (2)

Cobblestone Public HouseInfo· Liquor Store

Olde School CoffeeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats

Cowichan Station (2)

Brightside Blueberries & SuchInfo· Farmers' Market

The HUB at Cowichan StationInfo· Community Centre · Free

Eagle Heights (2)

Community Farm StoreInfo· Farmers' Market

Grub Shack AllenbyInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats

Hillbank (2)

Blue Grouse Estate WineryInfo· Winery / Cidery · $$ · Casual

Hillpoint Estate Farm StandInfo· Farmers' Market

Koksilah (2)

Red Arrow BreweryInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Red Arrow Tasting RoomInfo· Brewery / Pub · $$ · Casual

Shawnigan (2)

BicycleitisInfo· Repair Shop

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

Ready to ride it?

Get the book from Let's Go Biking →