BC Cycle Tourism Society

Lake Cowichan, on a bike

19 stops that will feed you, give you a bed, and put up your tent. Vancouver Island.

Photo: Cowichan River LodgeLake Cowichan, BC
Photo: Landon CopplestoneLake Cowichan, BC
Photo: Landon CopplestoneLake Cowichan, BC

Autumn riverside landscape with mountain views and Adirondack seating area overlooking fall foliage

Worth the detour#

Places that have told us cyclists are welcome, or gone out of their way to prove it.

WelcomingA&WFast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
WelcomingIsland Pastry HausBakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
WelcomingJake's at the LakeRestaurant · $ · Cheap eats
WelcomingKaatza Station Museum & ArchivesMuseum / Gallery · $$

What you’ll find here#

Every stop in the directory, grouped the way a touring day actually goes.

Map#

Food & DrinkAttractionsSuppliesCampingAccommodation

Cycle trails through Lake Cowichan#

Routes around Lake Cowichan#

You don’t have to plan from scratch. These rides run through Lake Cowichan or pass close by, mapped and written up by route publishers around BC. The full maps and turn-by-turns live on their sites.

  1. Gordon River & Tall Trees — Bike Gear Database · 123 km route, 4 km of it through Lake Cowichan
  2. Cowichan Valley 8 Bikepacking Route — BIKEPACKING.com · 190 km route, 4 km of it through Lake Cowichan
  3. Trans Canada Trail South (BC Only) — Trans Canada Trail · 1,768 km route, 3 km of it through Lake Cowichan
  4. Victoria - Port Renfrew - Lake Cowichan - Duncan - Victoria — Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society · 264 km route, 3 km of it through Lake Cowichan
  5. Rally Day 2 (Cowichan Valley) — Gravel Buddies · 118 km route, 3 km of it through Lake Cowichan
  6. Vancouver Crossing Loop — Adventure Cycling Association · 503 km route, 3 km of it through Lake Cowichan
  7. Cowichan Valley Trail — Let's Go Biking · 88 km route, 2 km of it through Lake Cowichan
  8. Pacific Spirit Loop — Let's Go Biking · 235 km route, 1 km of it through Lake Cowichan
  9. Alberni Bam Bam, Vancouver Island — BIKEPACKING.com · 507 km route, passing about 4 km away

Getting here (and away) with your bike#

Bike-friendly ways to reach Lake Cowichan on transit, and to head back when you need to.

Duncan (Cowichan Valley) (best: bus) · Ladysmith (best: bus) · North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) (best: bus) · Nanaimo (best: bus) · Mill Bay (best: bus) · Langford (best: bus)

See 113
Abbotsford · Alert Bay · Armstrong · Barkerville · Bella Bella · Bella Coola · Bowen Island · Brentwood Bay · Burnaby · Burns Lake · Calgary, AB · Campbell River · Castlegar · Chase · Chilliwack · Clearwater · Comox · Coquitlam · Cortes Island · Courtenay (Comox Valley) · Cranbrook · Creston · Cumberland · Delta · Denman Island · Duncan (Cowichan Valley) · Enderby · Fernie · Field · Gabriola Island · Galiano Island · Gibsons · Golden · Haida Gwaii · Harrison Hot Springs · Hope · Hornby Island · Houston · Kamloops · Kaslo · Kelowna · Keremeos · Kimberley · Ladysmith · Langford · Langley · Lund · Maple Ridge · Mayne Island · Merritt · Mill Bay · Mission · Nanaimo · Nelson · New Hazelton · New Westminster · North Cowichan (Chemainus & Crofton) · North Vancouver · Ocean Falls · Oliver · Osoyoos · Parksville · Pemberton · Pender Island · Penelakut Island · Penticton · Port Alberni · Port Coquitlam · Port Hardy · Port McNeill · Port Moody · Port Renfrew · Powell River · Prince George · Prince Rupert · Princeton · Quadra Island · Qualicum Beach · Quesnel · Revelstoke · Richmond · Rossland · Saanich · Salmo · Salmon Arm · Salt Spring Island · Saturna Island · Seattle, WA · Sechelt · Shearwater · Sicamous · Smithers · Sointula · Sooke · Sorrento · Sparwood · Squamish · Summerland · Surrey · Terrace · Texada Island · Thetis Island · Tofino · Trail · Ucluelet · Vancouver · Vanderhoof · Vernon · Victoria · West Kelowna · West Vancouver · Whistler · Williams Lake

Or pick any two places on To & Fro →

The full list#

Every stop we know about in Lake Cowichan. Open a category:

Attractions 3 · 1 welcoming
Kaatza Station Museum & ArchivesWelcoming· Museum / Gallery · $$
Cowichan Lake Library BranchInfo· Library · Free
Cowichan Lake Sports ArenaInfo· Community Centre · $
Accommodation 2
Cowichan River LodgeInfo· B&B / Inn · $$$$ · Upscale
Riverside InnInfo· Hotel / Motel · $$$$ · Upscale
Camping 1
Lakeview Park CampgroundInfo· Private Campground
Food & Drink 10 · 5 welcoming
A&WWelcoming· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Island Pastry HausWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Jake's at the LakeWelcoming· Restaurant · $ · Cheap eats
SubwayWelcoming· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
The Butler's Pantry Bake ShopWelcoming· Bakery / Donuts · $ · Cheap eats
Ed's Coffee HouseInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
J&V DinerInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
Lakeside SushiInfo· Restaurant · $$ · Casual
River CafeInfo· Café / Coffee · $ · Cheap eats
Tim HortonsInfo· Fast Food / Chain · $ · Cheap eats
Supplies 2
Best Buy Liquor StoreInfo· Liquor Store
Country GrocerInfo· Grocery Store
Transport 1
Safe And Sound Taxi ServiceInfo· Taxi / Ridehail
Browse all 19 Lake Cowichan stops interactively →