Cowichan River Provincial Park
Park Size: 1, 414 hectares
Park Amenities:
The Cowichan River Provincial Park is a recreation river park located in Duncan, BC on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The 1, 414 hectare park includes the Cowichan River which is a designated Provincial Heritage River. Along the river there are many highlights including secluded pebbled beaches, deep gorge canyons, high rocky cliffs and white water rapids.
The Cowichan River Provincial Park is a popular recreation park for many outdoor adventure activities. Some of the summer activities enjoyed in the park include swimming, tubing, hiking, backpacking, fishing, river kayaking, birdwatching, wilderness camping and picnicking. Many of the most popular picnic areas are located on the river flat rock and pebbled beaches. Some of the most private picnicking locations are accessed by a hiking trail or by tubing or kayaking down the river.
The official day use areas in the park are more maintained and provide some basic amenities. These locations include Skutz Falls, Stoltz Pools, Marie Canyon and 66 Mile Trestle. Skutz Falls Day-Use Area is one of the most visited picnic areas in the park. The big attraction is the waterfall, the fish ladder and the Cowichan River Footpath. There are pit toilets, picnic tables, an information shelter and a large parking lot. Skutz Falls is a top spot for watching salmon swim upstream.
Stoltz Pool Day-Use Area includes a boat launch, riverside trail, picnicking area with tables, parking lot, pit toilets, information shelter and an all-purpose playing field.
Marie Canyon Day-Use Area is a another popular destination in the park for picnicking and canyon views. There is a short trail leading down to the floor of the canyon. Marie Canyon includes some picnic tables, parking lot, pit toilets and an information shelter.
66-Mile Trestle day-use area is the historic day use spot in the park. There is a restored old trestle for viewing and access to the Trans-Canada Trail. The day use area includes picnic tables, a parking lot, pit toilets and an information shelter.
The Cowichan River Footpath is a well maintained 20 kilometre hiking and backpacking trail following along the Cowichan River. The trail leads you over rock bluffs, onto pebbled beaches, along steep cliffs and through forest.. Access to the trail is best from Skutz Falls Day use Area and near the Gun Club in Glenora in the Cowichan Valley near Duncan, BC.
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