Cowichan Valley Note: You will be riding on the abandoned Cowichan Subdivision Canadian National Railway corridor; expect a wide range of surface conditions, from hard packed gravel to loose, unconsolidated railway ballast. This trail is generally unsuitable for street bikes, and will require a bike with wider tires for soft surfaces. Main > Communities > Cowichan Valley > Trips Map Info

Day Trip - Deerholme west to Skutz Falls, Cowichan River Provincial Park
(15 km one way/30 km return)

From Victoria, head north on Highway 1 for ~50 km and turn left at Miller Road (across from the Old Farm Market, south of Duncan). Follow Miller Rd. and turn left on Glenora Road which takes you past the Glenora Community Hall and store. Continue on for 4 km and turn right on Vaux Road -- stay right and you will reach the Cowichan Provincial Park - Cowichan Footpath and Glenora (Holt Creek) Trailhead, and the Cowichan Fish and Game Association Clubhouse. There is parking available at this location. Signage will indicate access to the Trans Canada Trail to start your trip which will take you west to Cowichan River Provincial Park.

Approximately 1km in from this access point is the Holt Creek Trestle, which recently reopened after undergoing major restoration work. Spanning 73 metres across Holt Creek, the trestle once served as an important link between Victoria and the timberlands of the Cowichan Valley. A vital part of Vancouver Island's railway heritage, the Holt Creek Trestle was built in 1939. By converting the Holt Creek Trestle for trail use, the provincial government is helping restore an important part of BC's economic past.

Continuing west along the trail are the recently restored 64.4-Mile Trestle and Marie Canyon (Mile 66) Trestle, both of which are within Cowichan River Provincial Park. The Cowichan River Provincial Park offers a number of land and water-based recreation opportunities, including:

• Stoltz Pool Campground, Group Site and Day Use Area - riverside trail, picnicking area with tables and parking overlooking the Cowichan River. Pit toilets and cold water hand pumps are located here. The campground provides 39 drive-in and 4 walk-in sites. It is accessed from the north side of the river via Riverbottom Road.
  
  
• Marie Canyon (Mile 66 Trestle) Day Use Area - The recently restored Mile 66 Trestle is a 90-metre-long structure, which towers 35 metres above the Cowichan River. Structural improvements to the trestle have been made, with new safety railings and bike friendly decks installed. At the west end of the trestle is the day use area with picnic tables and pit toilet facilities.

• Horseshoe Bend Group Campsite - located just east of Skutz Falls off Riverbottom Road, this private riverside group campsite will accommodate up to 25 people. The site offers private parking, log picnic shelter with woodstove, pit toilets, cold water hand pump, fire ring and tent pads.

• Skutz Falls Campground and Day Use Area - the Skutz Falls campground provides 29 drive in sites. Other amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, coldwater hand pump, pit toilets and garbage/recycling facilities. Both the campground and day use area provide ready access to the Trans Canada Trail.

For more information on Cowichan River Provincial Park and campsite reservations, go to the BC Parks website at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/cowichan.htmlm.

The end point of this trip is Skutz Falls.

This trip can also be done by starting from Cowichan River Provincial Park at Skutz Falls or Marie Canyon (Mile 66 Trestle) and heading east to Deerholme. Drive north from Victoria on the Trans-Canada highway (#1) to the Lake Cowichan highway (#18), just north of Duncan. Turn west (left) and drive ~20 km (watch for park signage) until you come to the turnoff for Skutz Falls to begin your trip along this portion of the Trans Canada Trail.

The Trans Canada Trail has yet to be upgraded from Skutz Falls west to Lake Cowichan. Plans are underway to restore several river crossings by the end of summer 2001; until that work is completed, please do not travel west past Skutz Falls.