Welcome
You are welcome in the West Cowichan area where a few small towns and villages lie nestled between impressive hills and mountains in a valley that is long, wide and lush with greenery. The Insular mountain range bisects Vancouver Island, bordered by old and second growth forests, undulating rivers, and on the Eastern side, rolling fertile valleys. They form the backdrop of the Cowichan Valley: a place of incredible beauty, timeless traditions and tidal rhythms.
Kaatza (the big lake) as it was known to First Nations peoples, is the second largest body of fresh water on Vancouver Island. At over 30 km in length, it is a popular place for boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing. Around the lake are a number of camping and picnic grounds. Since Cowichan has the warmest mean temperature in Canada, our summer season is long and our winters are mild.
The Cowichan River that flows from Cowichan Lake through Duncan to the Cowichan Bay delta has been designated as a Canadian Heritage River. It is famous for fly fishing and offers excellent white-water kayaking and canoeing. There are many hiking trails in the river valley ranging from narrow footpaths to the broad Cowichan Valley Trail which is a component of the famous Canada-wide Trans Canada Trail.
In the West Cowichan region, the choices are endless!
The Town of Lake Cowichan is located at the foot of the Lake and is the main centre with a full complement of businesses and services. A large new grocery store, bank, credit union, restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, fishing supplies, doctors clinic and drug stores can be found here to name a few.
On the south side of the lake are the communities of Mesachie Lake and Honeymoon Bay, former forest industry centres and now popular residential and tourist areas. Along the north shore, or the “sunny side” as locals like to boast, is the community of Youbou, also a former forestry town and rapidly becoming an attractive residential and tourist area.
We are within easy reach of many visitor attractions in the wider Cowichan Valley. Family attractions include the Quwutsun Cultural Centre, the Pacific Northwest Raptor Centre and the BC Forestry Discovery Centre. The town of Chemainus is famous for its collection of murals and Cowichan Bay is a very popular seaside village of marinas, artisans, restaurants and shops. A dozen vineyards in Cowichan alone plus an apple cidery mean that a wine tour is an easy thing to do. Stop at a farmer’s market for locally grown items and you can enjoy pairing local food with local wine.
Traveling west of Duncan towards the Cowichan Lake Region and the Pacific Ocean, fifteen B&B and vacation cabin operators offer you wonderful hospitality and a good night’s rest during your stay in the area. Check our Members page for accommodation to suit your needs and contact them directly to make bookings. If you have a large group that requires accommodation, let us help you to book your accommodations.
Cowichan West B&B Cabins and Cottages – working together for you!