Paddling, cycling, beaches and more
Active days
Every option in one place, organized by activity so you can pick by energy and weather rather than by town. Bring your own equipment unless a rental is noted. Distances are approximate; conditions, closures and seasons change, so check park and resort sites before you set out.
Hiking and golf have their own pages: Hiking · Golf.
Kayaking & paddling
Sheltered water begins at the inn's doorstep. The Stuart Channel between Crofton and Salt Spring is protected from the open Strait, but wind rises most summer afternoons and the water is cold year-round. Paddle mornings, wear a PFD, carry a whistle and check tide tables (Sansum Narrows runs hard). PaddlePoint on the Crofton waterfront and Wilderness Kayaking Co. in Maple Bay rent gear if you did not bring your own.
| Launch / route | Where (drive) | Level | What you'll see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crofton boat launch → Shoal Islands | Crofton (walk) | Beginner–intermediate | Sheltered bays, the Shoal Islands, eagles; 2–3 hours return |
| Crofton → Vesuvius Bay crossing | Crofton (walk) | Intermediate+ | A 4 km open crossing of Stuart Channel; calm mornings only, watch for the ferry |
| Maple Bay → Sansum Narrows | Maple Bay (15 min) | Intermediate | Cliffs, arbutus, seals; strong currents in the Narrows, time with slack |
| Genoa Bay & Cowichan Bay estuary | Genoa Bay (25 min) | Beginner | Protected water, float homes, herons and seals; birding paradise in winter |
| Chemainus Kinsmen Beach → Bird Rock / Tent Island | Chemainus (10 min) | Beginner–intermediate | Islets and seal haul-outs; 1–2 hours |
| Transfer Beach → Ladysmith Harbour | Ladysmith (20 min) | Beginner | Working harbour, log booms, heritage boats |
| Burgoyne Bay | Salt Spring (ferry) | Beginner | A deep fjord-like bay under Mount Maxwell |
| Fulford Harbour → Russell Island | Salt Spring (ferry) | Intermediate | Historic Hawaiian-settler homestead on Russell Island (Gulf Islands National Park) |
| Cowichan Lake (Gordon Bay) | Lake Cowichan (50 min) | Beginner | Warm freshwater, no tides or currents; the summer option |
| Newcastle Island, Nanaimo | Nanaimo (45 min) | Intermediate | Circumnavigate the island park from Departure Bay or Maffeo Sutton; busy harbour traffic |
Cycling
- Cowichan Valley Trail (Trans Canada Trail) — A rail-trail from Duncan south over the Kinsol Trestle to Shawnigan Lake (about 25 km one way) and west toward Lake Cowichan (about 30 km); packed gravel, gentle grades, best on a gravel or hybrid bike. Park at the Kinsol lot, in Duncan or at Shawnigan Lake village.
- Crofton–Chemainus–Ladysmith — Chemainus Road is the quiet old highway along the shore: 20 km one way to Ladysmith with cafés at each end. Wide shoulders, rolling.
- Maple Bay–Genoa Bay–Duncan loop — About 35 km of winding shore and farm roads with real hills; lunch at Genoa Bay or the Lion Rampant.
- Salt Spring Island — Beautiful and very hilly; take bikes on the ferry (no vehicle fare for walk-ons) and ride Vesuvius–Ganges–Fulford, 20 km, with bus options back.
- Mountain biking — Mount Tzouhalem and Maple Mountain have extensive marked networks for all levels; Cumberland (Route 8) is a provincial destination.
Fishing & crabbing
- Licences — Freshwater fishing needs a BC freshwater licence (online at fishing.gov.bc.ca); saltwater fishing and crabbing need a federal tidal-waters licence (online from Fisheries and Oceans Canada). Check regulations and closures before you go; the Cowichan is classified water with special rules.
- Cowichan River — One of North America's great trout rivers: brown and rainbow trout, steelhead in winter, salmon runs in fall. Fly-fishing only in some sections. Access at Skutz Falls, Stoltz Pool and Sandy Pool.
- Cowichan Lake — Trout and bass from shore or a small boat; launches at Gordon Bay and Lake Cowichan town.
- Saltwater — Salmon charters run from Maple Bay and Cowichan Bay in summer; the Crofton wharf and Genoa Bay dock are the easy places to drop a crab trap (Dungeness and red rock crab; size and sex limits apply).
Skiing, snowshoeing & winter
- Mount Washington Alpine Resort — The Island's only alpine resort, about 2 hours north (Route 8): downhill, Nordic trails at Raven Lodge, snowshoe trails and a tube park, usually December to April. Bring your gear; carry chains or winter tires on the resort road.
- Closer winter days — Storm-watching from the Crofton Seawalk, the Cowichan estuary's winter waterfowl, Ladysmith's Festival of Lights (late November to early January), Butchart Gardens' Christmas lights, and the Chemainus Theatre's holiday production.
Swimming, beaches & tide pools
| Beach | Where (drive) | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crofton Beach Park | Crofton (walk) | Pebble/sand, ocean | Sunsets; low-tide beachcombing |
| Kinsmen Beach | Chemainus (10 min) | Sand/rock, ocean | Shallow and warm-ish; tide pools; boat launch |
| Transfer Beach | Ladysmith (20 min) | Sand, ocean | Among the warmest salt water on the Island; summer spray park |
| Maple Bay Beach | Maple Bay (15 min) | Pebble, ocean | Calm; swim float in summer |
| Roberts Memorial Park | Yellow Point (30 min) | Sandstone shelf | The best easy tide pools; check tide tables |
| Fuller Lake | Chemainus (10 min) | Freshwater lake | Warm swimming, small beach, picnic |
| Chemainus Lake | Chemainus (12 min) | Freshwater lake | Quiet; 2 km lake loop trail |
| Gordon Bay / Honeymoon Bay | Cowichan Lake (50 min) | Freshwater lake | Sandy beaches, warm water, July–Sept |
| Bamberton Provincial Park | Mill Bay (45 min) | Sand, ocean | Sheltered Saanich Inlet; warm in summer |
| Rathtrevor Beach | Parksville (1 h) | Sand, ocean | Vast low-tide sand flats; a classic |
| Ruckle Park (Beaver Point) | Salt Spring (ferry) | Rock, ocean | Tide pools, otters, picnic bluffs |
Tide pools: aim for the hour either side of a low tide below about 1 m. Scan the Tide Times code on the Quick Reference page.
River tubing (June–September)
The Cowichan River float from Lake Cowichan town is a 2–3 hour drift, gentle for most of its length with a few small rapids near the end. The Tube Shack rents tubes and runs a shuttle back to town; bring water shoes, sun protection and a dry bag. Water levels drop by late August; check conditions.