The Koksilah River is on South Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, flowing northeast to enter Cowichan Bay, most south of Duncan. This river originates on the slopes of Waterloo Mountain, southwest of Shawnigan Lake. It flows eastward for nearly 44 km (27.3 miles) before entering Cowichan Bay. The watershed area is mostly 302 km (187.6 miles).
We can point to such significant tributaries of the Koksilah River as Fellows Creek in the west, Kelvin, Patrolas, Howie, and Glenora creeks that enter into the Koksilah about 4-6 km (2.4-3.7 miles) upstream of the estuary in Cowichan Bay.
Before, this river was known as a haven for steelhead, but today it is in recovery.
Since this river doesn't originate from a lake, it is subject to low summer flows, sedimentation and flash floods. You can enjoy swimming through the Koksilah River's water in the valley as a refreshing place on hot summer days; because the water temperature in Koksilah is always colder than the Cowichan River. This river has a distinct beauty and various rocky canyons, waterfalls and rapids to a wide river. There are many species of birds, including mergansers with young, dippers and kingfishers. In August 2019, the Koksilah River's flow dropped below 180 litres (39.5 gallons) per second, and water use was restricted.
Part of the river is protected as Koksilah River Provincial Park. The Koksilah River is located near Duncan, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island. In the Koksilah River's vicinity, this undeveloped park is placed in the Vancouver Island Forest Reserve. It is situated 7 km (4.3 miles) west of Shawnigan Lake and east of Cowichan River Provincial Park.
This place is called in such name according to a community of Koksilah, which is southeast of Duncan. Kinsol Trestle was built across the river. You can get access to the river via riverside trails, footpaths and a trail.
From Victoria:
Getting to the Koksilah River from Victoria is possible via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N. The route is 58.6 km (36.4 miles) and takes about 48 minutes.
Take Government St to Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N, and after 1.2 km (0.7 miles), use any lane to turn left onto Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N. After 53.9 km (33.4 miles), continue on Bench Rd. Take Cowichan Bay Rd to Kelly Rd. Drive 3.5 km (2.1 miles) more to reach the Koksilah River.
From Nanaimo:
Getting to the Koksilah River from Nanaimo is possible via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. The route is 54.2 km (33.6 miles) and takes almost 40 minutes.
Head east on Wallace St towards Fraser St. After 350 m (1148.2 ft) in the Wallace St, it turns slightly right and becomes Victoria Crescent. Drive 150 m (492.1 ft) more and turn left onto Esplanade. Turn right onto Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. After 53.2 km (33 miles), turn right onto Wilson Rd. Continue straight onto Kelly Rd to reach the Koksilah River.
"Cowichan Valley Trail: Shawnigan Lake to Koksilah River" length is about 13.4 km (8.3 miles). It's an out and back easy trail with an elevation gain of 143 m (469 ft) near Cowichan Valley Regional. It is suitable for all skill levels and offers several activities. The trail is accessible all year round. Dogs must be on a leash.
The river is called Koksilah, based on the community of Koksilah, which is southeast of Duncan. Kinsol Trestle was built across the river.
This name is derived from one of the Cowichan Tribes' band government groups called the Hwulqwselu people. It is translated as "place having snags," which refers to a corral.
In the 1880s, a settler, Jonathan Elliott of Devonshire, had married the chief's daughter. Others settled near him, encouraged him to build a corral to keep them off. Remains of the corral maintained this name, and it became the name of the community and people. There is another meaning given in 1959 called "polling up the river."
The residents of southern Vancouver Island come to Koksilah River Provincial Park on weekends to hike on the rustic trails and enjoy the river view. This park allows you to go hiking, fishing, swimming, picnicking, and mountain biking.
According to the BC Parks website, any camping isn't allowed. Many people can camp here in the summer months, but the park is officially a site only for day-use activities.
During the summer, you can see rocks and sandy pebbled spots covered by moss. You can go hiking the rustic trails and enjoy the Koksilah River views cape.
Deep clear pools are excellent areas for fishing and swimming. For achieving new information, visit the official BC Parks website.
Go to a river to feel alive as its current. The Koksilah River can be your place. It originates on the slopes of Waterloo Mountain and continues its way to reach Cowichan Bay. On hot summer days, being there to swim in the valley could be refreshing. This river has a distinct beauty and various rocky canyons, waterfalls and rapids to a wide river. There are many species of birds to watch.
Are you interested in spring and summer plans on Vancouver Island? The Cowichan River, the fourth largest river on Vancouver Island, provides you with guided hiking and backpacking trips. Cowichan River Provincial Park protects the Cowichan River's essential stretches. Start from Lake Cowichan to Cowichan Bay and the Strait of Georgia to expand your adventure around the Cowichan River.
If you are a paddling enthusiast and happen to visit Vancouver Island during summer times, put Shawnigan Lake on top of your list. The lake is enclosed with fabulous parks in which you are provided with tons of recreational activities. Lakeside cabins, several beaches and a spectacular shoreline make Shawnigan Lake a fantastic hot spot for kayaking and canoeing.
Exceptional opportunities to explore the water while enjoying the scenic view of a city with a hundred years of history and culture preserved within the realms of Ladysmith. as an ideal kayaking destination, Ladysmith has several offerings to make your stay even more joyful. So, pack your bags and hit the road to this beautiful old city.
Get out of your comfort zone and go diving in one extraordinary place with quite a history behind it. The wreck of the Robert Kerr is the graveyard of a ship that sank about 200 years ago. Still, now it is a habitat for several marine creatures and offers excellent opportunities to dive deep and explore the underwater world.
Make your time on Vancouver Island count and go diving in Elliot's Beach Park. It is a pristine diving location for professional diving, but it has opportunities to discover underwater for ordinary folks.
You cannot believe your ears are hearing a diving place made after a Jet Plane was sunk. But, there is only one way to find out, especially for divers who like abnormal experiences. While you are in Chemainus, you can rent a boat and paddle till you reach this place, offering you unbelievable diving opportunities.
Looking for a daring diving experience? Hop on and drive to Alcala Point in Porlier Pass diving site. There is a fantastic diving place where you may need a diving guide during winter due to enormous waves. Also, plenty of marine life is living there, so employing safety is mandatory.
Adventure lovers who know nothing about diving but look forward to experience it may find the Octopus Point Diving site the best place to go. In these shallow waters, several marine life is observable, and the safety of your diving is guaranteed to a considerable measure.
Choose wisely to make your stay on Vancouver Island unforgettable. Camping in the Gordon Bay Camp Site can give you the chance to have a retreat from daily bustles in a perfect and clean with a quiet atmosphere. It has a lovely swimming area surrounded by log booms in which you can bathe and relax for unnoticeable hours.
Wandering around the second-largest lake on Vancouver Island, you are blessed with ample chances of different water sports. Natural features observable in this region adds up to the beauty and attractiveness of your stay and make your memories hard to forget. If you are interested in doing other activities, there are various adventures to embrace.
Surrounded by parks and its proximity to a live community is at least two of many reasons why you should come to Shawnigan lake. Not only wakeboarders and water-skiers will benefit from the waters of this lovely lake, but also paddlers are given the best chance to have a great time onboard.
You would have the chance to re-invent your expectation of windsurfing by embracing the opportunities given to you on the second-largest lake of Vancouver Island. Cowichan Lake does not only serve your desires for windsurfing and is a paradise for those in love with water activities. If you are looking for a time to make the most of it in the Cowichan Lake area, plan to come during April.
The city of Duncan is famous for its totem collection. Duncan's tourist attractions and activities include shops and restaurants, great vineyards, kayaking the rivers and ocean, hiking the Trans Canada Trail, or the farmers' market. The city offers Cowichan Performing Arts Centre with amazing shows, restaurants, pubs, and Duncan Showroom (a live music venue) for entertainment.
Lake Cowichan is a town east of Cowichan Lake, the second most untouched lake in BC. The town is west of the Trans Canada Trail, the longest recreational and multi-use trail network globally. Lake Cowichan has a beautiful mountainous area with plentiful wildlife and is a perfect place for outdoor adventures. Lake Cowichan has warm waters and a sandy beach for a family swim.
Langford is a city on the south coast of Vancouver Island and heaven for golfers. You can stay at lodgings and play at challenging hillside courses and enjoy yourself at luxurious advantages like the Amatista Spa. Beautiful parks surround the city, so go hiking through scenic forests or have peaceful moments beside lakes. Langford offers shops, family activities, sheep farms, and a bike park.
Ladysmith is a historic town famous for monuments, battlefields, and memorials commemorating. Tourism in Ladysmith is based on natural beauties like waterfall, great parks, scenic hiking trails, and fun-filled events suitable for all ages. The best time to visit is from mid-July to mid-August. Enjoy many good restaurants and pubs where you can have a drink or a nice meal.
Woodley Range Ecological Reserve was established in 1996 in Ladysmith to preserve special plant species richness and unique and species-rich meadow and woodland ecosystems. This ecological reserve protects a minimum of 187 vascular plant species, including slimleaf onion, Howell's violet, dune bentgrass, Nuttall's quillwort, and green-sheathed sedge.
Ladysmith Bog Ecological Reserve or Yellow Point Bog Ecological Reserve was established in 1996. The ecological reserve aims to protect the sensitive ecosystem of bog and its scarce plants, forest and the region's well worth biodiversity. Ladysmith Bog Ecological Reserve features a Douglas fir forest and an aquatic-terrestrial interface that are scenic and memorable.
You may have limitations for yourself, but if you are not a beginner at cave exploring, overcome your own limits. Find a hidden gem in Langford, somewhere that few people know. Florence Lake Cave is a mystery waiting to be discovered for professional cavers. Some believe that it is the largest cave in Greater Victoria. Don't waste your time hesitating and pack your bag for a challenge.
Made from the blue snake of the Cowichan River, Skutz Falls is a little waterfall at Cowichan River Provincial Park about bout 6 m (20 ft) in height. Stand at the falls' viewpoint to have a scene of the human-made fish ladder where the river's fast current splashes water on your face. Camping nearby and using the services would complete your journey for having more hours of adventure in the area.
At the northwest shore of West of Shawnigan Lake, there is a dawn to dusk area, with a Douglas fir forest and a delightful beach known as Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park. Being there with your family and friends and spending your time swimming, canoeing, waterskiing, and windsurfing would refresh your body and soul. The park is a habitat for many animals.
Witness the miracle of nature at Cowichan River Provincial Park coming with human heritage and recreational values. Marie Canyon and Skutz Falls are the prime viewpoints to watch spawning salmon in the fall. Have a picnic at the end of a day of hiking, biking, or horseback riding through excellent trails. On your journey, don't forget to look around, watching animal species and birds.
The Gowlland Range is a small and low mountain range. It has spectacular views and varieties of animals such as blacktail deer, cougar, river otter, raccoons, black bear and birds as hawks, eagle, grouse, and owl. Mountaineers would experience fantastic climbing and hiking trails passing through a beautiful forest ornamented with plentiful, stunning wildlife.
Choose Stocking Creek Trail in Ladysmith as your destination and start finding Stocking Creek Waterfall. It is one of the natural attractions of Vancouver Island that looks wonderfully beautiful. Imagine the refreshing water cascading on a little pool between a forest which is aesthetically impressive. But if you want to see the waterfall at its prim, spring and fall are the best seasons.
Memory Island Provincial Park is one of the smallest parks in British Columbia. Its peaceful and beautiful nature makes it an excellent choice for picnicking. As it is placed in Shawnigan Lake, you can catch some fish like trout. Also, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking are possible. In addition, the park is home to various birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, plants, and fungi.
Have a tour at Christie Falls, north of Lady Smith, with two beautiful drops. It worth spending hours watching the scene. The upper cascades to the lower fall, and the lower one pours down on hard rocks making a spectacular scene. It is best to visit Christie Falls in spring when the Bush Creek water flow is more powerful. While you are in the area, there are other waterfalls to enjoy.
Go to a river to feel alive as its current. The Koksilah River can be your place. It originates on the slopes of Waterloo Mountain and continues its way to reach Cowichan Bay. On hot summer days, being there to swim in the valley could be refreshing. This river has a distinct beauty and various rocky canyons, waterfalls and rapids to a wide river. There are many species of birds to watch.