VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 200

Flowing into the Strait of Georgia from Cowichan Lake, the Cowichan River is
renowned for its salmon fishing. Much of its length is protected by Cowichan River Pro-
vincial Park, which extends over 750 hectares (1,850 acres) and 20 kilometers (12 miles).
There are three access points to the park, including Skutz Falls (second access road), where
salmon spawn each fall.
Lake Cowichan
The lakeside village of Lake Cowichan (pop. 3,500) lies on the eastern arm of Cowichan
Lake. One of the most popular local activities is tubing down the Cowichan River—it's a
fun, inexpensive activity that everyone can enjoy. The starting point is waterfront Saywell
Park beside the visitor center, from where the Cowichan River flows slowly eastward for
around one hour of easy float time; things then speed up slightly before reaching the re-
commended pullout point at Little Beach, 2.5 hours from the starting point. Making the
experience easy for everyone to enjoy is The Tube Shack (Saywell Park, 250/510-7433,
www.cowichanriver.com , 10am-5pm daily in summer), which charges $15 per person for
tube rental and shuttle back from Little Beach to town.
Campers have the choice of staying at the local municipal campground, Lakeview Park
(3 kilometers/1.9 miles west of Lake Cowichan, 250/749-3350, $34 per night) or Gordon
Bay Provincial Park (519/826-6850 or 800/689-9025, www.discovercamping.ca , $28) on
the south side of the lake 23 kilometers (14.3 miles) farther west. Both campgrounds have
hot showers.
On the waterfront is Cowichan Lake Visitor Centre (125 South Shore Rd., 250/
749-3244, www.cowichanlake.ca , 10am-5pm daily in summer, 10am-2pm daily fall and
spring, closed Dec.-Jan.). The center is a good source of information on fishing conditions
and on the logging roads leading to the Carmanah Valley and Port Renfrew. Next door is the
Kaatza Station Museum (125 South Shore Rd., 250/749-6142, 10am-4pm daily in sum-
mer, donation), at the end of a rail line that once linked the lake to the main line along Van-
couver Island's east coast.
NORTH TOWARD NANAIMO
Nanaimo is just 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of Duncan—less than 30 minutes along the
divided highway—but several small towns invite short detours along the way.
Chemainus
The town of Chemainus (pop. 3,600) is best known for its larger-than-life murals depicting
the town's history and culture. Follow the signs to Chemainus from the highway and park at