Shawnigan Lake Travel & Tourism Accommodations, Activities, Attractions, Restaurants & Information

Vancouver Island British Columbia Canada

SHAWNIGAN LAKE BRITISH COLUMBIA -

Travel & Tourism Accommodations, Activities, Attractions, Restaurants & Information

Shawnigan Lake BC Links

Accommodations

Why go to Shawnigan Lake

Shawnigan Lake Travel & Tourism Accommodations, Activities, Attractions, Restaurants & Information

Shawnigan Lake is in the Cowichan Valley is a 40 minute scenic drive from both Victoria in the south and Nanaimo in the north. You can get to Shawnigan Lake by Bus (Coach) from Victoria and Nanaimo and from the BC Ferry Terminals in Nanaimo and Swartz Bay, just north of Sidney BC. There are access roads, well marked with turnoffs on the Malahat Drive and again in Mill Bay. The Mill Bay turnoff takes you to Shawigan Lake village (commercial centre- 3 miles/5 km).

Island Coach Lines
Information & reservations:
Shawnigan Lake (250) 746-4841
Victoria (250) 385-4411.

For a great Day trip from the Cowichan Region, BC Ferries also offers you the chance to tour some of the Gulf Islands, with services from Chemainus to Thetis Island, and from Crofton to Salt Spring Island.

Shawnigan Lake Park
on Vancouver Island

Shawnigan Lake Village Centre

For transportation information for Vancouver Island please check our transportation page. You will find information about getting to Vancouver Island and travel information for getting around the Island as well. Quality Maps for sale can be found on our Maps Page. This information is constantly changing so we are connecting you directly with the service providers so you can find current information.

British Columbia Ferries
Anywhere in BC call: 1-888-BCFERRY
Victoria and outside of BC
(250) 386-3431

Air Travel to Shawnigan Lake and the Cowichan Valley
The Cassidy Airport is about a 10 minute drive north of Ladysmith. There are several daily 15 minute flights from the Vancouver Airport to Cassidy. Victoria International is the closest International Airport and is approximately a 50 minute drive from Shawnigan Lake.

One airline offers service to the this Region; Harbour Air contact number 1-800-663-4267..

Canadian Regional / Pacific Coastal
Phone 250-245-5121(local)
1-800-663-3721(BC)
1-800-776-3000(US)

Central Mountain Air / AirBC
Phone 250-245-7123(local)
1-800-665-1177(Canada) or 1-800-426-7000(US).

Rail Travel to Shawnigan Lake and the Cowichan Valley
VIA Rail travels between Victoria and Courtenay. Stops in the Cowichan area include Shawnigan Lake, Cobble Hill, Cowichan Station, Shawnigan Lake, The BC Forest Discovery Centre, Chemainus and Ladysmith Please check with VIA rail to ensure that this service is still running.

VIA Rail - 1-888-VIA-RAIL

Shawnigan Lake is a summer recreation cottage area that has grown into a commute community for many people working in Victoria. Shawnigan Lake village is a weekend getaway for many Victorians. Shawnigan Lake Village is well know for arts and crafts shows and it also has an excellent, but small museum. The population of Shawnigan Lake (circa 2005) is approximately 15,000. The E&N Railway runs by the east side of Shawnigan Lake and it was at Cliffside that the last spike on the railway was placed. Shawnigan Lake is an excellent venue for kayaks, canoes and is a favourite water ski lake on Southern Vancouver Island.

Near the south end of Shawnigan Lake is Memory Island Provincial Park. A short paddle will put you in a great place to picnic, rest or watch the birds and wildlife. This small, day-use only park provides quiet nature viewing and picnicking on one of the only protected park islands found in a major destination lake. This tiny island is sanctuary and habitat for a variety of small mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, plants and fungi. Memory Island is accessible by boat, canoe or kayak from various points on Shawnigan Lake, including West Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park. Shawnigan Lake Municipal Beach is located on Renfrew Road on the north end of Shawnigan Lake and it is a great place for young families to swim and picnic.

Just east of Shawnigan Lake is the Koksilah Provincial Park which is a great place to hike and camp. It is the only campground near Shawnigan Lake. Koksilah River Provincial Park is located 7 km west of Shawnigan Lake, on Southern Vancouver Island. Turn west off Hwy #1 at Shawnigan/Mill Bay Road in Mill Bay. Follow the road to Shawnigan Lake, then turn right onto Shawnigan Lake Road. Renfrew Road, a logging road, provides access to the park.Adjacent to the Koksilah River, this undeveloped park offers good hiking, fishing and swimming opportunities. The now-abandoned Kinsol Trestle, spanning the river, is one of the largest and highest wooden trestle bridges in the world.

If you like to golf, there are a number of good courses in the area such as The Cowichan Golf and Country Club just before Duncan on the Island Highway, Duncan Meadows Golf Course, just north of Duncan, Mount Brenton Golf Course in Chemainus ( a few minutes north of Duncan), and Arbutus Ridge Golf and Country Club, just south of Duncan off the Island Highway. Click here for island information of golfing.

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Shawnigan Lake & the Cowichan Valley Temperature

Temperature: Nurtured by the highest mean temperatures in Canada.

ACCOMMODATIONS
There is a variety of good accommodations in Shawnigan Lake and throughout the surrounding Cowichan Valley including hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, camping and more. Island

SHAWNIGAN LAKE BUSINESSES

Steeples Restaurant - PO Box 370, 2744 East Shawnigan Lake Rd, Shawnigan Lake,
British Columbia, Canada , V0R 2W0

Amuse Restaurant, 1753 Shawnigan Mill Bay Road, Email Phone 250-743 3667

Elford Farm Pastries, Gerald Billings, 2769 Shawnigan Lake Road
Email Phone: 250-743-9226

Moziro, 2740 Dundas, Shawnigan Lake Village, V0R2W0, Phone (250) 733-2245,
Email: info@moziro.com,
Fresh roasted coffee coupled with hand-made chocolates spells pleasure beyond compare. And that’s what you get at our cozy store nestled beside Shawnigan Lake on beautiful Vancouver Island.

COASTAL WATERSPORTS, Phone:250- 733-2512, 2740 Dundas, Shawnigan Lake V0R2W0, coastalcycle@shaw.ca