Kick back and enjoy the shared dock and riverfront with deep water swimming hole. Perfect for a morning dip or relaxing with a coffee. If you are feeling adventurous you can take a float down the river or grab a paddle board and head to the lake. There are a number of public access points to explore the river and lake. , Duck pond park is the perfect place for families to spend an afternoon enjoying the lake. Floaties are available for hire at Lake Cowichan tubing or for purchase at local stores. If watersports are not your thing, out front of our property, is access to the Trans Canada Trail offering great walking and trail riding, with loops to Skutz Falls. This wilderness area features a number of walking and hiking trails with unparalleled views. Keen-eyed hikers can spot a variety of wildlife and birds, including juncos, Stellar’s jays, chestnut-backed chickadees, mergansers and golden eye ducks. Gordon Bay Beach & Provincial Park is a 20 minute drive and offers a beautiful access point to Lake Cowichan. The warm lake and sandy beach makes a memorable spot for summer swimming and paddle boarding. Water skiing and kayaking are also popular activities on the lake. Visit in April when the wildflowers are at their peak. Cowichan lake is renowned for its freshwater fishing in the spring, fall and winter, when anglers can be challenged by rainbow, cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout, a licence is required, bring your own poles and bait. It’s a 10-15 min walk into the town where you can find restaurants, pubs, grocery stores and local stores. Top Tip - the locksmith’s is also a bakery and bookstore! A 25 minute drive will get you into Duncan where you can find larger supermarkets and a town centre with farmers market and an excellent bakery called Westfalian. It is an hour's drive to Port Renfrew and offers excellent ocean fishing. Botanical Beach just past Port Renfrew is also a lovely spot to spend a day checking out tide pools. This is a great place for families to stay or couples looking to explore Vancouver Island with its central location. You’ll find a guidebook of the area with maps and trails, and other brochures in the cottage that will assist you during your stay. The Lake Cowichan Tourist Information Centre is located at Saywell Park.