Lake Cowichan Urban Hike - Retreads

River view from Saywell Park

The trailhead is located in Saywell Park, named after beloved high school principal, historian and author ("Kaatza: The Chronicles of Lake Cowichan") John F.T. Saywell. Here you will find picnic tables, a large open play area, a wharf to access the water from, public washrooms and the Kaatza Station Museum.

Public parking

There is a large parking lot at the trailhead in Saywell Park.

Ts'uubaa-asatx ('People of the Lake') Square

This public square recognizes the Ts'uubaa-asatx Nation (formerly known as Lake Cowichan First Nation) who lived around the shores of Cowichan Lake for millennia, long prior to the arrival of Euro‐Canadians. Ts'uubaa-asatx have always made their primary home on Cowichan Lake. The English translation of the name Ts'uubaa-asatx is "People of the Lake". There is interpretive signage and a wonderful totem pole in the square. Ts'uubaa-asatx is pronounced Tsoo-bah-seht

Forest Worker's Memorial Park

This park is honors the folks who were responsible for the development of the forest industry in the Cowichan valley, many of whom lost their lives at work. There is some great carved signage illustrating that history. The entry sign is built into the original footing of a rail bridge which once passed over the road, it carried the tracks of the CNR rail line out to Youbou.

The (CNR) footbridge

This footbridge allows you to cross from one side of the river to the other. It offers great views of both the "foot of the Lake" (where it empties into the River) and of the start of the River. Immediately downstream you will see the footings of the original footbridge, kids living on the north side of the river had to cross this to go to schools on the south side. An exciting trip during spring high water! The existing footbridge is actually a repurposed railway bridge and when you pass through the large metal structure, you are walking inside of the rail bridge. The tracks would have run on top of this truss. The bridge carried the CNR rail line which connected (now extinct) Industrial Timber Mills in Youbou with tidewater in Cowichan Bay. ITM in it's heyday had the "longest craneway" of any mill in the British Empire i.e. it was big! Travel to the end of pavement in Youbou and you can explore the site to get an idea of its size. The tracks were laid in 1921, the last train to run on these rails was in 1988 and the rails were lifted shortly thereafter.

Lambs Hill

This is actually River Road but was know locally as "Lambs Hill". The Lamb family, long time LC residents, had their home at the bottom of the hill. A few years back the Town of LC honored these colloquial names with new street signs.

View back over town

This is the view over town to the south side hills of the valley.

Views of Hill 60

Hill 60, which forms the north side of the Cowichan Valley between LC and Duncan, was so named in remembrance of the WW I "Battle of Hill 60" (Ypres) where many Canadian soldiers perished. Active logging is still going on there - notice the bald patches.

LC Volunteer Fire Department hall

Oliver Creek in Friendship Trail Park

There is a trail from this point following a lovely stream through Friendship Park. The park is dedicated to Lake Cowichan's twin city of Ohtaki, Japan.

Views of Hill 60

Another view of Hill 60, this one from the location of an abandoned school. Once the site of a proposed seniors assisted living facility, the school and it's dereliction is an interesting story of local politics and lost opportunity!

Salmon Fish Hatchery

This hatchery raises salmon fry which are released into the river. The hatchery is run by the local volunteer group "Cowichan Lake Salmonid Enhancement Society".

Greendale (CPR) Trestle

This railway trestle once carried the CPR (E&N) railway line into town, it's terminus was beside Saywell Park, the trailhead of this hike. The rails came to town in 1912 and were lifted in 1984. In contrast to the CNR line which carried finished product, the CPR picked up raw logs, which had been floated down the lake, to tidewater in Cowichan Bay. The rail right of way is now a rail-trail and is part of the Trans Canada Trail. There are great views of the river from the trestle. In the fall season you can look down and see salmon spawning.

Turn left here

At this point you are on the CPR right of way, following it straight ahead you would come back to Saywell park where the CPR line terminated. But, at about one KM further on you will come to the point where a bridge once crossed over and connected to a now removed berm. This bridge carried the competing CNR railway line over the CPR line and adjacent Wellington Road. The CNR line connected to Youbou via the "footbridge" that you crossed earlier. Both rail lines have been converted to rail-trails. This, trail marker indicates the turn to Cowichan Valley Trail running over the CNR right of way.

Outdoor pickle ball court and CNR

LC has a very active pickle ball community led by the Cowichan Lake Pickle Ball Club. As well as these outdoor courts they also play indoors. About a block further on there is a roundabout in the road. This marks the spot where the CNR line from Duncan entered town.

Hundred Houses (aka Diaper Hill)

In the mid 1940's soldiers were returning and taking up work in the booming Cowichan Valley forestry industry. Land was donated to create a new subdivision and 100 houses were built. Despite attempts at giving the subdivision the elegant name of Parkstone, it became known as "100 houses" . It was also given the epithet of "diaper hill" reflecting its hillside location and the many babies being born to the young married couples occupying the new homes. The houses were all basically the same design but over the years they have been modified to meet their owners needs.

Community Gardens

Lake Cowichan School

Once, when there was population to support it, this was Lake Cowichan Senior Secondary High School. Now it combines grades 3 - 12 hence the name change. Located above the main building is the decommissioned Stanley Gordon elementary school.

Whoops! Go right from this point.

Rhododendron Memorial Park - W. Cowichan Ave. entry

The park memorializes the work of the Stokers and the Simpsons, early Cowichan Lake residents, who grew and hybridized Rhododendrons using seed collected in SE Asia by early plant hunters.

Rhododendron Memorial Park - Pt. Ideal Rd. entry

Trail back to Saywell Park

The hike continues, please see the Wikiloc "Lake Cowichan Urban Hike (continued) - Retreads" at: www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/spatialArtifacts.do?event=setCurrentSpatialArtifact&id=86803600