Best beaches of the Cowichan Lake area

Top to bottom, Cowichan's got the sand and the sun to make it happen.

Located on the west end of Cowichan Lake, this campsite has a nice sandy beach, a boat launch and scenic view. It can be reached by driving about 38 kilometres on either side of the lake, through Youbou or Honeymoon Bay, via a gravel road.

Large sandy beach area with little shade.Due to health concerns, no dogs are allowed on the beach. The Town-owned facility is a kilometre west of town on South Shore Road. Drive past the arena and look for the sign on your right.

• Riverside Park, Lake Cowichan

Quaint little park on the river known to locals as the Duck Pond. There are picnic tables, washrooms and a playground, sandy beach and floating dock. Turn onto North Shore Road and turn left at Park Road. No lifequards on duty but the river flows slowly. Take the footbridge across the river into downtown Lake Cowichan.

• Little Beach, Lake Cowichan

Small but popular swimming hole on the Cowichan River. Turn onto Greendale Road, follow it for about half a kilometre. Located on the right past the houses.

• Spring Beach, Meades Creek

Pleasant wooded park with washroom and picinc tables. Named for it’s natural springs that flow year round. Follow North Shore Road until you reach Meades Creek Road and follow it until you get to the forest plantation, look left for a yellow gate on the left. Park along the road and the beach is a short walk in.

• Bear Lake Park, Mesachie Lake

Small park set under mature trees complete with picinic tables, lawn area, fishing dock and boat launch. Drive west through Lake Cowichan and follow South Shore Road to Mesachie Lake, turn right on to Bear Lake Road and follow it to the end, where it turns into Fish Road. At the end of Fish Road you will find the park.

• Lily Beach, Honeymoon Bay

Five minutes west of Mesachie Lake, turn right on Beach Drive and turn into the parking lot. You can only access the beach via a short trail. This small beach provides plenty of shade and there’s a small dock. No boat access is allowed.

• Central Beach, Honeymoon Bay

Turn right onto Park Road from South Shore Road. The beach is below the parking lot. Washroom facilities are at the top of the parking lot.

• Gordon Bay Park, Honeymoon Bay

Beach access is available to the public, but there is a $3 parking fee for anyone who isn’t camping at the park. The beautiful pebble beach offers a swimming area surrounded by a log boom and a kids’ play area. Drive through Honeymoon Bay, turn right at the fork in the road onto Walton Road. The park is at the end of Walton Road.

• Price Park, Youbou

Fern-lined walking trails lead to secluded, natural beaches. Swordfern Creek, an important spawning ground for fish, flows quietly through the park. From Youbou Road turn left onto Miracle Way opposite the ‘Welcome to Youbou’ sign. The park is at the end of Miracle Way.

• Arbutus Park, Youbou

Drive through Youbou until you reach the west entrance to Elder Crescent. Arbutus Park is the only life guarded park on the lake. It has a beach, dock, slide, diving board, washrooms and picinic area.

• Heather Campsite