Area B (Shawnigan Lake), a region within the Cowichan Valley Regional District on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, features a diverse landscape ideal for outdoor pursuits. The area is characterized by dense forests, the seven-kilometer-long Shawnigan Lake, and mountainous ranges reaching elevations of 2,000 feet or more. This varied terrain provides a setting for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, gravel biking, road cycling, and more. A notable feature is the historic Kinsol Trestle, part of the Trans Canada Trail, which…
73
Routes
4.7
(94)
Average rating
1307
People visited

4.9
(14)
212
hikers
3.50km
00:56
40m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
47
hikers
6.28km
01:53
190m
190m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
hikers
4.16km
01:03
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
4.28km
01:25
120m
120m
Moderate hike. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.5
(4)
39
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

31
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
27
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
riders
59.4km
04:52
1,080m
1,080m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(4)
56
riders
15.8km
01:42
420m
420m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

5.0
(2)
36
riders
24.7km
02:06
530m
530m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.3
(3)
36
riders
11.2km
01:14
320m
320m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

5.0
(1)
15
riders
10.3km
01:19
420m
420m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

37
runners
13.0km
01:40
500m
500m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

22
runners
11.3km
01:43
440m
440m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
10
runners
7.18km
01:00
190m
190m
Hard run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

9
runners
13.4km
01:50
460m
460m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(1)
33
riders
63.6km
03:03
560m
560m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

37
riders
54.4km
02:41
450m
450m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.3
(3)
15
riders
48.7km
02:15
480m
480m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

12
riders
22.6km
01:01
210m
210m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(1)
33
riders
71.8km
04:33
610m
610m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

16
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
19
riders
29.4km
01:39
250m
250m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

25
riders
88.0km
05:05
1,090m
1,090m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Area B (Shawnigan Lake) offers a diverse range of outdoor activities. These include hiking, touring cycling, gravel biking, road cycling, jogging, and mountain biking. The region features more than 50 routes catering to various skill levels.
Popular hiking areas include trails around the historic Kinsol Trestle, within West Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park, and Koksilah River Provincial Park. The Cowichan Valley Trail also provides extensive hiking opportunities. For detailed routes, consult the Hiking around Area B (Shawnigan Lake) guide.
Yes, Area B (Shawnigan Lake) offers family-friendly hiking options, particularly on sections of the Cowichan Valley Trail and around the Kinsol Trestle. These routes are often wide, mostly flat gravel paths suitable for all ages. The Easy hikes around Area B (Shawnigan Lake) guide provides suitable options.
Area B (Shawnigan Lake) is known for gravel biking, touring cycling, and road cycling. Gravel routes traverse forests and natural features like Shawnigan Lake and the Kinsol Trestle. The Cowichan Valley Trail is ideal for touring cyclists, while scenic road routes connect local communities. Guides like Gravel biking around Area B (Shawnigan Lake) and Road Cycling Routes around Area B (Shawnigan Lake) offer more details.
The Kinsol Trestle is a historic wooden railway trestle built in 1920, spanning the Koksilah River Valley. It is a significant landmark and is now part of the Trans Canada Trail, accessible for foot and bike traffic. The trestle is a popular highlight for many outdoor activities in the region.
Regulations regarding dogs vary by specific park or trail. Generally, dogs are permitted on many trails, often requiring them to be on a leash. Visitors should check specific park rules for areas like West Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park and Koksilah River Provincial Park before visiting.
Routes in Area B (Shawnigan Lake) have received an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on komoot. This rating is based on feedback from more than 5,000 visitors who have explored the region's more than 50 routes.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for Area B (Shawnigan Lake) across various sports. These include guides for Hiking, Gravel biking, Road Cycling, and Running Trails.
Area B (Shawnigan Lake) is an electoral area administered by the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD). The official website for Area B – Shawnigan Lake can be found on the CVRD website at cvrd.ca/224/Area-B-Shawnigan-Lake.
Yes, the mountainous ranges in the southern half of the region reach elevations of 2,000 feet (610 meters) or more, offering routes with significant elevation gains. Some gravel biking routes around West Shawnigan Lake also feature a mix of loose gravel roads and singletrack, requiring good fitness and technical skills.
Trails in Area B (Shawnigan Lake) traverse dense forests of Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, and western red cedar. Hikers and cyclists can enjoy views of Shawnigan Lake, the Koksilah River Valley, and the historic Kinsol Trestle. Mountainous terrain also provides scenic backdrops.
There are more than 50 routes available in Area B (Shawnigan Lake) on komoot. These routes cover various sports, including hiking, touring cycling, gravel biking, road cycling, jogging, and mountain biking.

