I thought about starting this blog with all of the memorable places I’ve travelled to prior to the pandemic that left many of us locked down, in quarantine and spending more time living and working from home. But the more I thought about it, I wanted to start with my most favourite place right here on Vancouver Island… Lake Cowichan. And more specifically, Gordon Bay Provincial Park & Campground which sits on the Lake Cowichan, just West of Duncan, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
I started camping here about 8 years ago. It was actually one of my first camping experiences when I got to the West Coast, and remains my favourite place on the Island. Gordon Bay is a Provincial Park and the Campground is just steps away from the Lake. We always love to book a Double Site, so that friends and family can join us for long weekends in the Summer to swim and soak up all of that warm sunshine.
There’s ample parking for people making a day trip up Island or for campers who have too many floaties, food and beach gear to walk down from their campsite. And just beyond the main beach parking lot is our favourite place – the grassy knoll – where we put our camp chairs and beach towels by a nearby picnic table to setup for our beach days by the Lake! From here, it’s in-between the main beach area, park trails and flush-toilet restroom and regular outhouses for bathroom breaks. It’s also a great view of the log boom where everyone loves to climb up and jump off into the lake from.
By the grassy knoll are little trails that lead to different lookouts around the lake. Point Trail takes you on some epic views of the lake and little nooks that you can spend the whole day in the water and soaking up the sunshine. My favourite little nook is beyond a few big trees where we actually spread our 16-year old lab-retriever Jayden’s ashes. She loved sunning herself and swimming in this lake, so it was only fitting that her final resting spot would be here. So now every time our family heads up there, we know she’s always with us.
A few other favourite things to check out in the town of Lake Cowichan are just before the Campground are endless little hobby farms selling wood for campfires, preserved jams, jellies, baked goods, farm fresh eggs and flowers. They have have a sweet little Farmers Markets on the weekends in the Summer. There’s also a Country Grocer and Home Hardware in town in case you forgot anything for your camping weekend – marshmallows, ice cream to enjoy on a hot day, your favourite beer or a tarp in case it rains! And finally, Lake Cowichan is known for its tubing down the river waterways, so there’s many launch points throughout town to take your latest floatation device – be it donut shaped, inflatable mattress or inflatable swan – down the water on a hot Summer’s day.
There’s also lot of cabins and resorts that you can rent that surround Lake Cowichan, but camping is my favourite way to enjoy this little sanctuary. It truly is the epitome of Vancouver Island Magic. I hope you get a chance to visit it and enjoy this little slice of paradise.
To check out maps, how to book a campsite and how to get to Gordon Bay Provincial Park, check out the Provincial Site for more info.: https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/gordon_bay/
Happy Exploring!
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