Lakeview Park, Lake Cowichan
Large sandy beach area with little shade. 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 park on the river known to locals as the Duck Pond: picnic tables, washrooms and a playground, sandy beach and floating dock. Turn onto North Shore Road and turn left at Park Road or take the footbridge across the river into downtown Lake Cowichan. No lifequards on duty but the river flows slowly.
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. Use caution, the river moves swiftly.
Spring Beach, Meade Creek
Pleasant wooded park with washroom and picnic tables. Named for its natural springs that flow year round. Follow North Shore Road and turn left on Meade Creek Road and follow it until you get to the forest plantation, look left for a yellow gate. Park along the road and the beach is a short walk in.
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.
Bear Lake Park, Mesachie Lake
Small park set under mature trees complete with picnic tables, lawn area, fish- ing dock and boat launch. Drive west on 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. Plenty of shade and there’s a small dock. No boat access is allowed.
Central Beach, Honeymoon Bay
urn right onto Park Road from South Shore Road. The beach is below the park- ing lot. Washroom facilities are at the top of the parking lot.
Gordon Bay Park, Honeymoon Bay
Beach access is available to the public. 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.
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 picnic area.
Heather Campsite
Located on the west end of Cowichan Lake, this campsite has a nice sandy beach, a boat launch, and a scenic view. It can be reached by driving about 38 kilometres down either side of the lake, through either Youbou or Honeymoon Bay, via a gravel road.
Ten things to do in Nanaimo