River & Lake Access Points
Here are the points on the River and Lake which offer public access for swimming or picnicking. You will also find a map showing access points by clicking here.
All directions are from Saywell Park (next to the Visitor's Centre) and assume you are driving unless stated otherwise:
Kinsmen “Duck Pond”
Driving: Turn left out of Saywell Park. Continue through town and over the car bridge, turning left on North Shore Road. Turn left on Park Road. The playground and riverfront access are on the left.
Walking: Turn left out of Saywell Park, staying on the left side of the road. You will come to Ed’s Outdoor Shop, which has a large orange awning. Beside Ed’s is a walking bridge. Walk across the bridge, over the river, to the park.
Nantree Park (Marble Bay)
Turn left out of Saywell Park on to South Shore Road. Follow the road through town and over the car bridge, then immediately turn left on to North Shore Road. Follow this road until you reach a fork in the road. Stay to the left on Meade’s Creek Road. Turn left on to Marble Bay Road and left again at Nantree Road.
Woodland Shores (Marble Bay)
Turn left out of Saywell park on to South Shore Road. Follow the road through town and over the car bridge, then immediately turn left on to North Shore Road. Follow this road until you reach a fork in the road. Stay to the left on Meade’s Creek Road. Turn left on to Marble Bay Road and follow it for approximately
2 km (past Bayview Village). You will see two large stones on the sides of the road
marking the entrance to Woodland shore subdivision. The park is about 1 km further on, to your left.
Spring Beach
Turn left out of Saywell Park on to South Shore Road. Follow the road through town and over the car bridge, then immediately turn left on to North Shore Road.
Follow this road until you reach a fork in the road. Stay to the left on Meade’s Creek Road. Continue over two small bridges and after approximately 1.5 km, look for a yellow gate on the left. Park here and enter via the gate.
Sunset Park
Turn left out of Saywell Park on to South Shore Road. Follow the road through town and over the car bridge, then immediately turn left on to North Shore Road. Follow this road until you reach a fork in the road. Stay to the left on Meade’s Creek Road and follow it to Sunset Drive. Turn left on to Sunset Drive (just before joining Youbou Road) and follow it to the small beach.
Mile 77 Park (Creekside)
Turn left out of Saywell Park on to South Shore Road. Follow the road through town and over the car bridge. Continue to the highway that leads back to Duncan. Instead of going to Duncan, turn left on to the Youbou Road. Follow this road (approximately 7 km) until you see a sign to your left for Mile 77 Park.
Price Park (Youbou)
Turn left out of Saywell Park on to South Shore Road. Continue to the highway which leads back to Duncan. Instead of going right towards Duncan, turn left on to the Youbou Rd. Follow this road for about 9 km until you see Miracle Way on the left. Follow this road to Price Park.
Swordfern Park, (Youbou)
Turn left out of Saywell park on to South Shore Road. Continue to the highway that leads back to Duncan. Instead of going right to Duncan, turn left on to the Youbou Road. Follow this road (approximately 11 km) until you see a sign that says “Swordfern Trail.”
Arbutus Park (Youbou)
Turn left out of Saywell Park on to South Shore Rd. Continue to the highway which leads back to Duncan. Instead of going right towards Duncan, turn left on to the Youbou Rd. Follow this road through Youbou to Alder Crescent on your left (about 14 km).
Lily Beach Park (Honeymoon Bay)
Turn right out of Saywell Park on to South Shore Road. Continue on this road for approximately 10 km to the community of Honeymoon Bay. Once in Honeymoon Bay, turn right on Beach Drive. Lily Beach Park is at the end of this road.
Central Park (Honeymoon Bay)
Turn right out of Saywell Park on to South Shore Road. Continue on South Shore Road for approximately 10 km to Honeymoon Bay. Turn right on Park Avenue and follow Park Avenue down to the park. You can park on the left, at the beach.
Stin-Qua Park
Turn right out of Saywell Park on to South Shore Road. Stay on South Shore Road for 9 km. Turn right into Stin-Qua subdivision.
Bear Lake Park (Mesachie Lake)
An excellent area for swimming. Turn right out of Saywell Park on to South Shore Road. Follow this road for approximately 6 km to the community of Mesachie Lake. Turn right on Bear Lake Road (after Forestry Road). Bear Lake Park is at the end of this road.
Lakeview Municipal Campground and Public Beach
Driving: Turn right out of Saywell Park, following South Shore Road, past the sports arena. After leaving town, look to the right for a wooden sign with green writing that says “Cowichan Lake Education and Conference Centre.” Follow the gravel road until you see a smaller sign indicating a public beach and parking. Turn right at the sign and follow the gravel road to the beach.
Walking: Turn right out of Saywell Park and then immediately right again onto Point Ideal road. Walk for about ten minutes down this road, past the Cowichan Lake Marina. At the bend in the road, look for a small trail and beach access sign on the left.