Tucked away in the heart of the Cowichan Valley you will find Gordon Bay Provincial Park. It's a popular destination for travellers that come to take in the stunning scenery of Cowichan Lake, the surrounding moss-covered forest and to visit the Honeymoon Bay Ecological Reserve.
Located only a short 15 minute drive from the town of Lake Cowichan and a 40 minute drive from downtown Duncan B.C., this park is very accessible to outdoor enthusiasts travelling from all over Vancouver Island.
Gordon Bay Provincial Park has all the amenities you could wish for in a park including 126 vehicle-accessible campsites. If you are considering camping at the park, book your site early because they tend to fill up quick!
This slice of heaven also offers a large beach with a designated swimming area, hiking trails, playground, boat launch, showers, pit & flush toilets & picnic tables throughout the park. There are Stand-Up Paddleboard rentals available in the park also. Click HERE to see the BC Parks website for more information on park and it's amenities. Gordon Bay Provincial Park has a little bit of something for everyone and is worth spending the day (or longer) at this picturesque location. Quite possibly one of the best places to SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) on Cowichan Lake.
In the summer, the lake is warm and the clean sandy beach makes for great family swimming. The park and the surrounding area are home to a second-growth Douglas-fir forest which are luscious and green all year-round. Set in one of Vancouver Island's sunniest valleys, this area boasts the highest average annual temperature in Canada.
The best place to launch your paddleboard, kayak, water-craft, canoe, or boat is at the designated 'boat launch' . (The park kindly asks that all water-crafts including paddleboards be launched and used outside of the log-boom).
The boat launch can be accessed by taking the first right turn past the covered information board on the right hand side of the road as you enter the park on Walton Rd. There is plenty of parking in the boat launch parking lot and a nice concrete ramp to launch from. It is a nice gesture to others to begin gearing up at your car away from the launch so it can be accessible to any boaters that wish to launch and have room to turn the truck and trailer around to back it down the launch as soon as they arrive. Once you have all of your gear together, drive over closer or carry your gear to the launch and get ready to depart from shore.
If you are renting a paddleboard from Pristine Paddleboard Adventures (PPA) at the "Paddle Shack" in the park, there are 2 launch points outside of the designated swimming area that you may use instead of the boat launch also. Contact the folks at PPA for more info. If you would like to rent a paddleboard or book yourself in for a tour of the Gordon Bay Islands, Click HERE.
Click HERE to check out a video of my SUP trip to the Gordon Bay Islands in January 2023!
Once you head out from the boat launch, looking out straight ahead you will see a couple of small land-masses with a few trees on them: These are the beautiful 'Gordon Bay Islands'. The water around the islands are crystal-clear turquoise in Summer, and a deep emerald in the Winter. Paddling around these special little islands make you feel like you are truly in paradise!
As a whole, this protected parkland area has an abundance of wildlife thriving in their natural habitat. The forest floor is covered with Thimbleberry, Salal and Salmonberry along with Vanilla Leaf, Foamflower and Bunchberry.
There are several areas where you can get off your board and come ashore to the islands. When the wind is blowing and the bay is choppy, it is best to approach the islands from the south side of the islands or the side closest to the shore line of the park. There are some cool little spots to lay out a beach blanket or towel to catch some rays and have a snack. The amount of beach exposed will depend on the water level and the time of the year. You can also get to the Gordon Bay Islands by a hiking trail in the park that heads towards the point. The hike is breathtaking, called 'The Point Hike'. Depending on the water level, you can wade across to the islands. This wilderness area features unparalleled views and is for the moderate hiker. There are also rock bluffs a short distance from the beach (on the point) to set up your beach blanket, have a picnic and enjoy the afternoon. If you decide to take a walk in the forest, you just might see a deer or a red squirrel. Birds are everywhere in Gordon Bay Provincial Park, a favourite spot for birders. Keen-eyed hikers have reported seeing Pileated Woodpeckers, Juncos, Stellar’s Jays, Chestnut-Backed Chickadees, as well as Mergansers and Golden-Eye ducks.
Below are some photos on and around the Gordon Bay Islands in July 2022.
For paddleboarders with a bit more steam or who want to extend their adventure, SUP enthusiasts can make a stop on the islands and then continue west along the south shore of the lake heading west. As you paddle along the shore line you will see many moss-covered cliffs, Arbutus trees and the natural beauty of Cowichan Lake. In some places, the rock cliffs come straight up out of the water!
Anglers you can try their luck at fishing for Dolly Varden, Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout which are resident species in the lake. Make sure to observe and obey local fishing regulations if you do decide to try some fishing. You may see the fishing regulations in the 2023-2025 Fishing Synopsis HERE on page 17. In addition to fresh water species, Chum, Coho and Chinook Salmon make their way up the Cowichan River from the ocean and spawn in Cowichan Lake and its tributaries. Steelhead spawn in the Cowichan River.
As you paddle along the shoreline cliffs, keep your eyes peeled for a little treasure that is placed in a gigantic crack in one of the cliffs going straight into the water. It is a wooden block with the image of a kayaker painted on it. This marker should indicate the "turn around point" of your paddleboard adventure from Gordon Bay. After this point there is not much more to see other than a long continuation of the cliff-covered shoreline. The later in the day you are on the south shore of the lake the less sun you will have as the mountain and trees block the sun later in the afternoon.
NOTE: If there are white caps in the bay we do not recommend heading out past the Gordon Bay Islands on your board. You will in most cases have to paddle back into the wind which can prove to be a tiresome task to some. We suggest 2.5 - 3hrs to complete this paddle to the cliffs round trip with minimal winds, time to soak up the sights and in good water conditions. If paddle conditions worsen due to increased winds, consider bending your knees more or even get down to a kneeling position when paddling back ashore. Always bring the appropriate safety equipment with you on your journey. Page 15 of the Transport Canada Safe Boating Guide will show you what is required for your paddle board safety equipment checklist. Make sure to check the weather conditions before you head out. Bring enough drinks and snacks to keep you fully-hydrated and energized.
With easy access to the water at Gordon Bay Provincial Park, all the amenities a person could ask for in a park and the absolutely stunning waters of Gordon Bay with surrounding mountains, make this a priority on your visit to the Cowichan Valley.
If you would like to know more on how you can explore the Gordon Bay Islands, Gordon Bay Provincial Park as a whole, rent a paddleboard or book yourself in for a guided tour of the Gordon Bay Islands, Click HERE or drop us a line at info@pristinepaddleboard.com with your questions.
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