Area Activities

Many hiking trails exist near the Warm Rapids Inn. We're just minutes from the Trans Canada Trail and we even have a great loop trail on the property where you can view many types of native trees and plants. For details regarding our many local hikes, see the hiking guidebook at the Inn.

Like to fish? The Cowichan River is considered the finest trout stream on Vancouver Island and one of the best in all of British Columbia!

Visit the nearby town of Lake Cowichan where you can explore the shops, view the murals on South Shore Road, wander the lakeshore, see the Kaatza Station Museum or hang out at a pub, coffee shop or bakery.

The nearby city of Duncan offers a number of museums including the Quw’utsun' Cultural Centre and the Duncan Forestry Museum. The Somenos Marsh Conservation Area is a popular sanctuary for birdwatchers while the village of Maple Bay is a quaint seaside gem. Several small wineries and organic farms exist in the Cowichan Valley and tours of these are available.

Excellent Road Biking routes and Mountain biking trails abound in the valley and they range in difficulty from gentle to hard core. You might consider biking into the village of Lake Cowichan for an ice cream or pedaling down to the Cowichan River for a swim (summer) or to watch the kayakers (winter) frolic in the rapids. Avid mountain bikers must try the trails of nearby Mt. Prevost or Mt. Tzouhalem (see our links page). Trail maps are available at the Inn.

Nothing like a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool located on the property. Perhaps you’d like to take a kayak rolling lesson from Don or Rose? The outdoor hot tub is a great place to soothe tired muscles.

Speaking of kayaking, the Whitewater Kayaking on the Cowichan River is excellent. With consistent flows from November through May, novice and expert kayakers alike can enjoy rapids ranging from class 2 to class 4. Open canoeists can also venture down the Cowichan River as there are several sections to choose from. Canoeing on the Cowichan River has been going on since the Quw’utsun’ people began doing so several hundred years ago! Several other whitewater rivers are within a short drive of the Warm Rapids Inn. Guide books and river maps are available at the Inn.

Innertubing has been a popular summer pastime for Cowichan Valley residents for a long time. Hot summers and medium to low waters make for ideal conditions for those adventurous enough to shoot the rapids. Of course the real adventurers choose to navigate the Cowichan River rapids in river kayaks!