Skutz Falls is not just a lovely place to view but also home to a refreshing swimming hole. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find pictures of Skutz Falls. The Glenora Trails Head Park is an important eastern gateway to the Cowichan River Provincial Park, the central portion of the Cowichan Valley Trail (part of The Great Trail), the Cowichan River Footpath and Glenora Riverside Park. I also knew that people had died tubing over the falls. Electoral Area F - Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls Zoning Bylaw No. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Firstly, at the source near Skutz falls off highway 18 where the Horseshoe Bend Campsite is located. Sometimes, when there is a location I would like to use in a book, but I can’t go and see it, or I haven’t been there in a long time, I will cruise Google to get the lay of the land. I have spent quite a bit of time on the Cowichan River where Skutz Falls is located. Alright, it’s time to get back to editing, otherwise the love between Claire and Spencer will never get a chance to get out of my head and into your life . A half-dozen waterfront sites allow a variety of ways to access the 27 km of protected riverfront parkland. You will have to just take my word for it and go see for yourself. The Skutz/66 Mile Loop Trail is a beautiful hike, but it isn’t for the feint of heart. It wasn’t really the end of the world, because the trail loops across a trestle bridge and joins up with the Cowichan Valley Trail on the other side of the river. The Skutz Falls area is home to the Skutz Falls fish ladders, it has a couple of quick little rapids exciting enough to make the under 1km walk back to the start over and over again all part of the fun. Easy stretch of trail along the Cowichan River. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Note: If you have not yet gone tubing down the Cowichan River that should be first on your list when visiting in the summer, as it is rated the number 1 summer activity of Vancouver Island! Cowichan Search and Rescue found a man stranded in his car, which was stuck deep in the woods on a logging road, last weekend in the Skutz Falls area. In the fall spawning salmon can be viewed at the Skutz Falls and Marie Canyon areas. There are beautiful views, good parking, pit toilets, and an information shelter. Many come here to challenge the current of the river and get some exercise, as you can travel from one end of the pool to the other in no time. THE ROMANCE OF CAPE SCOTT PROVINCIAL PARK. I had seen the signs on the river warning about how much further it was to the falls. Campsite reservations are accepted. We hiked through expanses of forest that were so thick with ferns that the fronds looked like they were shag carpet—only a very pretty and vibrant carpet—not like the shag carpet I remember from my childhood <>. By the time we actually arrived at the falls, I was sweaty and ready for a swim. Be safety conscious if you think swimming in the Cowichan River is a good idea. At one point I had to point out that we were actually hiking slower than we did at Cape Scott with our heavy backpacks on, and if we didn’t pick up the pace a little, then we would make it to the waterfall (which I still believed, along with my kids, was a giant thundering waterfall) sometime after dark. Viewing the falls takes no time so why not add in an afternoon hike along the banks of the Cowichan River. To get to the Cowichan River Footpath, turn right onto Mayo Road from highway 18 about 9km from Lake Cowichan. Even though the waterfall is small, the area below the falls is very narrow, so you can still feel the power of the rushing water. They are probably holding in some of the deep, cool canyon waters and swims are being done to try to find them. There are 39 drive-in and 4 walk-in sites at the Stoltz Pool campsite. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. And after having been to the falls, I think the scenes are going to be even more amazing, because the only thing better than a sassy woman being forced to hang out in nature, when she would rather be anywhere else, is to have the promised waterfall be more like a bump in the river. The Holt Creek Trail Head, Stoltz Pool and Campgrounds, Maire Canyon, 66 Mile Trestle and Skutz Falls Trailhead. Paddling from Skutz Falls to Marie Canyon is approximately 10 kilometres and you might have to portage around Marie Canyon, depending on the water level. The Lake Cowichan RCMP began the search after the man texted a friend to say he was stuck sometime after 6 … These cookies do not store any personal information. The problem was that I had told my kids that we were going for a short hike and then a swim in the river. Which is what would’ve happened, if we’d gone west. Skutz Falls day-use area and campsite: day-use area: A great place to picnic, watch surging white water, salmon runs and fish ladders. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. This site also provides access to the Skutz Falls section of the river, where visitors can view spawning salmon in the Fall, river rapids and a man-made fish ladder. About 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) after exiting Cowichan Lake, the river drops over Skutz Falls, a small waterfall that is often visited when fish are climbing the fish ladder constructed beside the falls. But I wasn’t going to drive all the way up there to just scramble down from the parking lot, so we planned to do a loop hike. There is a nice picnic spot at the west end of the 66 Mile Trestle. Skutz Falls is also a must see as it offers stunning views of river rapids and a great spot for an afternoon picnic. Swimming and tubing are popular activities at the Stoltz Pool day-use area and below Skutz Falls. There is just enough current to have a little fun without having to worry about any nine-year-olds getting swept downriver. I enlisted the help of my friend, who lives in the Cowichan Valley, loaded my kids in the car, and headed up island on a waterfall hunting adventure. I think my friend might still be laughing at me. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Tourists and locals flock each year to the river to go camping, swimming, fishing, hiking, tubing and canoeing in and along the river corridor. Whitewater Kayaking on Vancouver Island Cowichan River: wilderness guides and food and beverage artisans, Skutz Falls is a waterfall on the Cowichan River on Vancouver Island, British In 1901, Whymper and his four guides (Joseph Bossoney, Christian Kaufmann, Nelson Whitewater Rafting Co. Public Notices The Town of Lake Cowichan. Swimming and tubing are popular activities at the Stoltz Pool day-use area and below Skutz Falls. Well, let’s just say that we went east when we should’ve gone west. Even though the waterfall is small, the area below the falls is very narrow, so you can still feel the power of the rushing water. Skutz Falls is not just a lovely place to view but also home to a refreshing swimming hole. I had never been to Skutz Falls before, but there are a few scenes in West Coast Romance Book 3 that take place there, so I figured I better get my boots on the ground and check these falls out. ... End point: End your float at Davidson’s Pool, a popular swimming hole in the community, located at 23700 128 Cres. By the time we actually arrived at the falls, I was sweaty and ready for a swim. I knew that Skutz Falls would play a significant role in the meeting of heroine and hero in West Coast Romance Book 3. There are still large chinook salmon swimming up the river and about 70 have so far been counted at Stoltz but only a few have been seen above Skutz falls. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. From there we took what appeared to be a “less traveled” route southward. Skutz Falls is a little canyon-like subsection of the lovely Cowichan River. You can start and finish your hike at Skutz Falls, a popular swimming hole in the summer and a great place to watch salmon jump up the fish ladders in the fall. Experienced whitewater kayakers may wish to navigate the river between Skutz Falls and Marie Canyon. Skutz Falls day use is located at the Western trailhead of the Cowichan River Footpath and offers pleasant walks, fishing, picnicking, great swimming and tube runs. Located on the Cowichan River in the beautiful Cowichan Valley, Skutz Falls is a popular area for outdoor leisure. This provincial park has three main access points. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Cowichan River Footpath follows the River from one end the park to the other. If that makes any sense at all. Change ), View from the jumping point http://rickpaulettervjournal.blogspot.ca/2010/10/skutz-falls-last-river-blog-for-now.html, http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Little-Mountain-near-Parksville-BC-6729, By: Gordon Niamath http://www.panoramio.com/user/241496/tags/Errington, http://www.nanaimoinformation.com/little-mountain.php, http://rickpaulettervjournal.blogspot.ca/2010/10/skutz-falls-last-river-blog-for-now.html. THE UNEXPECTED ROMANCE OF A SIDNEY ISLAND DAY TRIP! We have 32 pet friendly vacation rentals in Skutz Falls resorts. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. There are a couple of trails that you can take to get to Skutz Falls, but you don’t really have to hike to view them. Skutz Falls isn’t a giant, cascading waterfall. ( Log Out /  Skutz Falls is a little canyon-like subsection of the lovely Cowichan River. Also, tubers should always avoid submerged trees and logs. Hazards include rapid water level changes, log jams and rapids. Campsite reservations are accepted. That is, right after you go tubing down the Cowichan River! It makes a nice loop. How to Access the Cowichan River: Skutz Falls Road: (Western Access) Located off of Highway 18, Skutz Falls Rd provides access to Skutz Falls and Marie Canyon … These falls are a perfect place to take a walk around and view the waterfalls and old salmon ladders along the river. ( Log Out /  There is a Provincial Campground nearby and Sathlam Lodge has a cable car over the river to the trail. But even mini-waterfalls are amazing, and you can still feel the power of the water as it rushes by. Best to park at Skutz Falls. Highlights include the 90 metre long Mile 66 Trestle over Marie Canyon, and the 73 metre long 64.4-Mile Trestle over Holt Creek. The Cowichan River Provincial Park recreation area has four main areas. Downstream, the river flows through Marie Canyon, … Skutz Falls is a little canyon-like subsection of the lovely Cowichan River. The up-river section on the north side is a more overgrown trail. The Cowichan River Provincial Park is a popular recreation park for many outdoor adventure activities. Secondly, the Stoltz Pool Campsite is located off Highway 18 and gives access to the middle of the Park. Warning: The Cowichan River has fluctuating water levels and swift currents. Unfortunately, the area directly next to the falls isn’t exactly picturesque—there is a man made fish ladder that has seen better days. For your next holiday or vacation, consider bringing your pet and staying at … The area is a rocky playground with pools deep enough for diving and lots of places to park yourself for the day. In late fall/early winter this section of river is home to thousands of spawning salmon that can be seen swimming and jumping up the river or the salmon ladders in the upper section. And that’s where things went a little haywire. Both sides of the Fall’s pool are rock lined, one side a giant rock wall and the other a set of smooth rocks for laying on in the sun. Just ride the current, jump out, and do it all over again! Look for a turn off out of Duncan, onto the Cowichan Valley Highway. These falls are a perfect place to take a walk around and view the waterfalls and old salmon ladders along the river. Continue following the signs on Skutz Falls Road to Riverbottom Road and the day use area. Cowichan River Provincial Park: This is a great hub for camping, fishing, swimming, paddling, hiking, cycling or simply enjoying a forested river setting. From there it was west and south to Pete’s pond. But we didn’t…. The Skutz Falls area is home to the Skutz Falls fish ladders, it has a couple of quick little rapids exciting enough to make the under 1km walk back to the start over and over again all part of the fun. This adventure took place on 13 August 2020. If you don’t already, waterfalls (and hot springs) are one of my favourite things. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Experienced whitewater kayakers may wish to navigate the river between Skutz Falls and Marie Canyon. The Swinging Bridge at Skutz Falls is quite a feature, linking the tow sections of the Footpath. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. An interesting feature is the man made fish ladders that help get the fish up the Cowichan River. So imagine my surprise when I actually saw them. They may not be able to get past Skutz falls in the low, warm river. But you only need to look downriver or upriver, ignoring what’s behind you, to take in the beauty that is the Cowichan River. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. We parked at a lot just a little bit away from the falls and consulted the map that had been very generously placed there by park staff—Skutz Falls is located in Cowichan Valley Provincial Park. Skutz Falls might not be mighty, but even mini-waterfalls have the power to enchant! Who orients a sign with a map on it, so that it’s facing south? We chose to move down below the falls to swim. Skutz Falls would be better described as steep rapids. SIGN UP FOR NICOLE’S NEWSLETTER – COME AND JOIN THE ROMANCE, https://nicoletayloreby.com/nicoles-privacy-policy/. Parks staff have done an excellent job of parking the dodgy places. The down-river section on the south side is the more frequented trail and is well brushed out. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Ian Morrison, the Cowichan Valley Regional District director for Area F (Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls) is the new president of the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities. These falls are a perfect place to take a walk around and view the waterfalls and old salmon ladders along the river. You don’t need to be afraid of getting carried away down the river in this spot because in the summer it gets very shallow at the end. It’s more like a mini-waterfall. There is a parking lot just a few hundred metres (or a few hundred yards, if you’re from south of the border ) from the falls. But Skutz Falls is only about an hour-and-a-half drive, so I knew I needed to go and see them for myself. Below the falls, in the summer time, are swimming areas. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Children should be accompanied by an adult when in or near the river. So, yes, the first time I viewed Skutz Falls, I was standing at the base watching the water come roaring over the top… and it wasn’t what I was expecting. We didn’t actually tell the kids that we had taken the longer loop. The trail was lined with berry bushes, especially red huckleberry, so the first part of our hike was rather slow, because one of my twins was too busy picking berries to get anywhere fast. Don’t exactly know where Cowichan Lake is? As each owner sets their own pet policy, there are many owners that do allow dogs, cats and even other critters to stay at their vacation rental home in Skutz Falls. Please note Skutz Falls should be avoided, it is not suitable for tubing over. Get back to nature at picturesque Skutz Falls on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Skutz Falls is not just a lovely place to view but also home to a refreshing swimming hole. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. We ended up going for a long, hot hike, and then a delicious swim in the river next to a baby waterfall. ( Log Out /  It has some pretty steep sections, and there are a few places where the river has undercut the banks, making for some unstable ground along the edges. The river is the main attraction of the park, as it includes great recreational options such as swimming, canoeing, white-water kayaking, tubing and fishing. The area is a rocky playground with pools deep enough … You are good as long as you stay on the trail. Access can be found from Duncan via Hwy 18, Cowichan Lake Road and River Bottom Road. Once you get a little down river, it widens, deepens, and slows down, and there is a nice area to swim. I have ridden down it on a tube almost annually. Swimming in the Cowichan River is at the swimmer’s discretion – rapids, pools, long slow meandering sections of the river are all to be found. There are 39 drive-in and 4 walk-in sites at the Stoltz Pool campsite. May be fun to check that out at the right time. River access is most often steep and rugged, however. What they don’t know… right? With its river rapids and man-made fish ladder offering premium views of salmon spawning in season, Skutz Falls can be enjoyed best from one of Owner Direct’s many vacation rentals nearby. Get Directions to the turn off. This venture can easily be made into two smaller loops, a 6k and a 8k. I, personally, blame whomever it was that placed the sign. It’s almost like the waterfall is horizontal. Marie Canyon, 66 mile trestle, Skutz falls, and Skutz bluff are highlights of hiking in the areas. Besides, she might have led us a little astray on the hike—don’t tell her I told you; I think it might be a secret—so she can’t tease me too much. So, rewind back to Skutz Falls main, and up the Rock Garden, through the 4×4 bypass, and down Skutz-14 to the waypoint I had for the caves. 2600 3 "building" means any structure, wholly or partly enclosed by a roof or roofs supported by walls or columns, which is used or intended to be used for supporting or sheltering any use accommodating persons, animals, chattels or … As I hinted at the beginning, this entire adventure was research driven. Explore the Cowichan River footpath, fish for trout, swimming, skutz falls fish ladder, and so much more. Swimming and tubing are popular activities at the Stoltz Pool day-use area and below Skutz Falls. The trail starts from Cowichan Lake Road, approx 4km west of the Skutz Falls turnoff, or 4km east of Lake Cowichan. Horseback Riding - Riding is permitted on the Trans-Canada Trail Swimming - Swimming is a popular activitie at the Stoltz Pool day-use area and below Skutz Falls. It forms one end of the scenic Cowichan River Footpath. Both sides of … But don’t be worried, it’s more fun than it is dangerous. ( Log Out /  Strange structure on the trail to Skutz Falls. You can park on the side of the road at an ‘S’ curve about 20m east of a blue house on a small farm with a barn. If you would like to know more about my books and the inspiration behind them, sign up for my newsletter and never miss a thing! Expert kayakers run the falls and other put in just below them. Located at the end of Mayo road off Cowichan lake road, Skutz Falls is a popular destination all times of the year. It’s that hidden! Of course, the Marie Canyon trestle is a wonder and Skutz Falls is also worth viewing. Follow Mayo Road downhill to the river and park near the bridge. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. You should’ve seen their faces when they saw the waterfall . https://nicoletayloreby.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/20200813_152409.mp4, DISCOVERING A WATERFALL WHEN SEEKING POTHOLES - NICOLE TAYLOR EBY. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Warning: The Cowichan River has fluctuating water levels and swift currents. On the south side is the man made fish ladders that help us analyze and understand how you use website. As it offers stunning views of River rapids and skutz falls swimming 8k firstly, at the Pool. It forms one end of the deep, cool Canyon waters and swims are being done to try find! A half-dozen waterfront sites allow a variety of ways to access the 27 km protected... Lovely place to take a walk around and view the waterfalls and old salmon ladders along the River from end., Log jams and rapids for tubing over able to get past Falls! 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