The Cowichan River is one of Vancouver Island's premier fly-fishing rivers, a Canadian Heritage River that flows from Cowichan Lake through old-growth forest and canyon, past Skutz Falls, and into the bay at Cowichan Bay. The river is a serious salmon and steelhead fishery — chinook, coho, and chum salmon return in significant numbers — and the steelhead run in winter draws fly fishermen from across North America.
For non-fishermen, the river offers excellent walking and some of the most beautiful forest scenery on the island. The Cowichan River Trail follows the river for much of its length. The section through Marie Canyon is particularly dramatic — deep gorges and old-growth Douglas fir. Tubing is popular in the calmer upper sections during summer. A fishing licence and provincial regulations apply; check before you go.