Mount Tzouhalem rises above the eastern shore of Maple Bay, about 10 km from Duncan, and offers the best hiking in the immediate Cowichan Valley. The mountain's southern slopes are covered with a Garry oak ecosystem — one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada — and in spring the hillside is covered with wildflowers including camas, shooting stars, and sea blush. The peak gives views across the Salish Sea toward the Gulf Islands and the mainland mountains.
Several trails climb the mountain, ranging from moderate to steep. The most popular route begins at the Tzouhalem Road trailhead and takes about two hours return. The Garry oak meadows near the top are particularly striking in April and May when the spring flowers are at their peak. Tzouhalem is significant in Cowichan oral history — the mountain takes its name from a 19th-century Cowichan leader whose story is told at the Quw'utsun' Cultural Centre in Duncan.