Cowichan Valley Information - Duncan Cowichan Valley Real Estate Homes For Sale

Ken Neal knows the Cowichan Valley

Welcome to Cowichan, the  "Land Warmed By the Sun"

The Cowichan Valley / Duncan area is located on Vancouver Island

Centrally located the Cowichan Valley is a short drive from Victoria, the picturesque, tourist city, just 61 kilometers to the south and Nanaimo, with its ferry terminal, airport and shopping centres is 45 minutes away by car. Vancouver, along with the nearby world renowned ski resort of Whistler, playing host to the winter Olympics in 2010, is within easy reach by air or sea.

Cowichan - named by our First Nations People - means "Land Warmed by the Sun"

A land of unexpected treasures, nurtured by the highest mean temperatures in Canada, Cowichan is home to over 75,000 people - bigger than many countries. The valley was recently named one of the top ten rural places to live in the country by Harrowsmith magazine, and is home to dozens of artists and artisans. The Cowichan Valley stretches from the Malahat in the South to Ladysmith in the North, between both coastlines of Vancouver Island.

The Communities of the Cowichan Valley

Charming towns and cities are scattered throughout our valley. The rural areas vary from pastoral to oceanside, mountains to forests. 

Ladysmith, a community by the sea, and closest to Nanaimo. South of Ladysmith there is Saltair, Chemainus, Crofton and Maple Bay - delightful and charming seaside towns. 

Duncan, "City of Totem Poles", is the largest city in the area and is the heart of the Warm Lands. 

The Cowichan Lake region, west of Duncan, includes the villages of Youbou, Caycuse, Honeymoon Bay, Mesachie Lake, Skutz Falls, and the Town of Lake Cowichan. Cowichan Lake is one of the largest bodies of fresh water on Vancouver Island.

Cowichan Bay, Cobble Hill, Shawnigan Lake and Mill Bay offer endless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Whether hiking, boating, swimming, hiking or riding - these areas are easily accessible, just south of Duncan.

Duncan

Duncan, centrally located in the Cowichan Region, is known world-wide as the City of Totems. Giant totem poles, including the world's widest totem pole, are placed throughout the city for viewing by everyone. The surrounding villages, towns and countryside  are known for their beauty, charm and wilderness.

Something for everyone in the Cowichan Valley!

The Cowichan Region offers superb fishing in the Chemainus and Cowichan Rivers, as well as salt water salmon fishing on the nearby ocean waters. The area offers something for everyone - wilderness hiking for the adventurer, live theatre, parks for young and elder, hiking, mountain biking and cycling trails, fine deposits of rhodonite for the rock hound, marinas for the avid boater, snow and water skiing and the Carmanah Valley is just a few hours away by car.

The Cowichan Valley is a premium destination for golfers. Several established Golf Courses will soon be joined by the new Cliffs Over Maple Bay course. World class courses with world class views are playable throughout the year thanks to our mild climate.

Duncan has the only lawn tennis court in Canada and is "second only to Wimbledon" according to the October 1996 issue of Reader's Digest. There are several other tennis courts in the area as well.

The area has a marine ecology station which is a centre for hands-on biology and open to the public, a maritime centre with exhibits of local history and wooden boats made or restored on site.

Duncan is home to the Forest Discovery Centre which boasts a working steam train and shows the history of the forest industry in the area. The Quw'utsun' Cultural & Conference Centre, with its history of the Cowichan Natives, serve a lunch of barbecued salmon done in the traditional Native way. Wineries are a big business now too, with at least a dozen in operation today, and a cidery that offer tours and taste-testing.

The Cowichan River Footpath is a 12 mile (19.2km) hiker and angler trail which follows the Cowichan River giving the walker a fantastic view of the river and falls. There are two places to start the hike at Skutz Falls or at the Rod & Gun Club. There is also a short version of this hike lasting about 5 miles round-trip that starts at Skutz Falls. Maps of the footpath are available at the Visitor Info centre.

Duncan has a community centre with a beautiful 700-seat theatre for live shows, multipurpose halls, basketball and volleyball courts, roller-skating and ice-skating arenas, swimming pool, whirlpool and sauna, restaurant and lounge overlooking the pool and the arena, new library, and classroom facilities. The world's largest hockey stick and puck (205 ft long and weighing 31 tons) are located at the Community Centre.

More about the Cowichan Valley!

Tourism, Forestry and Farming are the principal industries in the Cowichan Region. There are several forestry companies in the area along with sawmills, pulp and paper mills, and logging.

The Cowichan School District ranks scholastically high in the province. There are also several private schools, some of which draw students from all over the world.

Portions of the above information courtesy of the Duncan Chamber of Commerce.

Are you considering a move to the Cowichan Valley? 

We would be more than happy to send you more Information about our area as well as a current copy of our local Real Estate Newspaper. Just click here to contact Ken - with your request - and we will do the rest.

To Top of Page | Main Menu  |  Properties For Sale  | Contact Ken  |  Site Map