March Field Trips
North Fork Cowichan River/Saw Mill
Dike - Friday, Mar 6
BC Forest Discovery Centre - Friday -
Mar 13
Vancouver Island Miniature Horse
Assoc Fun Day - Sunday, Mar 22
Cowichan River - Three Spots -
Saturday, Mar 28
North Fork Cowichan River/Saw Mill Dike
Date: Friday, March 6
Meet: South end North Fork Bridge Parking spots
Time: 10am-noon
Costs: none
Washrooms: none - nearest public washrooms Art Mann Park
Walking Conditions: generally flat except a spit near the mill - Gated, limited access
Directions: Go south from Duncan on the Island Highway; pass the Farmer's Market and turn left onto Cowichan Bay Road; go about .5 km to the stop sign; turn left onto Tzouhalem Road; continue approx 3 km and watch for the parking areas to the left and right of the bridge approach, trailhead is on the right side of the road. If you cross the North Cowichan River you have gone too far.
Cautions: CHECK OUT PARKING BEFORE YOU DRIVE OFF THE ROAD - Parking is limited, with some space on both the east and west side of road; the parking area is rough and uneven with large potholes and you could damage your car if you are not careful; suggest approaching the parking area from the south - A gate completely blocks access to trail except for walking around the gate or lifting a bike over it
Features: river, adjacent fields, farm buildings off the dike, mill, spit, river estuary
Photo Opportunities: possible: eagles, herons, ttb, otters, beavers, hawks, ducks, View of Mt Tzouhalem
Post Trip Review (coffee): TBA
BC
Forest Discovery Centre
2892 Drinkwater Rd, Duncan
Date: Friday, March 13
Meet: BC Forest Museum Parking Lot, lots of room
Time: 9:30am - 3:00 pm
Costs: none
Washrooms: on site
Walking Conditions: generally flat with hard packed gravel and crushed rock walkways leading to wide flat dirt trails and narrow paths - open field in some places, also marsh areas
Directions: Starting in Duncan on the
Island Highway:
1. Travel north 1.5 km on the Island Highway to the stop light
(Tim Horton's on left, BC Forest Museum on right)
2. Turn right onto Drinkwater Rd and turn into parking lot for
the BC Forest Museum
Cautions: bring a lunch if you plan to stay all day, there is a good picnic area with tables
Features: lake, marsh, museum, logging buildings, logging machinery, forest
Photo Opportunities: eagles nest (some spotted building nests during the Sapsucker Festival), logging machinery, herons, geese, ducks, swans, tbb, forest, marsh
Post Trip Review (coffee): could be on site or across the road at Tim Horton's North - bring a lunch if you plan to stay all day, there is a good picnic area with tables
Vancouver Island Miniature Horse Assoc Fun
Day
Lombard Farms, 1620 Baldy Mt Rd
Date: Sunday, March 22
Meet: meet at the farm
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Costs: none
Washrooms: on site in the resident's house
Walking Conditions: elevation change of about 100 feet; sloping drive and sloping undulating fields; driveway - gravel; fields - grass covered pasture; arena flat - covered with sand/gravel
Directions: Travel south from Duncan on the
Island Highway. Turn right at the Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay exit,
watch for Sylvester Rd. Turn left onto Sylvester Rd, then turn
right onto Baldy Mountain Road. Lombard Farm is on the left side
of the road, watch for the sign. There is a long driveway.
Cautions: parking will be in one of the fields 50-70 yards from covered arena, fields grassy and sloped, one restroom on site in house, LARGE friendly dog, LEAVE ALL GATES AS YOU FIND THEM
Features: ponds, farm buildings, farm machinery, large covered arena, lots of miniature horses, and many excited horse handlers of varied ages (mostly young), owls, eagles, tbb, small drainage streams
Photo Opportunities: people, mini horses and handlers, fun day activities for horses, everything associated with the farm scene
Post Trip Review (coffee): TBA
Cowichan
River - Three Spots
Skutz Falls, 66 mile Bridge, Stolz Pool
Date: Saturday, Mar 28
Meet: Start at Skutz Falls parking area
Time: 10:00 am to noon
Costs: none
Washrooms: Sani Cans in the park
Walking Conditions: flat with packed gravel to packed crushed - slippery slope if you venture to the river, packed forest paths with some roots and rocks
Directions: Starting
in Duncan on the Island Highway travel north to the Lake Cowichan
highway (Hwy#18). Turn west (left) and drive 18.7 km until you come to
the turnoff to Skutz Falls (watch for sign). Turn left and follow the
gravel road for about 3 km to the falls.
Cautions: river banks and rocks very slippery, watch for roots and small rocks on forest paths - BEARS will be out, use common sense and always be with someone
Features: Cowichan River, Skutz Falls and fish ladder, 66 mile bridge, Stolz Pool and park
Photo Opportunities: Cowichan River, wildlife, forest trees and vegetation
Post Trip Review (coffee): Tim Horton's North