Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Cowichan Bay, British Columbia

At nearly 1,300 feet in elevation, this lake offers a peaceful retreat with amenities like a sturdy dock for launching paddle boards or fishing. Its relatively warm waters invite refreshing summer swims. The spacious site easily accommodates several vehicles, making it an excellent destination for b...
Learn more about Wild Dear Lake

This trail follows a network of Forest Service roads, gradually transitioning from lower-elevation gravel corridors into steeper, narrower climbs. Expect long ascents with rutted sections, seasonal snow, and icy patches lingering well into spring. As you gain elevation toward 2,800 feet, dense everg...
Learn more about Holly Oak Lake

Follow the Forest Service road to a hidden local favorite pond. The origins of its name remain a mystery, adding to its quiet charm. The pond features an old, weathered wooden dock, perfect for launching a paddle board or simply relaxing while taking in the peaceful forest and mountain surroundings.
Learn more about Pet's Pond

Once a secret playground for local buggy drivers, this trail still carries a hint of its rugged past. It climbs steadily to over 2,200 feet, rewarding you with a panoramic overlook of Cowichan River Provincial Park. The first half serves up narrow, partly washed-out single tracks that twist and dip ...
Learn more about ArmDong

Access to this trail begins off the highway. The way to the lake is a steep uphill, almost all the way up, made mostly of loose rock. Expect snow and very slippery conditions during winter. The road up is treed and narrow with the occasional pin striping here and there.
Learn more about Sherk Lake

Just off Highway 14 (West Coast Road) along the coast of Vancouver Island are a number of logging roads. One of those roads is W40 which quickly leads to W50-A. W50-A is primarily dirt and gravel, with a few very deep and narrow ditches that cross the road and require high clearance to avoid scrapin...
Learn more about W50-A

This route ascends to Mount Bolduc via narrow old logging roads, ending at a summit viewpoint and the memorial for the 1944 plane crash. Suitable for drivers comfortable with sustained grades of around 14% and exposed conditions. The peak is around 3500 feet. Expect snowy, slippery conditions during...
Learn more about Mount Buldoc Memorial Plane Crash Site

Gordon River Road North is a wide, well-maintained logging road that follows the course of the Gordon River through a lush and varied landscape. Primarily composed of compacted gravel, the trail offers a smooth ride and is easily navigable by most vehicles, making it an ideal option for beginners or...
Learn more about Gordon River Road North

Gordon River Road South is a scenic backcountry service road that begins with a mix of pavement, gravel, and frequent potholes. As you progress, the pavement disappears and the road becomes almost entirely gravel, with an increasing number of deep potholes - airing down your tires is highly recommen...
Learn more about Gordon River South

This route leads you along a bumpy logging road that takes you up a mountain to a beautiful campsite/viewpoint that overlooks First Lake and Mount DeCosmos. On clear days, you can see many mountains in the Beaufort range, including Mount Arrowsmith and Mount Moriarity. The last 500 or so feet of the...
Learn more about BlackJack Ridge Lookout

This is a beautiful lake with 5 hidden campsites and a few trails to test out your modified 4X4. The route starts out at the Northwest Bay logging road gate. Once you pass through the gate you will take a left turn at the first Y intersection after the farmer's field. That will put you onto 155 Main...
Learn more about Boomerang Lake From 155 Main

This trail starts at the Boomerang Lake intersection off of 142 Main. Very shortly the road turns into a tighter trail that crosses a creek and goes along a de-activated road. Once you get onto the maintained road stay left and follow that to the very end where it turns back into a trail with a lot ...
Learn more about Farmers Lookout From 142 Main

When following along this route you will be traveling active logging roads and you must give way to all logging traffic. This is a well-maintained logging road that includes views of the nanoose bay which also happens to be home to the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges. The last ...
Learn more about Kidney Lake

The drive to Shelton Lake is one of those classic Vancouver Island logging road adventures that keeps getting better the higher you climb. The route follows a well-used forest service road that steadily gains elevation with a constant uphill grade. The road continues climbing until it finally reache...
Learn more about Shelton lake

PA-S-2550-6670 is a 1.2-mile out-and-back route open to street-legal vehicles. This lightly traveled gravel road is somewhat overgrown and features a few potholes along with scattered sections of loose rock. Several pullouts along the route provide opportunities for dispersed camping, making it a go...
Learn more about PA-S-2550-6670

Outer Limits is a 1.0-mile point-to-point trail open to vehicles 96 inches wide or less. The trail winds through the forest with a mix of short climbs and descents, heavy rutting, scattered root steps, and several smaller muddy sections. A Discover Pass is required for recreation and parking within ...
Learn more about Outer Limits

Easy Livin' Road is a 2.0-mile point-to-point route open to vehicles 96 inches wide or less. This gravel road serves as an access route into the Sadie Creek 4x4 Course, featuring intermittent potholes and numerous spur trails worth exploring along the way. The final few hundred feet become narrower ...
Learn more about Easy Livin' Road

Laddy Buck Trail is a 0.30-mile point-to-point trail open to vehicles 96 inches wide or less. The trail follows a mostly grassy surface with a few steeper climbs and several smaller root steps, making for a short but enjoyable drive through the forest. A Discover Pass is required for recreation and ...
Learn more about Laddy Buck Trail

Sunset Trail is a 0.52-mile point-to-point trail open to vehicles 96 inches wide or less. The trail follows a mostly grassy surface with numerous short climbs and a single log crossing, making for a fun, flowing drive through the forest. A Discover Pass is required for recreation and parking within ...
Learn more about Sunset Trail

Sinker Swamp is a 252-yard point-to-point trail open to vehicles 96 inches wide or less. Despite its short length, the trail passes through several small mud holes that add character to this connector within the Sadie Creek 4x4 Course. A Discover Pass is required for recreation and parking within th...
Learn more about Sinker Swamp

At nearly 1,300 feet in elevation, this lake offers a peaceful retreat with amenities like a sturdy dock for launching paddle boards or fishing. Its relatively warm waters invite refreshing summer swims. The spacious site easily accommodates several vehicles, making it an excellent destination for b...
Learn more about Wild Dear Lake

This trail follows a network of Forest Service roads, gradually transitioning from lower-elevation gravel corridors into steeper, narrower climbs. Expect long ascents with rutted sections, seasonal snow, and icy patches lingering well into spring. As you gain elevation toward 2,800 feet, dense everg...
Learn more about Holly Oak Lake

Follow the Forest Service road to a hidden local favorite pond. The origins of its name remain a mystery, adding to its quiet charm. The pond features an old, weathered wooden dock, perfect for launching a paddle board or simply relaxing while taking in the peaceful forest and mountain surroundings.
Learn more about Pet's Pond

Once a secret playground for local buggy drivers, this trail still carries a hint of its rugged past. It climbs steadily to over 2,200 feet, rewarding you with a panoramic overlook of Cowichan River Provincial Park. The first half serves up narrow, partly washed-out single tracks that twist and dip ...
Learn more about ArmDong

At nearly 1,300 feet in elevation, this lake offers a peaceful retreat with amenities like a sturdy dock for launching paddle boards or fishing. Its relatively warm waters invite refreshing summer swims. The spacious site easily accommodates several vehicles, making it an excellent destination for b...
Learn more about Wild Dear Lake

This trail follows a network of Forest Service roads, gradually transitioning from lower-elevation gravel corridors into steeper, narrower climbs. Expect long ascents with rutted sections, seasonal snow, and icy patches lingering well into spring. As you gain elevation toward 2,800 feet, dense everg...
Learn more about Holly Oak Lake

Follow the Forest Service road to a hidden local favorite pond. The origins of its name remain a mystery, adding to its quiet charm. The pond features an old, weathered wooden dock, perfect for launching a paddle board or simply relaxing while taking in the peaceful forest and mountain surroundings.
Learn more about Pet's Pond

Once a secret playground for local buggy drivers, this trail still carries a hint of its rugged past. It climbs steadily to over 2,200 feet, rewarding you with a panoramic overlook of Cowichan River Provincial Park. The first half serves up narrow, partly washed-out single tracks that twist and dip ...
Learn more about ArmDong