Koksilah River Provincial Park is located 7 km west of Shawnigan Lake on southern Vancouver Island. This undeveloped 210-hectare park in the Vancouver Island Forest Reserve offers good hiking, fishing, swimming, canoeing and kayaking while you spend the day picnicking in the scenic surroundings of the Koksilah River and Canyon.
The nearby Kinsol Trestle, just outside the eastern boundary of the park, is an historic site well worth visiting.
Kinsol Trestle is one of the largest and highest wooden trestle bridges in the world, and has now been fully restored to its former glory. The old wooden railway bridge was constructed over the Koksilah River in 1920, to allow the transport of equipment and supplies into the Kinsol Copper Mine. Outbound rail cars carried harvested timber destined for the nearby mills.
[FAGP id=27637]
Camping: Koksilah River Campground has been closed indefinitely, however, day-use services are still offered. The nearest provincial park campground is at Bamberton Provincial Park.
Hiking: Koksilah River Park has no developed trails, however there are a number of good existing rustic trails that lead to the river and throughout the forest and park.
Kayaking: The Koksilah River provides a 6-km whitewater kayak run above Burnt Bridge, one of the few whitewater runs on southern Vancouver Island.
Mountain Biking: The Koksilah River/Burnt Bridge region offers some incredible mountain biking trails. This is the site of the annual Burnt Bridge Classic Race Loop and the Can-Am Trails. Lose yourself for hours or even days in this challenging, but not overly technical area.
Koksilah River Provincial Park is located 7 km west of Shawnigan Lake, on Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Turn west off Trans-Canada Hwy 1 in Mill Bay onto Shawnigan Lake Road.
Follow the road to the fourway stop in the community of Shawnigan Lake and turn right. Continue around the northern end of the lake and beyond the west end of the lake. Access to the park is on Renfrew Road, a gravel logging road.
Nearby Regions & Towns
Park Notices
