West Shawnigan Lake
Summary
Distance: ~105km
Elevation: ~1,800m
Summary: A clockwise loop leaving from Uptown Shopping Centre, heading up the Great Trail, down to Shawnigan Lake, weaving through the West Shawnigan Lake gravel road and trail network, traversing the Silvermine Trail to Cobble Hill Mountain Bike Park, and then returning to Victoria via the Mill Bay ferry.
Caution: Although primarily a gravel ride, good fitness is required as well as some technical handling skills. West Shawnigan Lake includes washed out, loose gravel "roads" and sections of singletrack (might include a small amount of hike-a-bike). Silvermine Trail and Cobble Hill Mountain Bike park also include singletrack.
The Pitch
The most common route when taking the Great Trail from Victoria is to connect to the Cowichan Valley Trail network which guides you to Kinsol Trestle, along the rail trail bordering the western shore of Shawnigan Lake. This route is well established, easy to navigate, and quite flat. However, more inland from this trail is a large gravel road and trail network that was (legend has it) used by a local Trials Motorbike Club. It is not flat, not easy to navigate, but is a tonne of fun to ride.
Details
The entire route can be decomposed into 5 different segments: Uptown Shopping Centre to Humpback Reservoir, Humpback Reservoir to Shawnigan Lake, Sooke Lake Rd to Kapoor Main, Silvermine Trail and Cobble Hill Mountain Bike Park, and Mill Bay to Victoria.
1) Uptown Shopping Centre to Humpback Reservoir
I won't go into too much detail on this segment. This is primarily urban commuting to the Great Trail (forest trailhead). Feel free to mix this up any way you wish. As depicted, you'll ride the Galloping Goose and some lesser known gravel segments to keep the ride interesting, but don't overdo it at this point. Plenty of distance and elevation to come...
Malahat Nation's Yos Totem Pole standing sentry along the Cowichan Valley Trail at Shawnigan Cr.
2) Humpback Reservoir to Shawnigan Lake
Leaving the city behind, you'll travel along some mellow gravel forest trails and steep forest service roads as you climb the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail. Locals, somewhat erroneously, refer to this as The Great Trail (short lived name, 2016-2021, for the Trans Canada Trail). Wolf Hill, after the small suspension bridge, is a particularly steep section and the beginning of a series of climbs to bring you to Goldstream Heights. Once you arrive at the summit, enjoy the feeling satisfaction knowing you are above the Malahat Highway and even above the Malahat Skywalk.
From the summit, it is a fun descent along the Cowichan Valley Trail bringing you close to the southern tip of Shawnigan Lake. Take care with your speed as tight corners on loose gravel can surprise you.
3) Sooke Lake Rd to Kapoor Main
Shortly after the Yos Totem Pole near Shawnigan Cr., you'll emerge at Sooke Lake Rd. A quick dog leg will will bring you back on the Cowichan Valley Trail but only for a short while as you'll turn off to the chunky gravel road, WS Main.
The quality of gravel immediately degrades to large, and, at times loose, baby heads. You'll slow your pace as you pick your way through the rocks and acclimatize your riding style to the much more remote and less groomed feeling of the terrain.
Follow your GPS route closely. There are many unexplored gravel roads in the are. Some are dead-end spurs, others remain unexplored and might work out, but the route as depicted does connect correctly. If memory serves me correctly, you will encounter some steep and loose climbs, narrow and technical ATV tracks, and tricky descents that make this a rewarding and adventurous ride. There is a longish singletrack section before reaching Kapoor Main. Likely a Trials Motorcycle trail that is roughly equivalent to a Cross Country MTBing blue trail (95% rideable on a Gravel Bike) and a highlight of the area!
At one point, you will pop out on a gravel road and travel alongside some farmland. Watch for a bull that likes to escape its pasture and roam freely along the road.
From here, it's a quick ride along Kapoor Main to the Silvermine Trailhead.
One of the colourful signs marking the Silvermine trailhead.
4) Silvermine Trail and Cobble Hill Mountain Bike Park
Now 55km into your ride (and the majority of elevation completed), you may be tempted to call it quits. Indeed, you are a short eastward ride along Renfrew Road to get to the Lakehouse Restaurant for the best burger and coke you could hope for. But a quick stop at the Kinsol Trestle parking lot to eat your snacks and make use of the outhouse might be enough. After all, there is a great coffee shop at the end of this segment that makes for a natural refueling stop.
The entrance to the Silvermine Trail might feel like you are trespassing on private property (and I'm not entirely certain you aren't) but the trailhead markers are clear, friendly and humorous so I can only assume it is permitted. You'll travel along the forested roads and ATV tracks of the Kaptara and Skirmish Trails until you reach Silvermine proper: a delightful neighbourhood trail that skirts along the edge of a Shawnigan neighbourhood.
After exiting Silvermine Trail onto Colman Rd, it's a brief road ride along Thane Rd to the back entrance of Cobble Hill Mountain Bike park.
Stick to the depicted route : Dragonfly and Beaver Trails and Empress Access Rd, for a gravel friendly ride (deviate if you are feeling adventurous) to the eastern entrance to the park and the overdo coffee stop at Oldle School Coffee (personal favourite), nothing fancy and everything you want when feeling tired and depleted. Staff are friendly and there is a small outdoor patio so you can keep an eye on your bikes.
5) Mill Bay to Victoria
The adventurous aspect of the ride has come to a close, but you still need to get home. The route provides a fairly direct way to the Mill Bay ferry terminal. Make sure you checked the ferry schedule well in advance, taking note of the Mill Bay departure time.
Tip: Stop at the Mill Bay Thrifty Foods and purchase a ferry ticket from Customer Service to save yourself a little money!
Once in Brentwood Bay, the route provides a fairly direct way back home along Wallace Dr, Interurban Rail Trail, and eventually the Lochside Trail. Really, just get home any way you can!