Unwind this Labour Day Weekend Tubing and Exploring the Scenic Cowichan River

Sep 2

4 min read

Updated: Oct 2

If Lake Cowichan is known for one thing, this is it. You climb into an inflated tube, lean back, and let the Cowichan River carry you right through town. It sounds far too simple to be worth doing, until you've done it. Then you'll be the one telling your friends they have to go.

For most of the run, the river moves at roughly walking pace. The water is cool and clear, the trees lean in overhead, and the gravel bars invite you to stretch your legs. Every so often a stretch picks up speed, and the whole group shouts at once, which is half the fun. Plan on two hours or so, depending on the water.

Nobody Tells You About the Water Level

The Cowichan River is controlled by a weir at the lake outlet, and that single structure decides what kind of river you get.

Early in the season, the flow is generous and the float is smooth and continuous. You drift, you doze, you trail your fingers in the water.
By late August, the water has dropped, and a lower river means more scraping, more standing up, and more walking the shallow sections with your tube under your arm. It's still a lovely afternoon. It's just a different one, and nobody mentions it in the brochures.
In spring, the problem is the opposite, and a more serious one. High water on the Cowichan is fast and genuinely cold. That is not tubing season, whatever the weather is doing.

My best advice is simply to ask before you go. The rental operators know exactly what the river is doing that week, because they're on it every day.

Tubers enjoying a relaxing float on a slow moving river

Renting, and the Shuttle

The Tube Shack rents tubes and runs a shuttle back into town, which solves the one real logistical headache of tubing: your car always ends up at the wrong end of the river. They're licensed and insured, and the shuttle is what turns this from a two-vehicle operation into something you can do on your own, on a whim.

When you come off the water, your reward is waiting. Cowabunga Cones on North Shore Drive serves New Zealand style soft serve blended with real fruit, with a row of vintage arcade cabinets in the corner. Sun-warmed shoulders, a cold cone, and a little pinball glow. They even take something off the price if you've rented a tube, the kind of friendly arrangement that only happens in a town this size.

If the River Isn't Running Right

Don't worry, because there's a whole lake sitting above the weir, and it doesn't care one bit about river levels.

Kaatza Adventures on North Shore Road rents kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, jet skis and pontoon boats, and gives e-foil lessons too. They're owned and operated by the Ts'uubaa-asatx, whose name for this lake is the one the town carries. It's a lovely thing to remember while you're out on the water.

Gordon Bay Provincial Park, about fourteen kilometres west, has the sandy beach, the boat launch and the main public water access on the lake. If the float is off, that's where the afternoon goes instead, and nobody will feel like they've missed out.

What to Wear (and What Not to Bring)

Sandals or water shoes. The riverbed is rock and gravel, and you will stand up at some point, usually without planning to. Quick-dry clothes are your friend here too.
Nothing you'd mind losing. Phones go into the Cowichan River every summer, and they don't come back. A cheap pair of old runners and a dry bag solve both problems for about twenty dollars.
IF it happens. The Tube Shack does a thorough river cleanup at the end of the season and the town does have a few divers who can help. Ask or checkout the local Facebook pages.

Whose River It Is

The Cowichan Lake & River Stewardship Society works on the protection and health of this watershed, which includes the very water you're floating on. Please take out whatever you carry in. The river is busy enough in August without anyone leaving anything behind in it, and the best thing you can leave is nothing at all.

A Few Friendly Tips for Your Day of Tubing

Arrive early. The long weekend brings plenty of visitors, and getting there early helps you find parking and stay ahead of the crowds.
Pack the essentials. Bring river-safe sunscreen (you can find it everywhere, including right in Lake Cowichan), water, snacks, and a hat. A waterproof bag keeps your belongings safe and dry.
Plan your route. Chat with the Tube Shack staff about the best routes and how long each one takes. It helps you plan your day and keeps you from rushing a float that's meant to be slow.
Respect nature. Keep the river clean by taking your trash with you, and if you're out hiking or biking nearby, stick to the marked trails.