Lush forests, colourful floaties, and beautifully clear waters are just a few of the reasons why the Cowichan River makes the ideal tubing experience.
Located on Vancouver Island near Duncan, the Cowichan River Shack is now open and offers nearly three hours of floating fun down the waterway. Visitors may opt to bring their own fancy floatie or rent one from the Tube Shack.
Back in April, tubing was banned on Lake Cowichan and on the Cowichan River for the summer to help combat the pandemic by discouraging the thousands of visitors who show up annually for an adventure on the water. However, tubing on the Cowichan River will go ahead this summer after the Town of Lake Cowichan reversed a decision to restrict the popular activity.
The relaxing float winds it way through the breathtaking Cowichan Valley, which offers scenic views of the forest, rolling hills and even some beautiful old bridges. What's more, the first hour of the float is extremely laid-back, providing the ideal time to relax under the bright summer sun.
Visitors may also stop in a few places along their aquatic journey to get off and explore some beautiful beaches. In addition, the end of the ride offers a chance for them to enjoy a refreshing swim before heading home. The ride picks up speed slightly toward the end of journey as the river narrows, but it isn't intense.
The operators also provide a shuttle that runs every 10 minutes, with a last shuttle departing at 6:30 p.m.
The company’s COVID-19 operational plan limits the number of tubers in a half-hour period to 20 people to avoid crowding, and all bookings will be made online to minimize interactions between customers and staff.
They will also cut the capacity of their shuttles in half, from 24 to 12 to support physical distancing.
Tubing can be extremely dangerous in places where the current is strong. Therefore, it is recommended that tubers only go to places that have been approved safe for public use. Further, visitors should never consume alcohol before going tubing.
Cowichan River Float
- With files from Roxanne Egan-Elliott and Carla Wilson / Times Colonist.
