Park overview
The park addition is located on the Chemainus River, approximately 3 km northwest of Duncan on southern Vancouver Island.
Please note: This park is cooperatively managed by the Cowichan Valley Regional District. Services and facilities may differ from those offered in other BC Parks.
Advisories
Facilities
Activities
Chemainus River Provincial Park is a popular destination for anglers. The river is home to spring and summer runs of steelhead, as well as a variety of freshwater species.
For up-to-date information, all anglers should check all current and relevant Freshwater (non-tidal) Fishing Regulations Synopsis and Tidal Water Sport Fishing Regulations, including the appropriate licensing requirements, prior to fishing.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Chemainus River Provincial Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Maps and location
The nearest cities or towns are Duncan and Cowichan.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: December 30, 1959
- Size: 119 hectares
Park contact
Nature and culture
- History: Chemainus River Provincial Park was established on December 30, 1959.
- Cultural Heritage: Chemainus River Park lies within the traditional territories of the Nanaimo First Nation, the Chemainus First Nation, the Cowichan Indian Band and the Cowichan Tribes. Traditional uses include fishing, berry picking and bark stripping. The remnants of an old railway grade in the park is also of historic importance.
- Conservation: Surrounded by a buffer of mature, second-growth forest, Chemainus River Park is home to Roosevelt elk, who use the river as a corridor, and black bears, cougars and wolves, who forage along the riverbanks. The river is home to coho salmon and steelhead. Found in the river above Copper Canyon, the steelhead are a sping “race” with a summer run. Since all steelhead are stopped at the canyon, the deep pools of the upper river are ideally suited to the production of steelhead. The river also has numerous sensitive ecosystems related to the floodplain and riparian vegetation.
- General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.