The Cowichan Valley Trail will take you from Duncan through Lake Cowichan and down past the Kinsol Trestle following former CN and E&N railway lines. With many access points and 8 trestles, it's a beautiful trail to walk, jog or bike. From the Island Spirit Team, we hope you enjoy your time in the Cowichan Valley.
All the Island Spirit Legacy Caches are within a 2 steps of the trail unless otherwise noted. There is no need to bushwack or trample the vegetation.
Scotch Broom
Scotch Broom is a perennial shrub native to Europe. Scotch Broom is found in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils at low altitudes. On Vancouver Island it is an ecologically destructive colonizing invasive species. It grows rapidly, crowding out native plants and retarding or preventing the growth of many understorey species, preventing the regrowth of forests which leads to a dramatic loss of biological diversity. It forms dense thickets, shelters feral animals, reduces food for native wildlife, and blocks paths and creeks. Scotch Broom also alters the soil composition in such a way that native plants can not grow where it has grown. From three seeds brought to Vancouver Island in 1850, Scotch Broom has colonized the southern Island and is moving north at an alarming rate.