Shawnigan Lake Shawnigan Lake is an 8 km long lake, to the west of the main highway. There are three roads leading in, one just 11 km north of Goldstream Park, one from Mill Bay and one further north. If you didn t catch the side-trip to Shawnigan Lake, you have a couple of great consolation prizes. This is also a great viewpoint of the Gulf Islands, the Saanich Peninsula and Washington s volcanic Mount Baker. Mill Bay Mill Bay has about a thousand residents who enjoy great Gulf Island views to the northeast.
Seals tend to clutter the community s flats and docks.
This is where to catch a ferry to Brentwood Bay in order to get to Swartz Bay and the Mainland. The Ferries leave every hour and 10 minutes throughout the day. Cowichan Bay A side trip to the east takes you into Cowichan Bay , a thousand resident town at the mouth of the Cowichan River . This town was first settled by non-natives in 1862 when residents arrived aboard the HMS Hecate, accompanied by Governor James Douglas. This town has both a fishing and forestry-based economy.