Camping in Duncan, BC...Reputation VS. Reality

Camping in Duncan, BC on Vancouver Island Canada.

Have you ever driven through a place multiple times and never stopped? Well we were those people too—just passing by on the way to somewhere else on the Island. But this time, we hit the brakes and kicked it into reverse. No expectations, no plan—just a quick detour to see what we’ve been missing… and yeah, we were not ready for what we discovered. We are Scott and Steph, a couple of adventurers seeking out fun, unique and beautiful spots while camping in our converted Ford transit van, Stella. If you like what you see please like and subscribe.

The Cowichan River is one of Canada’s designated Heritage Rivers, valued for its ecological and cultural significance. For thousands of years, it has been central to the lives of the Cowichan Tribes, who rely on the river for food, culture, and tradition. Stretching about 47 kilometers from Cowichan Lake to Cowichan Bay, it supports vital salmon runs including Chinook, Coho, and Steelhead.

The river is also a popular destination for tubing, fishing, and hiking, with sections protected within Cowichan River Provincial Park. Its flow is carefully managed by a weir at the rivermouth in the lake to help sustain wildlife and water levels year-round.

Cowichan River Provincial Park stretches along one of the region’s most significant salmon-bearing rivers and offers a mix of hiking, swimming, and scenic viewpoints. Our first stop is at Marie Canyon. Here the river narrows dramatically, forcing large volumes of water through a tight rock passage. This creates strong currents, standing waves, and whirlpools—making it a popular spot for viewing the raw power of the Cowichan River, especially during higher water levels. Further along the trail network is the 66 Mile Trestle which is part of the Trans Canada Trail system. Originally this was a railway bridge but it now serves as a pedestrian crossing, offering elevated views of the river valley and surrounding forest. We also stopped in at Sandy Pool regional park. Sandy Pool provides a contrast to the canyon. Here, the river widens and slows, creating a calmer section that’s commonly used for swimming, tubing, and day-use access in the summer months. One of the bigger feature along the way is Skutz Falls. Here the river flows over a series of rocky ledges, forming a set of low waterfalls.
This area is especially important during salmon spawning season, when fish can often be seen navigating upstream through the moving water.

The Italian Kitchen - We stopped in to this hidden gem, the Italian Kitchen and Deli at Grove Hill Farm. We have literally been driving by this place for years so today was the day to pop in. They offer a variety of imported Italian goods like cheeses, specialty meats, olive oils, pasta and different types of sauces made in house. They also offer fresh pizza and small batch gelato with to go options.

The Duncan Farmers’ Market runs year-round and is one of the longest continuously operating farmers’ markets in British Columbia. Established in 1995, it brings together local farmers, food producers, and artisans from across the Cowichan Valley. We were here in mid March but the market will triple in size come summer.

Abandoned House - Tucked away in the forests near Duncan is this abandoned Farm house. Once a large rural property, the home was left behind amid stalled development plans, with ownership changes and infrastructure disputes halting progress. Over time, nature has begun reclaiming the land, while the structure itself has fallen into disrepair. Though it draws curiosity from urban explorers and photographers, the site sits on private property—standing today as a quiet reminder of how quickly ambitious projects can be left unfinished. If you have any additional history or further information about this place please leave a comment below!

Well that wraps our time here in Duncan and camping on the Cowichan River , We had a great time hiking and exploring the area. But join us next time as we head back out into nature in The Alberni Valley area. So please join us for more of our adventures.

0:00 - Introduction
0:30 - Stoltz Pool Campground
3:00 - Cowichan River Drone Footage
4:20 - Cowichan River Provincial Park
8:42 - Scott BBQ
10:20 - Next Day
11:40 - Duncan Drone Shots
12:10 - Italian Kitchen & Deli
13:08 - Downtown Duncan
14:19 - Duncan Farmers Market
16:14 - Abandoned House


#vancouverisland #explorecanada #adventurevan #Duncan #CowichanValley #travelcouple #cowichanriver #adventurevlog #explorebc #hiddengems #vanlife #smalltown #downtownduncan #vancouverislandcamping #camping #duncancamping