Has anyone toured on the Cowichan Valley Trail (north of Victoria, BC)? I’m wondering if it’s suitable for a traditional touring bike (32mm touring tires, etc). I’ve seen bike packing videos about it with gravel bikes but haven’t heard about any touring cyclists doing the route (since, let’s face it, we’re not as common anymore). I’ve ridden the Lochside trail but touring has generally been on paved roads/trails. Suggestions?
Thanks.

I’ve ridden parts of it, and the actual Cowichan Valley Trail is rideable on a traditional touring bike. But if you wanted to take in the section of trail that starts just north of Victoria from the Sooke watershed, that part is pretty rough and you’d wind up walking your bike on several sections. In fact, when I rode that with some friends we walked certain sections despite the fact that we were riding gravel bikes. There’s some pretty steep (and long) ascents and descents in fairly loose gravel so it’s a challenge no matter what you’re riding. Once you are through that section and are approaching Shawnigan Lake things get more civilized though and the actual parts of the Cowichan Valley Trail I’ve ridden are in much better shape

Thanks for the helpful info. Sounds like our route could be: start at Duke Pt then follow the Cowichan Valley trail but just to the north end of Shawnigan Lake would work best. From there we could head to the Mill Bay ferry to Brentwood and then home via Swartz Bay. That way, we should avoid the rough gravel-bike-type trails and just ride the touring-bike-friendly trail. Thanks!

You can take the trail all the way to Lake Cowichan on a loaded touring bike, great ride.Good idea to take Mill Bay ferry. have fun

This sounds like it will be a nice ride. When you get to the trail, go as far as the Kinsol trestle and work your way out from there. It’s really spectacular, and you are in a good spot to ride out to Mill Bay for the ferry

I've ridden the north section of the trail (north of Crofton) on a touring bike. It's fine, but nothing special. I wouldn't make a detour to do it.