Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island is one of the more beautiful lakes on the east coast of Vancouver Island. A paved road circles the lake, giving access to the whole lake. The lake offers good fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout with an average size of 25 to 50 cm. There are also kokanee, smallmouth bass, and perch. The fishing is good year-round but is best from March to June or September to October.
The lake is an excellent lake for kayaks, canoes and is a favourite water ski lake on southern Vancouver Island. Windsurfing is getting to be popular here. This is a beautiful lake, a true gem.
Near the south end of the lake is Memory Island provincial park. A great place to watch birds and wildlife. This small, day-use-only park provides quiet nature viewing and picnicking. This small island is a sanctuary and habitat for a variety of small mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, plants, and fungi. Memory Island is only accessible by water.
The lake has many beaches and parks, some with all the amenities and others, not so much. But all are just incredible. Great places to picnic, swim, or fish.
Just east of the lake is the Koksilah provincial park which is a great place to hike and camp. It is the only campground near Shawnigan Lake. Koksilah River Provincial Park is located 7 km west of Shawnigan Lake, on Southern Vancouver Island. This wilderness park has great hiking, fishing, and swimming opportunities. The now-abandoned Kinsol trestle, spanning the river, is one of the largest and highest wooden trestle bridges in the world. This is a pretty incredible bridge and to think of how tough it must have been to build.