A Visit to the Kinsol Trestle on the Cowichan Valley Trail
Written by Amy Schwartz
Spanning 187 metres long and standing 44 metres tall, the Kinsol Trestle is truly a sight to behold. A sight that I got to see with my own eyes on a recent trip to Vancouver Island, along with a lovely group of travel writers and tourism professionals a few days before the 2026 Travel Media Association Conference in Richmond, BC.
We met up at the trailhead near Shawnigan Lake, BC. Representatives from Tourism Cowichan and the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) were on hand to guide us through the visit.
From rail to trail
Originally built as part of the Canadian National Railway route on Vancouver Island, the Kinsol Trestle was completed in 1920. The last train crossed the trestle in 1979, and the trestle was abandoned shortly after that. In the early 2000s, the Cowichan Valley Regional District decided to restore the trestle as the finishing touch to the trail established along this former rail corridor, as part of the Trans Canada Trail. With a lot of planning, support from local and governmental organizations, and funding from several groups including Trans Canada Trail, the Kinsol Trestle was fully restored in 2011 and has been welcoming trail users and tourists ever since.
The walk to the trestle itself is fairly short — intentionally so. The parking area is set back about a kilometre from the structure. It was designed that way to recreate some of the feeling of arriving by train. Walking towards the trestle along a well-maintained, forested trail, we passed remnants of the railway’s past: an old telegraph pole can be seen just off the Trail, and pieces of the original structure line its sides.
On the opposite side of the trestle, we visited a rest area built in the style of former rail stations that lined the tracks, complete with fascinating informative panels about the region’s history.
Photo credit: Amy Schwartz
A feat of engineering
Brian Farquhar, Senior Manager, CVRD Parks & Trails, shared how CVRD, the Province of British Columbia and Trans Canada Trail worked together to help kick-start a rehabilitation campaign, with the Trans Canada Trail Foundation helping secure approximately $6.5 million for the project.
“The support from the Trans Canada Trail Foundation has been tremendous, not only with the successful restoration of the historic Kinsol Trestle as part of the trail experience,” noted Brian, “but also with advancing completion of the Trans Canada Trail route across the Cowichan region linking communities on Southern Vancouver Island.” The restoration took close to 18 months from start to finish, which is impressive in itself. What is also of note is the scale of the project. The structure contains 46 bents, the massive vertical support frames that hold up the trestle bridge. Some of the steel components had to be fabricated in Victoria and transported overnight, closing the highway at 2 a.m., arriving one piece at a time by crane.
Photo credit: Amy Schwartz
A prime attraction for visitors to Cowichan Valley and Vancouver Island
When we arrived at the trestle, we were all fairly spellbound. It’s hard to describe its scope but suffice it to say that it’s definitely worth a visit (or two… or several). Along the trail, we passed dog walkers, friends out for a morning stroll, cyclists, and what appeared to be groups of tourists dropping by to marvel at the trestle and surrounding views.
Part of the Cowichan Valley Trail, which is open year-round for cyclists, walkers and equestrians, the Kinsol Trestle stands out as part of an incredible tourism offering in the region. Visitors can rent bikes in nearby Duncan, visit charming towns and beachside locales, experience farm-to-table cuisine, and much more. Excellent ecotourism opportunities abound, including paddling, cycling, hiking and wildlife viewing.
On a personal level, I’m so happy to have experienced the trestle, and to have seen the concrete effects of this partnership over the past 15 years – a partnership that is still going strong today. It’s so powerful to see such an incredible structure that has been reimagined and has come back to life, and that embodies the importance of nature and trails in communities across Canada. Thank you to 4VI and to Cowichan Valley Regional District for the warm welcome.
Photo credit: Amy Schwartz
Learn more about the Kinsol Trestle and the Cowichan Valley Trail.
Discover Vancouver Island trails on our interactive map.
Learn more about bikepacking on Vancouver Island.
Photo credit: Amy Schwartz
About Trans Canada Trail
Stretching nearly 30,000 kilometres across every province and territory, the Trans Canada Trail is cared for locally by trail and community groups. As a charity, Trans Canada Trail advocates for and stewards this nationwide system. We support community-led trail projects through the Trail Catalyst Fund and we share reliable trail knowledge through the Centre for Trail Excellence.
Main photo credit: Amy Schwartz
