Vancouver Island

In my experience owning a 3rd gen Tacoma, this is the best sub-forum when you need answers quick... And I need answers quick!

Its my 3rd anniversary and the wife and I got an AIR-BNB in Duncan BC for June 29-July 3rd. I need some places to explore while we're on the island that are STOCK 2016 Tacoma Sport friendly (we do not have a locker, just rolling on BFG K02's)

Some ideas I've got so far are:
- Gemstone hunting (so I can waterjet a ring for the wife for NEXT years anniversary)
- Caving (Horne lake caves but would prefer caves closer to Duncan)
- Sooke Potholes (river tubing)

If you've been to the Island, or live here please chime in with suggestions!

Here's a picture of the truck with a couple hot bitches for attention

 

can i has your dogs?

 

Sooke potholes is amazing but more for swimming and cliff jumping. Tubing the cowichan river is fun and relaxing and very close to Duncan. Tubing the stamp river is also a gas but its in port alberni (Beautiful as well).
Horne lake caves are probably the only "real" caves on VI. There are a lot of old abandoned copper mines around, up logging roads and such.
My recommendation is to drive from Duncan across to Port Renfrew (About an hour ish, no gas stations so fill up). Hit Avatar grove for some insane trees and beautiful river swimming spots on the south side around there (logging roads with tonnes of exploring and lakes. Grab yourself a backroad map book of vancouver island for extra help). If you can plan to be in port renfrew at low tide hike down to Botanical Beach (It'll blow ur mind on low tide). Lots to do right up your alley in and around Port Renfrew. Then you can always drive back to duncan the long way to victoria and back up.

In and around duncan id recommend cowichan lake and river and then a day trip up to parksville (the mrs will love it)

Hope this helps.

 

Nice dogs...Are they Akitas? (sp) Watch out when you pull forward... some twit left a propane tank for you to run over...!!
That would not be nice...hehe
Good luck with finding a nice Gem for the lady..!
I'll go out that way one of these days, I hope..

 

One is Siberian husky the other is Alaskan husky. We've got Alaska highway planned for next summer, so I'm looking forward to that! And the dogs go everywhere with us! (We don't have kids)

 

This is a goldmine of information. As much googling as I do I never get a curated list that sounds exactly like the things we like to do. A copper mine would be so awesome. You wouldn't happen to have any coordinates to drop for me would you?

 

You can have the one that doesn't listen so well. Although as of late, Sitka (the Alaskan) has been especially non responsive to terms such as:
"Off the couch"
"Down"
"In your bed"
"Stop biting Kita's neck!"

And various other phrases in the English language...

Kita (the smaller of the two) on the other hand, really likes eating cats... and our landlords have 2.. or is it one? I don't remember

 

Never been there, but Google says this....

https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=vancouver+island+copper+mine&spf=1497832529052

I'm heading that way in 2 weeks....to Oliver.... Just north of Oosoyus....(sp?)..

 

If the gate on mt. Prevost is open take a drive to the top. There is small hike at the top but the view at the top is unreal ( can almost see down to vic)

Do the trip over to port alberni. Nice drive and check out avatar grove and big lonely Doug. Port alberni has a nice pub for lunch too while your there. Check out Parkville ( very nice beaches) and go to goats on the roof to pick up Christmas presents for people.

Tofino is cool but it's far - If you don't stay the night there not worth the driving time IMO.

I work up in Duncan right by Prevost so I can show you around one day after work ( 29th or 30th) if you'd like.

 

beautiful dogs
Too bad @0210 is banned he's not far from there sure he'd know some good spots.

i think there's a few other west coast northerners on here that could hopefully chime in.
if you ever end up on the easter side of Canada let me know and I can suggest plenty haha.

 

This is what I love about Tacoma world. Thanks man, I may take you up on that offer!

 

You could check out Nitnat lake, if your into kiteboarding or windsurfing, or if you want to put your rooftop tent to use. Forestry camping sites on the lake.
Its pretty close to Duncan

 

Perhaps a more refined trip to Tofino awaits you and the miss'us where you can take a surf lesson!

 

Lots to do on the island that is stock truck friendly. Take all the backroads from Duncan over to Bamfield, then down to Port Renfrew. Lots of great free camping spots. My buddy and I went on a 4 day trip back in April, no serious offloading just logging roads and enjoying the peacefulness of the back country, we got into some spectacular spots, but and some that were not so spectacular, but we still had a blast. Some really beautiful spots. I personally try to avoid those areas on the weekends, though it can get a bit crowded with everyone getting out of Vic/Nanaimo to go camping. There are some really beautiful spots on the rivers in the backcountry there, but space is limited and some of the locals teens tend to use them as drug fuels se parties, hmm, perhaps I am the one looking at this wrongly?

If you have a saw go find some abandoned logging roads and go exploring up them, cut any deadfall up for fire wood or to clear the path and you can get into some really beautiful scenery.

Tofino is over rated, beautiful spot, but it will be crowded, I tend to go off season there to avoid all the tourists.

 

I grew up in the Cowichan Valley. Lots to see.

Cowichan River is excellent for tubing, Looper Creek box canyon is cool, the Cheewhat Giant is just a bit farther down the road. Carmanah/Walbran are beautiful places. Mt. Bolduc plane crash is interesting, Big Lonely Doug and Avatar Grove are worth seeing, as is Botanical Beach. Theres caves on the Gordon River (hard to find). The Coastal Kitchen always has great food. I hear there's Rhodonite up on Hill 60 ridge. Mt. Sicker clay pits are fun. Kinsol Trestle is pretty cool!

I could really go on and on.

 

Botanical Beach is must do for those not living near the ocean. Head from Duncan out to Cowichan lake, then on to Port Renfrew (Use Google maps to figure this out). Drive through the town of Port Renfrew and out to Botanical beach. Look up the tide tables for Port Renfrew to see what time to hit the beach. Aim for an hour or so before the lowest tide shown to give you lots of time to poke around. Plan on spending 3 hours or so beach walking.

 

Not sure the exact location. but do some research its called the Sunro Copper Mine on jordan river. Most of the entrances are close but the hidden ones are still open.

 

Just wanted to say thanks again for all the suggestions everyone. Its been a busy week for me, so I haven't been on. But is anyone up for sharing shuttle transport up the Cowichan river (or another river if you've got a better suggestion) and go tubing for the day?

 

I booked a pottery class I'm Duncan for Sunday night. What are these clay pits you speak of? Would be cool if we could get outlet own clay even