Malahat: Forest Walk and Panoramic Tower

Malahat SkyWalk is located in Malahat, British Columbia, and brings together forest and views with a distinctive tower structure. The elevated TreeWalk takes you 20 metres above the ground through a mature Arbutus and Douglas fir forest. The experience continues up to the ten-storey Spiral Tower. This sequence gives the place a distinctive focus: first a path through the forest, then a view from above.

From the TreeWalk to the Spiral Tower

From the Spiral Tower, panoramic views extend across Finlayson Arm, Saanich Inlet, Saanich Peninsula, the Gulf Islands, the San Juan Islands, Mount Baker, and the Coast Mountain range. The view takes in both inlets and islands as well as mountain scenery. High above the forest, at the top of the tower, is the 84-square-metre Adventure Net. From there, you can look down through the spiral centre of the tower. This offers a different perspective from the expansive view across the landscape: here, the height of the structure itself becomes the focal point. The Malahat SkyWalk’s Spiral Slide is 20 metres (66 feet) long.

A ground-level trail through the coastal rainforest

Luke’s Lane Nature Trail runs at ground level through a mixed coastal rainforest. The trail is 800 metres long and has a gravel surface. Malahat SkyWalk therefore offers different perspectives side by side: the TreeWalk runs above the ground through the forest, while Luke’s Lane passes through the woodland at ground level. When planning your vacation days, you can decide whether to focus more on the tower and its views or on the rainforest trail.

Food and cultural connections to the area

The Canteen is located in the Tower Plaza at Malahat SkyWalk. It serves smash burgers, George’s famous chili, pizza by the slice, and hot dogs. The menu may change. Malahat SkyWalk is also located on the traditional territory of the Malahat Nation. Near the Shawnigan Creek Bridge, in the Malahat area, stands the Yos Pole, a pole carved by Indigenous people.

The Cowichan Valley as a regional setting

In the Cowichan Valley, Malahat and Bamberton mark the final stretch of the Cowichan region on the drive south. Other places in the region offer different points of interest: the Cowichan Valley Trail is an important part of the Trans Canada Trail route on southern Vancouver Island. Most of the trail is a wide, flat gravel path; some sections run alongside roads. The route is suitable for easy cycling and hiking. Kinsol Trestle is one of eight trestles along this route and one of the tallest free-standing wooden railway trestles in the world. Stoney Hill Regional Park has an approximately 3.2-kilometre loop trail with views of Salt Spring Island and Sansum Narrows. These features make it possible to compare the SkyWalk’s elevated and forest perspectives with the region’s trails, cycling, and trestle structures, without attributing those features to Malahat itself.

Choosing the right vacation destination

Malahat SkyWalk is north of Victoria; the drive is estimated to take about 35 minutes and may vary depending on the route and traffic. This approximate estimate can help with planning. When looking for a vacation rental, the first consideration is which focus suits your vacation: Malahat, with its TreeWalk, Spiral Tower, and Luke’s Lane, or a location more closely connected to the Cowichan Valley’s regional trails and landscape. If you’re travelling with others, this comparison can help you take everyone’s shared interests in views, forest trails, and exploring the region into account when choosing where to stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Shawnigan Lake, Chemainus, Cobble Hill, Duncan, Cowichan Bay, Mill Bay, Youbou, Ladysmith.

Return to the main travel guide: Cowichan Valley.