Historic CNPR Trail
| Click here for News Release on Historic CNPR Trail Historic CNPR Trail
From its northern access on the China Creek Marina road, the trail passes through a recent clearcut and then descends steeply through mature timber and evergreen huckleberry to Underwood Cove. On the way, it passes some rocky clearings which give views of the inlet below. The trail continues past Underwood Cove to a cast-in place concrete culvert, completed in 1913 - the date is embosssed on the downstream end. Across the creek, at the top of the bank is the end of the Canadian Northern Pacific Railway grade, although the trains never went past Cowichan Lake.
The rail bed was constructed without motorized machinery and impressive rock cuts and filled areas can be seen along the way. The trail continues south along the rail grade, past the two access trails from Underwood Main. It parallels the inlet, which can be seen through gaps in the rainforest. Two side trails along the route give access to small beaches beside streams. Work on the trail is continuing and it will soon extend to Franklin River
![]() |




From its northern access on the China Creek Marina road, the trail passes through a recent clearcut and then descends steeply through mature timber and evergreen huckleberry to Underwood Cove. On the way, it passes some rocky clearings which give views of the inlet below. The trail continues past Underwood Cove to a cast-in place concrete culvert, completed in 1913 - the date is embosssed on the downstream end. Across the creek, at the top of the bank is the end of the Canadian Northern Pacific Railway grade, although the trains never went past Cowichan Lake.
The rail bed was constructed without motorized machinery and impressive rock cuts and filled areas can be seen along the way. The trail continues south along the rail grade, past the two access trails from Underwood Main. It parallels the inlet, which can be seen through gaps in the rainforest. Two side trails along the route give access to small beaches beside streams. Work on the trail is continuing and it will soon extend to Franklin River

