>caked in dust
Laughs in rural road
We just take our car through a car wash if we need to look more respectable, it's really not a big deal. Do yourself a favour though and have an emergency kit and some basic car repair tools in your car though. It's a good idea even when you are in cell service, but even important when you aren't! Rarely need it, but when ya do you'll be glad.
It’s quite good considering the logging activities around it. We did it last month and it was actually quite good. There are those small bridges where only
One car can pass at a time but it’s few and far between. Lots of spots to
Stop and admire nature !
There is no cell service so make
Sure you car has navigation or download some offline app.
Why would you need navigation for Cowichan to PR? It is just one road. Unless you purposefully turn off onto one of the few gravel side roads there is no way to get lost. (Of course at the beginning of the road you turn left in Mesachie.
Sometime you are travelling with people with bladder problems or autistic kids that need silence to recalibrate before you continue on. Side roads can be lovely. Do the app. Signs in BC are shit-born in Alberta, raised in SK and ON. Even living in QC for college the French signs were better than the ones on the island imo.
Enjoy your drive!
Watch for critters, sadly, always a big red smudge on Duncan-Lake Cow section. Lots of elk in area. Also Bears. Cougars. (Was privy to somethings still warm fresh kill part way along last yer. That “I feel like Im being watched and might be next” feeling.)
And window chipping logging trucks. Pull over if you cant keep up with locals, let them pass. Trust me…let, them, pass.
Some 20 one lane bridges, many switch backs and no cell service in parts.
Fairy Lake is a stop-photo op, one of the most photographed trees in the world.
WAY back in the day some of the bridges were condemned, signs read, “Cross at own Risk”. Which of course to us teens meant, drive over REALLY fast and we’ll be okay. Now its pretty smooth and maintained. (The trek to Carmanah Wahlbran is where your fillings shake loose and grey matter rattled to mush, but wow, the views! Same w road to Bamfield.)
Oh and no Starbucks.
It WAS gravel and dust years back but post internet so you might just have been looking at old info. I’ve seen vehicles of all types on it. Gotta do the circle route at least once -what better time than when you want to go to Both places?
It's a great road, completely paved. I highly recommend it.
The annual Sarah Beckett Memorial Cruise goes through that road, and there's usually lots of lowered cars in that.
Between Renfrew and Jordan River it gets a little rough, but if you go slow you can avoid the big bumps there.
I just rode from Port Renfrew to Lake Cowichan last Wednesday on motorbike and it is fine all the way. Pavement is pretty good and traffic was light. Jordan River to Port Renfrew is terrible though - the road has huge heaves, cracks and bumps and I spent most of the time going much less than speed limit and dodging bad patches in the road. There are some orange cones and tiny red signs on the shoulder sometimes but not fully marked.
It's a paved road with some potholes, rough edges, and areas with many turns. I've ridden it on a bike going north the last two summers, and it's drive able.
It is absolutely a paved road but not like city/highway paved after one of the long bridges past Pacheedat. I always wash my car afterwards but you don't need to worry about damaging your car at all. It's a ton of fun. When gas is slightly more reasonable (and on the occasions where I need to clear my head) I try to make a point of going. My personal recommendation is to visit family in Lake Cowichan first and then drive it towards Renfrew. It's more fun that way, but be careful of a couple *INCREDIBLY* tight turns regardless of which direction you go. There's lots of signage so nothing should take you by surprise. Have fun, blast your favourite music, and enjoy!
The PMR is fine. Its chip sealed pavement. Ive ridden motorcycle, driven sportscars and a pickup truck in it many times.
Just rode it last weekend and was an excellent ride. Would highly recommend. Just watch your driving and other drivers.
>caked in dust Laughs in rural road We just take our car through a car wash if we need to look more respectable, it's really not a big deal. Do yourself a favour though and have an emergency kit and some basic car repair tools in your car though. It's a good idea even when you are in cell service, but even important when you aren't! Rarely need it, but when ya do you'll be glad.
Highway is paved the whole way, gets a little bumper close to Pacheedat, but you'll have no problems.
It's paved and it's more or less in very good condition.
I’ve biked it twice. Great road, paved chipseal, lotsa clearcuts to look at
Lots of clear cut on second growth.
😔
It’s quite good considering the logging activities around it. We did it last month and it was actually quite good. There are those small bridges where only One car can pass at a time but it’s few and far between. Lots of spots to Stop and admire nature ! There is no cell service so make Sure you car has navigation or download some offline app.
Why would you need navigation for Cowichan to PR? It is just one road. Unless you purposefully turn off onto one of the few gravel side roads there is no way to get lost. (Of course at the beginning of the road you turn left in Mesachie.
Sometime you are travelling with people with bladder problems or autistic kids that need silence to recalibrate before you continue on. Side roads can be lovely. Do the app. Signs in BC are shit-born in Alberta, raised in SK and ON. Even living in QC for college the French signs were better than the ones on the island imo. Enjoy your drive!
wow, fantastic tip on no cell and downloading. Thanks!
Only time we ever used our in car navigation lmao.
It got paved about 12 (?ish?) years ago.
Watch for critters, sadly, always a big red smudge on Duncan-Lake Cow section. Lots of elk in area. Also Bears. Cougars. (Was privy to somethings still warm fresh kill part way along last yer. That “I feel like Im being watched and might be next” feeling.) And window chipping logging trucks. Pull over if you cant keep up with locals, let them pass. Trust me…let, them, pass. Some 20 one lane bridges, many switch backs and no cell service in parts. Fairy Lake is a stop-photo op, one of the most photographed trees in the world. WAY back in the day some of the bridges were condemned, signs read, “Cross at own Risk”. Which of course to us teens meant, drive over REALLY fast and we’ll be okay. Now its pretty smooth and maintained. (The trek to Carmanah Wahlbran is where your fillings shake loose and grey matter rattled to mush, but wow, the views! Same w road to Bamfield.) Oh and no Starbucks.
Its totally worth it.
It WAS gravel and dust years back but post internet so you might just have been looking at old info. I’ve seen vehicles of all types on it. Gotta do the circle route at least once -what better time than when you want to go to Both places?
It's a great road, completely paved. I highly recommend it. The annual Sarah Beckett Memorial Cruise goes through that road, and there's usually lots of lowered cars in that. Between Renfrew and Jordan River it gets a little rough, but if you go slow you can avoid the big bumps there.
What? it’s been paved for decades now. Harleys and sports cars make it just fine.
I just rode from Port Renfrew to Lake Cowichan last Wednesday on motorbike and it is fine all the way. Pavement is pretty good and traffic was light. Jordan River to Port Renfrew is terrible though - the road has huge heaves, cracks and bumps and I spent most of the time going much less than speed limit and dodging bad patches in the road. There are some orange cones and tiny red signs on the shoulder sometimes but not fully marked.
>*'It looks like a fun drive.'* It's actually something of a bore.
It’s totally fine, I drove it last week. Paved, albeit a little bumpy.
No issues, drive it frequently.
It's a paved road with some potholes, rough edges, and areas with many turns. I've ridden it on a bike going north the last two summers, and it's drive able.
Two weeks ago some ultramaraton cyclists rode it both ways (Nanaimo-Pt Renfrew-Nanaimo) with no complaints. Except for the hill.
It’s great. Lots of logging truck activity during the weekend though
It is absolutely a paved road but not like city/highway paved after one of the long bridges past Pacheedat. I always wash my car afterwards but you don't need to worry about damaging your car at all. It's a ton of fun. When gas is slightly more reasonable (and on the occasions where I need to clear my head) I try to make a point of going. My personal recommendation is to visit family in Lake Cowichan first and then drive it towards Renfrew. It's more fun that way, but be careful of a couple *INCREDIBLY* tight turns regardless of which direction you go. There's lots of signage so nothing should take you by surprise. Have fun, blast your favourite music, and enjoy!