Stoltz Pool

Cowichan River Provincial Park, June 2021

A reminder: we are not campers. We’ve done it, yes, but it has always been rather haphazard – something I was looking (am still looking) to change. Now we had some new gear and an early season trip under our belt. It was time to build on what we had learned at Goldstream. Here’s a quick trip summary tracking our minor progression from novice campers to slightly less novice.

It was still pandemic days and so camping was all anyone did. We might as well join them. Roughly a month after a cold (and let’s be honest, rather miserable) night on a deflating mattress, we had a new piece of kit to trial: the Klymit Double-V.

One of my favourite places anywhere is the upper part of the Cowichan River. I feel that growing up near it has somehow influenced my development and the person I have become. It is lovely, yet for some reason (recall that we don’t camp) and I had not camped on its banks since I was very little. Far enough away from Victoria to feel fresh yet near enough to be convenient, the Provincial campsite at Stoltz Pool is a gem. [The campground is just one location within the wider Cowichan River Park. So come for the day use access even if you’re not keen to stay over night.]

For this reservation, we chose a proper tent pad, which I would strongly recommend tenters choose (where they are available). The drive in sights have plenty of room for tents, are generally flat, and appear suitable. What you don’t initially appreciate is the effect of the compacted ground and bits of gravel through the tent bottom. This time, we had to park and walk our gear thirty feet to the site, but the softer surface and separation from the road made this (very) slight inconvenience worthwhile.

This trip we were prepared. We had wood. We had a new mattress. The weather was kinder too. In fact, we it was warmer than either of us expected, resulting in an afternoon sitting with our feet in the river, sipping some drinks. I reserved two nights and we stayed two nights (even though we actually zipped back to Victoria to visit the horse). It was a completely different experience than Goldstream.

More than us just having a better experience and better luck, Stoltz is a better spot than Goldstream. First, it’s a much smaller campground. This means you don’t get the fancy bathrooms; it’s also quieter, cheaper. Goldstream is not without interesting things to check out (if you want to leave the park, there is a ton nearby). But Stoltz gets the nod in this category too, as you are a two minute walk to the river (the best river).

This leads to my final point. If you’ve been to Goldstream or read the post, you will know the woods there can be quite oppressive. At the head of long inlet, bordered by steep terrain, the rain and fog and wet seems to filter right up over the park. This yields big trees and an ever present chill. The bench at along the river is a different kind of forest. It’s more open, filled with maples and less ground cover. The light can come through.

I highly recommend the spot for anyone looking for a short getaway from town. May it be a pleasant training ground to your next big trip.