The Kinsol Trestle

Sunday was a beautiful sunny day so we went to play outside. We decided to drive to the Kinsol Trestle. Located just north of Shawnigan Lake, the trestle is the largest in the Commonwealth measuring 44 meters high and 187 meters long. The trestle was part of the railway built in 1911 by the Canadian Northern Pacific Railway, and was used to transport timber from Vancouver Island. When the lumber industry took a beating in the 1970s the railway line was abandoned and the trestle was left to rot. The last train crossed the trestle in 1979.

In 2007 a campaign was started to save the trestle. Money was donated by many generous people and the Provincial Government also kicked in a few bucks. The trestle re-opened in 2011 and is now, once again, in use by many people on a daily basis. The structure is amazing and well worth a visit. It is open to hikers, bikers and equestrians.

The Kinsol Trestle is part of the Cowichan Valley Trail, which is part of the Trans Canada Trail. The Trans Canada Trail will be the world's longest when completed. It will cross the entire country from east to west to north, at this time some 24000 kilometres have been completed...