This ride is approx. 55% unpaved. The majority of this is reasonable quality, that said the South section of the Cowichan Trail  and South Shore Road have always been the worst sections. There have been improvements this year but some sections are still a little bumpy. This leads to more vehicle traffic on the North Shore side, plus cabins and route to Bamfield, also contribute to the North Shore Road having more traffic. On all sections of the Cowichan Trail, care should be taken at all transition points, eg bridges often have a step up, crossing roads have road traffic but also can have ledges, dips and deeper gravel. On the return leg of the Cowichan Trail at approx. 158KM mark there is a drop after a bend and a narrow bridge, care should be taken here.

The pre-ride was done on a gravel bike, but believe an appropriate equipped road bike, read wheels and tyres should handle this route fine. The tyres used where Conti GT5000STX 32mm. There is a section, at the end of Ingot Rd, approx. 100m long that if you are on a road bike or uncomfortable with more MTB cross-country type path, I would recommend that you walk, or take the alternative road option. Ie At the end of Thain Road, go over the railway tracks take a right onto Shawnigan lake Road and then at the end of the road take a right onto Renfrew Road and reconnect to the main route towards the end of Renfrew Road. This removes the unpathed section in its entirety, with a 5.2Km road section

Given the nature of the route, there are not many escape routes and few amenities. I recommend the following, a good tool kit, at least two spare inner tubes, first aid kit. Make the assumption you will not have cell coverage and put the device into airplane mode to conserve battery, as you go round Lake Cowichan. Hopefully if you do need it you can utilise satellite communications if need be, assuming telco offers this. A note here, a lot of the Cowichan Trail has tree canopy so satellite which requires line of site can still be poor. Another element to the canopy, in these sections, temperature can be quite different to the open road sections, pack clothing that allows for this, if you feel temperature changes badly. I could not find potable water after Honeymoon bay store/coffee shop til Youbou Store, so approx. 40km. The Honeymoon Bay store, is at approx. 69Km, is posted as being open 8AM to 8PM.

If planning a break to view the lake I always recommend the Little Shaw Campsite at approx 100Km, table and toilets.

The route is unpaved and mostly rural, there is not a small chance that you might run into wild life, if you have bear spray pack it, if you can. To prove a point as I was starting the road climb out of Duncan on Wilson Road, I had to roll back down the hill for a bit to let a black bear move on. Speaking to a resident of the neighbourhood the bear has been around for more than a few days.