A distinctive way to explore Honeymoon Bay is through its nature and local history: the rare Pink Fawn Lily is associated both with a protected area and with a seasonal bloom in the park. The Honeymoon Bay Hall represents the settlement of Honeymoon Bay’s early logging community. Together with a market for local products, these offer different focal points for planning your trip, from blooms and building history to market day.
Parks and blooms on Cowichan Lake
Central Park is in the heart of Honeymoon Bay, next to the Honeymoon Bay Community Hall, and extends to the shore of Cowichan Lake. Lily Beach Park has a sandy beach on Cowichan Lake. These are two distinct park settings: a central location connected to the Hall and lakeshore, and a sandy beach on the lake.
The Honeymoon Bay Ecological Reserve was established to protect notable stands of the rare Pink Fawn Lily. In Lily Beach Park, the bloom from mid-April to early May attracts visitors who come to see carpets of pink Pink Fawn Lilies. The reserve’s conservation purpose and the seasonal display in the park show two different aspects of the same rare plant: preserving its populations and viewing it during its limited blooming period. Hunting, fishing, camping and gathering food are prohibited in the Ecological Reserve; motorized vehicles are also not allowed. Plan your visit in accordance with these rules.
Hall history and market day
The Honeymoon Bay Hall represents the settlement of Honeymoon Bay’s early logging community. As a large timber-frame building with the character of a rural barn, it also has a clearly described architectural form. Because the Hall is next to Central Park, local history and the central park setting can be explored in the same area.
The Honeymoon Bay Outdoor Market is a public market featuring local products that are made, baked, grown, produced or handcrafted. It is located across from the fire station. The market takes place on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from the May long weekend through the Thanksgiving weekend. This seasonal schedule differs from the bloom period from mid-April to early May: for the market, the day of the week is also part of your planning. As the schedule may change, check the specific dates before you visit.
In the broader Cowichan Valley destination
In the broader Cowichan Valley destination, the Cowichan Valley Trail is a key part of the Trans Canada Trail route on southern Vancouver Island. Most of the trail is a wide, flat gravel path; some sections run alongside roads. It is suitable for easy cycling and hiking. The Kinsol Trestle is one of eight trestles along the Cowichan Valley Trail route and one of the world’s tallest free-standing wooden railway trestles. Stoney Hill Regional Park offers views of Salt Spring Island and Sansum Narrows, as well as a loop hiking trail of about 3.2 km.
Discover more destinations: Ladysmith, Cobble Hill, Shawnigan Lake, Youbou, Cowichan Bay, Mill Bay, Crofton, Duncan
For the broader travel overview: Cowichan Valley.
