When I first moved to the island in the early 90’s, I was taken to this abandoned trestle and couldn’t believe my eyes. At that time, it still had the metal railway lines and daring visitors could walk out onto the old structure, no railings, no safeguards at all. Today, it has been lovingly restored and is a must see for everyone. The Kinsol Trestle a Vancouver Island historical treasure that definitely needs to be on your list.
Getting There
Located at Shawnigan Lake, if coming from Victoria make a left turn off Highway 1. Follow Mill Bay/Shawnigan Lake Road all the way to the village. There take a right at the four-way stop and follow that road around the lake. Watch for signs as you will need to take one more right to reach the parking lot. Google link here for a map.
Once you have reached the parking lot, the trestle is a further 15-minute walk on a wide and level gravel path through the forest.
What is It?
The Kinsol Trestle is the largest wooden trestle in the Commonwealth and one of the highest railway trestles in the world. Essentially, it’s a wooden bridge, made of old growth Douglas fir timbre with an unusual curve to it. An intricate puzzle of beams that measures 188 metres long and 44 metres high, soaring above the Koksilah River. It formed part of the early rail line reaching Victoria.
Brief History
Logging began on the island in the 1880’s. In order to get the huge old growth logs to port, there needed to be a more efficient system. In 1911, the Canadian Northern Pacific Railway began construction on the trestle.
Designed by engineers, it was actually constructed by farmers and loggers. It took nine years to complete and in 1920 had its first train pass over. For the next fifty years, the railway transported logs and passengers over Kinsol until the last train trip in 1979.
From then it was abandoned and fell into a state of disrepair.
Conservation Efforts
In 2007 a special meeting was held to discuss and decide the fate of the trestle. Some groups were in favour of tearing it down as it had become a safety hazard for the public. Other groups pushed to have it restored as an historical monument and tourist attraction.
Several companies came forward with proposals of how to preserve and restore it and eventually one was chosen. After drilling hundreds of holes into the old timbers, testing them for viability, it was discovered that 80% were in fact still usable.
This spurred the community to raise part of the funds needed for the project. The campaign began in earnest in 2009 and by 2011 the trestle was repaired and reopened to the public! Today it forms part of the 28,000 km Trans Canada Trail that spans from the west to the east coast of Canada.
The Trestle Up Close
It’s a jaw dropping moment when you emerge from the trail and see the trestle for the first time. The path you are on, becomes wooden beams and before you know it, you are crossing and walking on top of the trestle!
At the other side, there is a wide lookout point, on which you can stand to see her in all her glory. From there, walk to a platform on the other side, and find informative static displays that included old black and white photos. Read all about the trestle’s history and rehabilitation.
Hiking
To get a real sense of the magnitude though, one must carry on through the forest. Follow the paths that snake their way down, through and under the trestle at various points.
Touch those old timbres and iron hand forged nails. See the roman numerals that were embedded into each and every timbre by the carpenters. These told the labourers, where each piece was to be specifically placed. Stand inside the labyrinth and look upwards. Its such an amazing feeling and hard to believe that this was constructed at all, let alone over 100 years ago!
Visitors can actually walk all the way down to the river. The last summer that I lived in Canada, I brought my bathing suite and even went for a swim right here. Its glorious and shallow, filled with crystal clear pools of water.
Every visitor to Vancouver Island will be thrilled to visit the Kinsol Trestle. Whether you are a history buff, nature fiend or simply looking for a unique place to walk or hike. This masterpiece of skill and size is sure to take your breath away. Its definitely one of my favourite places to see and revisit on beautiful Vancouver Island.
