Time for a Trail  

Let's turn the inactive Island Rail Corridor into a
multi-use trail that connects Vancouver Island

Island Rail Corridor near Cowichan Station (Photo: Alan Philip)

The disused Island Rail Corridor could be a multi-use greenway connecting the east coast of Vancouver Island

The E&N is a gorgeous corridor that stretches from Victoria to Courtenay and Parksville to Port Alberni. Why not convert it to a continuous active-transportation corridor connecting our communities and First Nations. Just think of the potential!

A continuous trail preserves the E&N Corridor for future generations at minimal expense. It can also easily adapt to First Nations interests.

Studies estimate $95 million in annual economic benefit from the trail as well as significant physical and mental health benefits.

A non-motorised, multi-use trail eliminates ongoing carbon emissions, noise pollution and creates a more natural environment.

A video about an amazing potential trail for Vancouver Island

FORT-VI’s federally-funded feasibility study demonstrates the benefits of a continuous multi-use trail on the rail bed of the Island Corridor. The study looked at the health benefits of active transportation and found significant positive impacts.
Learn more

Trail Map

Click on icons for more information. Click on resulting image at left to see the full size image.

The orange icons are photos taken along the corridor showing the scenery along the way.
If you have a photo you would like to share please send it with the location to [email protected].

Recent News

Jun 12 2025

Island Rail Corridor Video

The Cowichan Valley Regional District invites you to watch this video to learn about what could be the biggest opportunity for Vancouver Island… or at the very least… the longest! It’s the Island Rail Corridor, a 289 km long rail line stretching between Victoria and Courtenay that winds through 13 municipalities, 5 regional districts, and several First Nations.
Read More

Jun 9 2025

Golden opportunity

A golden opportunity has presented itself to turn the almost dormant 220-kilometre E&N rail line on Vancouver Island into a multi-use trail network without a rail line, according to Cowichan's David Slade. Slade, vice-president of Friends of Rails to Trails Vancouver Island, told the board at the Cowichan Valley Regional District at its meeting on May 14 that trails are cheap to build, and that the fixed costs to reinstate rail service on the corridor are very high.
Read More

May 14 2025

Annual General Meeting

The FORT-VI AGM is coming up soon. It will be on June 1 in Duncan at 1PM at the Duncan Showroom, featuring a presentation on the Okanagan Rail Trail.
Read More

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Green Lake Trestle on the Island Rail Corridor

Friends of Rails to Trails -Vancouver Island is having our AGM this Sunday, June 1st at 1pm

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