Why Malahat SkyWalk Climbs to the Top of Vancouver Island Attractions

The single-day record for the number of times one person has descended the slide at the Malahat SkyWalk is 47. A 10-year-old girl did it and there’s no doubt many others will be tempted to beat the mark.

The SkyWalk opened in July 2021 and has steadily added to its programming, which includes Indigenous content, remarkable art work from eco-artist Tanya Bub, an elevated walkway that you cross while eye to trunk with tall pine, cedar, and Douglas fir trees, and the spiral tower that takes about 10 minutes to ascend. It’s the slide, though, that adds the most whimsy to the attraction. A gray-haired man in an Edmonton Oilers’ jersey was just ahead of me while school kids were giddily jumping behind my back as they awaited their turn.

My 6-year-old son, Gabriel, was a bit nervous to go down the first time but once he made it to the floor — in a twirling eight seconds of joy while enclosed in a silver cylinder coiled like a worm — he couldn’t wait to go back up for a second try. We only had time for those two turns otherwise he might have challenged the record.

It’s a highlight of the starring attraction on the eastern side of Vancouver Island. To reach the top of the slide, guests climb the exterior ramp that rises in a circular fashion — think the Guggenheim Museum in New York City and its famous spiral staircase, only your eyes are gazing outside. The slide entrance is two levels before the peak. So guests continue on to the apex of the 30-metre (98.4-foot) attraction. There, you can take in the sweeping views, peering south to the Victoria harbour and the Olympic mountains of Washington state. Looking east, you can see the luxury homes of Brentwood Bay and the coastal mountains of the British Columbia mainland. Washington’s monolithic icon — Mount Baker — is far in the distance, easily recognized by its snowcap massif.

In the immediate vicinity, eagles circle overhead, the inspiration for Bub’s latest creation: A striking wood sculpture of one of the raptors approaching with talons out to land on the fence that surrounds the roof.

 

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Run by the same organization that operates the Sea-to-Sky Gondola, the SkyWalk has the environment at the core of its experience. While the frame of the tower and the gleaming silver slide are made of steel, it is wood that is the focus of much of the landmark. The planners and engineers have smartly built an elevated bridge that leads to the foot of the tower, allowing visitors a rare vantage point. As you trod the 600-metre (1,970-foot) walkway you’re close enough to touch many of the trees. Even for enthusiastic hikers the walk is a rare — and appreciated — stimulate because even if you scale a mountain you aren’t climbing the trees. On the SkyWalk bridge, you’re closer to the branches and the birds who flit about them than on a trail. It’s not unusual to see those eagles zipping between the trunks or above the top branches, some of which seem a basketball shot away while you traverse the walkway.

Once you arrive at the tower and begin to ascend the ramp, you will pass information stations that explain about the picturesque area of Vancouver Island, the Indigenous community, and the effort and materials that went into building the SkyWalk. Finlayson Arm, the beautiful waterway that cuts north between thick Pacific Northwest forest, becomes more and more in focus as you climb.

The SkyWalk brings guests closer to nature without feeling like it encroaches on it. You get the sense that there’s harmony about the place and playfulness too. Particularly for kids it’s a blend of novelty and environmental appreciation that can have lasting meaning. And, of course, the desire to return for just one more turn at the slide.

Family Farmhouse Stay in Cowichan Valley

Travellers to Vancouver Island who visit Malahat SkyWalk have plenty of options for accommodations. Victoria is a popular choice, especially because the SkyWalk has launched a free round-trip shuttle service from downtown. Closer by is the exceptional Westin Bear Mountain Resort, which is a lavish hotel set amid the towering forests of the eastern part of island. To the north is the agriculture-rich Cowichan Valley, which offers unique properties.

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Among them is the Golden Valley House at Alderlea Farm, located 30 minutes by car to the Malahat SkyWalk. It’s a breathtaking space with a vaulted ceiling and gigantic windows that look out onto the verdant pastures where cows lumber along the fields and sunshine glistens above. A country kitchen and light-coloured wood floors add to the warmth of the space. There’s a custom chess board with large pieces that instantly attracted Gabriel, along with well-stocked bookshelves and the big, comfy pillows in the bedrooms.

He was most taken by what was outside. Guests can feed the farm’s chickens, whose coop is adjacent to the Golden Valley House and the other short-term accommodations on the property.

The three-bedroom, one-bath house is suitable for a family, though the washer and dryer are downstairs in a unit occupied by a tenant. Along with smaller houses that are rented to short-term guests, Alderlea Farm includes a beloved cafe that features menu items made with ingredients from the farm and wines from the nearby wineries.

Those wineries are a primary attraction in the Cowichan Valley, making the Golden Valley House a good choice for travellers who want to explore the best of the region without being too far from the city attractions of Victoria.

Experience Golf on Vancouver Island

One of the pleasures of Vancouver Island is the number, quality, and accessibility of its golf courses. Among the lesser-known gems is Arbutus Ridge Golf Club in the Cowichan Valley. With wide fairways and a number of fun par-3 holes, Arbutus Ridge is a course that will challenge novice or intermediate players and make advanced golfers want to think through their shots as they attempt to lower their handicap. An example is the very short ninth hole, which tees off at 127 yards from the blue boxes or 120 yards from the whites. The tee-box orientation may trick players because it faces a tree-lined bunker on the right, while the green is to the left, in front of more woods. You’ll need elevation on your tee shot to stick the ball on the green. So while its short, it’s still a test.

The course features mountain vistas, moderately tough greens, and water hazards that might make you gulp at first but are actually positioned in a way that makes them easy to clear. The most difficult hazards are actually those woods, which are all around on most holes and are home to deer that may venture on to the course during your shot.

MORE ABOUT THE MALAHAT SKYWALK

Location: 901 Trans-Canada Highway, Malahat, British Columbia (see map below)
Getting There: From July 1 to September 9, free shuttle service operates daily from downtown Victoria. Check the SkyWalk’s website for details. When driving, be cautious if you’re coming from the southbound traffic lanes. There’s no stop light or direct entrance when arriving from that direction. Drivers must go past the SkyWalk and then turn around on the often busy Trans-Canada Highway in order to access its entrance off of the northbound traffic lane.
Prices: Adult tickets cost $38 each; family passes for two adults and two children cost $99; tickets are free for children 5 years of age and younger.