History
The community of Bowser is named after William John Bowser, who served as the premier of British Columbia from 1915 1916. The community was established in 1914, during the construction of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway. The following year, a post office was constructed. Logging has been the main economy in Bowser for years, but more recently, tourism has grown in importance.
During the 1930s, Bowser's local hotel was infamous for featuring a Mike the dog, who had been trained by his owners to receive payments and deliver change.
Location
Bowser is a small waterfront community located 21 kilometres (13 miles) north of Qualicum Beach and is part of the area known as Lighthouse Country. Lighthouse Country runs along Highway 19A on the east coast of Vancouver Island, from Qualicum Beach to Fanny Bay.
Places to See
- Wildwood Park
Just off McColl Road, Wildwood Park beckons travellers to stop and rest. An existing 1-kilometre trail will ultimately become the northern trailhead of a proposed Lighthouse Country hiking trail, stretching south to Qualicum Bay.
- Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park
At Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park, you can experience the magic of the underground world in the many protected caves. The park was established in 1971 at the request of public caving groups on Vancouver Island who were concerned about the potential damage of the caves and the fragile crystal formations they contained.
Spelunking is the art of cave exploration and Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park is the perfect place to discover this unique activity. From educational family-oriented tours to deep, dark adventure, the caves protected within this park offer something for everyone. Knowledgeable guides can lead visitors through the caves to discover this magical world of crystal formations and ancient fossils firsthand. Though the park has two small caves visitors can explore on their own, a guided tour of one of the larger caves offers more variety and a chance to learn about the cave's unique geology and history.
- Rosewall Creek Provincial Park
Rosewall Creek Provincial Park is situated along picturesque Rosewall Creek, south of Fanny Bay on central Vancouver Island. The park features a mixture of coniferous trees interspersed with striking broad leaf maple trees. One of the best times to visit this park is in the fall when the color of the maple leaves makes an attractive backdrop for photographers.
This small day-use only park has two picnic areas on either side of the creek. Two picnic tables overlook the creek on one side, and two more tables are situated right next to the river on the other. A short riverside trail connects the two picnic areas on either side of Rosewall Creek.
- Spider Lake Provincial Park
One of the best picnic sites in the area, Spider Lake features a small sandy beach perfect for water lovers of all ages on a hot summer day.
The warm water of Spider Lake is noted for its excellent canoeing, kayaking and swimming and the park is an idyllic spot for a quiet family outing. Paddlers can spend a peaceful afternoon exploring the shoreline and the many secluded bays of this lake, located west of Qualicum Beach on central Vancouver Island.
Spider Lake is stocked with small mouth bass and Rainbow trout, providing fishing opportunities year-round. Powerboats are prohibited but small car-top boats and canoes and kayaks can be launched from the beach next to the park's small parking lot. Boats can also be launched from a steep banked causeway outside of the park.
Things to Do
- Golf
Golf is played year-round at the Arrowsmith Golf & Country Club, an 18-hole semi-private golf course 10 minutes south of Bowser, near Qualicum Beach. Other courses in Qualicum Beach are Eaglecrest Golf Club, Glengarry Golf Links, and Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Club.
- Kayaking
Kayakers can put in at Rosewall Creek Provincial Park, just west of Deep Bay, or launch at Deep Bay, a natural harbour on Qualicum Bay, protected by the curve of Mapleguard Point. You'll also find good windsurfing in the protected waters of Deep Bay.
- Fishing
Anglers' dreams are fulfilled for both freshwater and saltwater catches. The prolific herring spawn and shrimp hatches at nearby Deep Bay attracts the larger chinook salmon, some up to thirty pounds.
