Cowichan Lake’s mysterious Stin-Qua stirs curiosity with serpent-like sightings dating back to 1885. Could this be B.C.’s next Ogopogo?
A Monster in the Mist
Vancouver Island has long been home to stories of wild beauty, but tucked away in Cowichan Lake lies a tale that’s both eerie and captivating. Locals whisper about Stin-Qua, a serpent-like creature said to glide beneath the water’s surface. Though not as famous as the Okanagan’s Ogopogo, this lake legend has stirred curiosity for well over a century.
A History That Won’t Fade
The first recorded sighting of Stin-Qua dates back to 1885. Since then, dozens of accounts have described the same thing: a long, snake-like being emerging from the water. Rodney Chilton, a Cowichan resident fascinated by the mystery, believes the creature is most often spotted during warm, dry summers when the lake’s water levels dip. With fewer places to hide, Stin-Qua seems to surface—much to the astonishment of those watching.
Eyewitness Encounters
Over the decades, many have claimed to see the elusive lake dweller. In 1928, two hunters fishing near Bear Lake reported a dramatic scene. Fish were leaping wildly when, out of the mist, a towering neck rose from the water. The men watched in disbelief as the creature swayed its head before slipping back into the depths with a serpentine motion.
That same year, another sighting came from Norman Thomas, the proprietor of the Riverside Inn. Out boating with his wife, Thomas thought he saw two logs floating ahead. But one “log” suddenly arched upward and vanished with a great splash. He later recalled an earlier encounter where he and four tourists had seen a neck stretching ten feet out of the water—attached to a body he estimated at nearly thirty feet long.
Sightings That Refuse to Stop
Reports didn’t vanish with time. Even in the 1930s, stories surfaced of serpent-like shapes disrupting the calm waters of Cowichan Lake. In modern times, however, sightings have slowed, leaving behind a trail of folklore but no hard evidence. Still, the legend persists, fueled by locals like Chilton, who remain determined to keep watch.
The Search Continues
Chilton isn’t content with just stories. He’s considering renting a cabin next spring on the Youbou side of the lake to monitor the water with infrared cameras. He even wonders if sonar scanning could finally reveal what lies in the lake’s deepest, darkest corners.
Could Stin-Qua be real? Or is it just a trick of rippling waves and wandering imaginations? For now, Cowichan Lake holds onto its secret. But for anyone who dares to look closely, the mystery still swims just beneath the surface.
