Malahat () is an
unincorporated area
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
in the
Cowichan Valley
The Cowichan Valley is a region around the Cowichan River, Cowichan Bay and Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. There is some debate as to the origin of the name Cowichan, which many believe to be an anglicized form ...
, with municipal-type services delivered by the
Cowichan Valley Regional District
The Cowichan Valley Regional District is a regional district in the Canadian province of British Columbia is on the southern part of Vancouver Island, bordered by the Nanaimo and Alberni-Clayoquot Regional Districts to the north and northwest, ...
(Area A). What could be considered the hub of the community is a small collection of businesses that includes the Malahat Gas station (which also serves as the Malahat Post Office) and the Malahat Chalet and the Moon Water Lodge.
A steep and rugged terrain has in the past precluded any significant residential development but new subdivisions are being built around the northern end of the area around the old
Bamberton cement works and in the area adjoining
Elkington Forest. Most area residents live in isolated homes located off the highway. In this context "Malahat" primarily refers to the
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation (french: Société canadienne des postes), trading as Canada Post (french: Postes Canada), is a Crown corporation that functions as the primary postal operator in Canada. Originally known as Royal Mail Canada (the opera ...
delivery district.
Fire protection to the Malahat area is provided by Malahat Fire Rescue.
"The Malahat" is a term commonly applied to the Malahat Drive, a portion of
Trans Canada Highway 1 running along the west side of
Saanich Inlet
, image = Saanich Inlet from Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, Canada 13.jpg
, image_size = 260px
, caption = Saanich Inlet from Gowlland Tod Provincial Park
, image_bathymetry =
, caption_bathymetry =
, location = Northwest o ...
and to the region surrounding it. The road was first cut as a cattle trail in 1861 and was then upgraded to wagon road standards in 1884. It became a paved road in 1911. Its name comes from the
Malahat First Nation Malahat First Nation is a Coast Salish First Nations community of W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich People) representing approximately 350 members with two reserve lands located on the western shore of Saanich Inlet, Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. ...
, whose ancestors used the caves for spiritual enhancement. The Malahat Drive climbs to a summit of , and the mountain is considered one of the most sacred sites on southern
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
.
The roadway has a mix of 2, 3 and 4 lane cross-sections. The highway through the narrow
Goldstream Provincial Park
Goldstream Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It is known for the annual fall salmon runs in the Goldstream River, and the large numbers of bald eagles that congregate to feed at that time. The total size of the pa ...
canyon section is 2 lanes.
The Malahat portion of Highway 1 has been the location of a number of fatal traffic accidents, caused largely by vehicles crossing the centre line. These accidents have led to lengthy road closures. Closure of Malahat Drive causes disruption to travel and commerce on Vancouver Island as portions of the highway are a
single point of failure
A single point of failure (SPOF) is a part of a system that, if it fails, will stop the entire system from working. SPOFs are undesirable in any system with a goal of high availability or reliability, be it a business practice, software appl ...
if closed. Detour routes around the Malahat Drive are available via the Brentwood Bay-Mill Bay ferry and the
Pacific Marine Circle Route.
As a result of these crashes, the
Ministry of Transportation
A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government ag ...
has begun a program to add centre concrete medians to separate north and southbound traffic. Since the section between Finlayson Arm Road to Summit has had a median added, 65% of Malahat Drive is divided with a concrete median.
The speed limit of this highway segment is except for a short section of Tunnel Hill where the speed limit is .
{{coord, 48, 32, N, 123, 33, W, region:CA_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki, display=title
Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia
Southern Vancouver Island
Populated places in the Cowichan Valley Regional District