Dakota Ridge
This backcountry area is ideal in summer for hiking and mountain biking. A favourite of locals in winter, this high plateau has abundant snow for cross-country skiing with telemark routes on the north side of the bowl at the ridge. Also ideal for snowboarding, snowshoeing and tobogganing. Spectacular views of Vancouver Island, North Shore mountains and Mt. Baker in Washington State.  Accessed from Field Road in Wilson Creek.

Suncoaster Trail Route
Comprised of trails and connecting highway, the 33 km (20 mi) route leads from Homesite Creek to Klein Lake. Suitable for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. On of the most scenic spots is beside a waterfall there a 21 m (68 ft) bridge spans Sakinaw Creek. Wheelchair access (5') is from the Malaspina Substation approx. 6.5 km (4 mi) north of Pender Harbour on the east side of Hwy. 101.

Roberts Creek Provincial Park
Along Hwy. 101 halfway between Gibsons and Sechelt, this beautiful park has separate camping and day-use areas. The camping area is located in forest of large cedars, Douglas fir and Hemlock and provides 24 campsites, washrooms and sani-station. The picnic area (Flume Rd. and Beach Ave.) is in a lovely setting and whales and seals are sometimes spotted offshore. This area is the traditional home of the Sechelt Indians. The first recorded visit to this area by a European was in 1791, when Captain Narvaez from the Spanish fort at Nootka sailed the coast.

Porpoise Bay Provincial Park
At the southern end of Sechelt Inlet in a forest of Douglas fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, maple and alder, this 84-site campground provides toilets and hot showers. A cyclist-only camping area with 40 sites is nearby. Walking trails and sandy beaches make this park a favourite. This is an excellent base camp for paddlers exploring the Sechelt Inlet.

Spipyus Provincial Park
Also known as the Caren Range, Spipyus Park is north of Halfmoon Bay on the Sechelt Peninsula. It protects pockets of old-growth Douglas fir, prime habitat for the marbled murrelet. Hiking trails lead to Mount Hallowell with views of the islands and fjords of Pender Harbour, the Strait of Georgia and Vancouver Island. A fire tower here was recently restored and may be one of the few remaining in the province. There is no camping in this park.

Sargeant Bay Provincial Park
Set aside to preserve the splendid beaches, rocky headlands, lagoons and heavily forested uplands, this day-use only park is a lovely spot for walking, nature viewing and picnicking. Boaters will find safe anchorage here, and the surrounding waters are perfect for canoeing, kayaking, board sailing, scuba diving and fishing.

Skookumchuck Narrows Park
Trails and viewpoints for visitors who wish to experience the awesome power of incredibly turbulent tidal rapids. On a three-metre tide, 200 billion gallons of water flow through the narrows connecting Sechelt and Jervis Inlets. The rapids are famous for their spectacular whirlpools and whitewater.  Access from Egmont.

Francis Point Marine Park
Pristine waterfront, intricate coves, windswept evergreens, mossy headlands, towering old-growth Douglas fir and some of the best diving on the Coast, some of the reasons this marine park is so popular. The delicate environment includes very rare plants so visitors are advised to stay on the designated trails. Access via Francis Peninsula Road, follow to Merrill Rd.

Okeover Arm Provincial Park:
On the east side of the Malaspina Peninsula, visitors enjoy canoeing and kayaking, searching out the varied marine life and walking through the lightly-forested upland. This small campground is on the doorstep of Desolation Sound Marine Park. There are 14 vehicle/tent sites open seasonally and four small, condensed sites open all year. Activities include swimming, fishing, canoeing/kayaking.

Saltery Bay Provincial Park:
The park is divided into two separate sites: the campground and the day-use area. The day-use area with its rocky beaches is a popular swimming and picnic site. Lush forests with large, old trees create a quiet setting for the campground at Mermaid Cove. At low tide, the rocky shoreline often has tidal pools with starfish, sea urchins, small fish and crabs.

Inland Lake Provincial Park:
Prior to 1997, this park was a Forest Service Recreation area. The area was established as a provincial park in 1997. Many years ago, the Model Community Society constructed a 13 km wheelchair accessible trail around Inland Lake. There are drive-in and walk-in campsites available at this park, as well as opportunities for swimming, cycling, fishing, canoeing and boating (10hp).

Our beautiful forests and hills provide ample opportunities for hikers, from easy paths to intense trails. Design your own trek from easy to extreme, half an hour to several days.  For detailed trail information contact the Visitor Info Centres

Please note: For reasons of safety, it is strongly suggested that before you embark on any hike in the back country you purchase a Sunshine Coast hiking guide from a local bookstore.

Lower Coast Key Hikes: Level of difficulty rated 1 to 5 (1 is the easiest)

Langdale Creek Trail & Falls
Length 2.5 km (1.5 mi) one way. Access Stewart Rd. from either North Rd. or the Gibsons Bypass, follow to dead end. Turn right at T-junction, park, bear left 100 m under hydro lines. 3

Soames Hill Park (the Knob)
A 40-minute steep climb with outstanding views of Gibsons, Howe Sound and nearby islands. To reach the trailhead, take North or Reed Roads to Chamberlin Road, then east on Bridgeman Road to its end. 3

Cliff Gilker Park
Length 3 km (1.8 mi). Access Hwy. 101 in Roberts Creek adjacent to the golf course. Trails lead through second-growth Douglas fir forest, past waterfalls and across rustic bridges over creeks to picnic facilities and a children's playground. 2

Lower Chapman Creek Trail  Length 2.8 km (1.75 mi). Access Hwy. 101 at Brookman Park near Davis Bay. A one-way hour's hike that starts along the creek. 3

Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, Sechelt Inlet
Length 2 km (1.2 mi) one way. Access Hwy. 101, follow Wharf Ave. to East Porpoise Bay Rd., follow to park entrance. 1

Mount Daniel in Garden Bay
Length 2.5 km (1.6 mi) one way. From Hwy. 101 turn at Garden Bay Rd., left at the first dirt road after Oyster Bay Rd. Steep climb with wonderful view. 4

Skookumchuck Narrows Park, near Egmont
An easy, forest trail leads to one of the world's fastest flowing tidal currents.

Powell River & Area Hiking Trails:

The Sunshine Coast Trail is an ambitious program to create a route from the ferry terminal in Saltery Bay to Okeover Inlet and the western end of the peninsula at Desolation Sound. Trail building began in the early 1990s, and it will be a few more years before the entire 112 miles (180 km) is complete.

Other, more moderate hiking routes include the Lang Creek Trail (easy; 3 miles/5 km return) and Sweetwater Trail (moderate; 4.3 miles/7 km return). To reach the trailheads, turn north off Hwy 101 on the Duck Lake Forest Road, which is about 14 miles (23 km) north of Saltery Bay. The Lang Creek trailhead begins on the right side of the road in about 7 miles (11 km). To reach the Sweetwater Trail, carry on farther to Duck Lake, turn right over the bridge, and continue on for another 2 miles (3.2 km), then turn left and drive a short distance to the traihead. The loop trail begins here and climbs through an enchanting stand of old-growth western hemlock past MacGregor Falls and returns along an old railbed.

Several hiking trails originate in the lake country north of Powell River. You can walk through old-growth forest as you explore the landscape around Powell, Inland, and Confederation Lakes. Confederation Lake is part of the new provincial park that also includes the Haslam Lake watershed. The moderate, 7.4-mile (12-km) round-trip hike leads around Mount Mahoney to Confederation Lake and will take the better part of a day to complete. To reach the trailhead, follow directions to Inland Lake. Instead of turning in at Inland Lake, continue on, take the next road on the right, and drive another mile. Leave your vehicle at the pullout here and walk up a deteriorating road to the next fork. Take the right-hand route up a washed-out road, which soon narrows to a trail that is indicated by strategically placed metal markers. Make the rustic cabin on Confederation Lake your destination, although a rough trail does lead farther on from there to Powell Lake. With the exception of one steep section where a ramp and staircase assist hikers, most of the trail is easily negotiated.

A 2.5-mile (4-km) moderately difficult hiking trail connects the regional park at Haywire Bay on Powell Lake with the west side of Inland Lake. Along the way this up-and-down, forested route passes diminutive Lost Lake. Short lakeside hiking trails also run along the shores of Powell Lake from Mowat Bay Park and Haywire Bay Regional Park.

North of Powell River you'll find a lengthy hiking route along the Marathon-Appleton Trail (moderate; 7.5 miles/12 km return). Some of the values of these routes include fine viewpoints at the Gibraltar and Gentle David lookouts, located off the Marathon Trail, as well as picnic sites at Rieveley's Pond and Appleton Creek. To find the trailhead, head north of Powell River through Sliammon to Southview Road, which begins on the east side of Hwy 101. Travel almost 3 miles (5 km) on Southview to the well-marked trailhead. One of the beauties of this trail system is that you can choose to do all or part of it and still find significant rewards. An alternative approach to the Forest Service recreation site at Appleton Creek, where a stand of old-growth forest is located in Appleton Canyon, is via Wilde Road, which begins on the east side of Hwy 101 in Sliammon. Wilde connects with the Theodosia Forest Road, which climbs for more than 7 miles (12 km). The well-marked Appleton Creek Trail begins about halfway up the forest road on the left.

Halkett Bay Marine Park
Located on the east side of Gambier Island, this park provides visitors with mooring, buoys, dinghy floats and pit toilets.

Plumper Cove Marine Park
Located on the northwest side of Keats Island, a wharf and mooring buoys provide access to the campsite with firepits, water, trails and a beach.

Sechelt Inlets Marine Park
Provides safe and enjoyable access to three protected inlets: Sechelt, Narrows and Salmon. Ideal for kayaking, the inlets allow quiet exploration of a the rugged landscape that is typical of the northern Strait of Georgia. Steep, forested hills surround the inlets, with many small creeks cascading down the craggy cliffs. Sandy beaches provide safe pull-outs for camping, swimming, fishing or scuba diving. Protected anchorages can be found at Kunechin Point and Tzoonie Narrows, and are shown on marine charts. Home of the HMCS Chaudiere, one of the top diving spots on the Pacific coast.

Simson Marine Park
Located on South Thormanby Island, Simson is undeveloped but has a pebble beach with good swimming. Accessible by boat only, there is limited anchorage for large boats and no facilities in the park.

Smuggler Cove Marine Park
This small, picturesque all-weather anchorage near Secret Cove has authentic pirate history. William Kelly smuggled illegal Chinese immigrants from Vancouver into the US by sea for $1 each. He evaded arrest by hiding in Smuggler Cove. During Prohibition in the 1920s, the Cove was used to store bootleg liquor en route from stills on Texada Island to rum-running boats heading to the US. There are 2 km of forested trails, a lovely rocky shoreline, and island views.  Five primitive walk-in campsites are available with pit toilets, but no wood or water. Land access is via Brooks Rd. off Hwy. 101 to parking lot near waterfront and trail entrance.

Francis Point Marine Park
Pristine waterfront, intricate coves, windswept evergreens, mossy headlands, towering old-growth Douglas fir and some of the best diving on the Coast� are some of the reasons this marine park is so popular. The delicate environment includes very rare plants so visitors are advised to stay on the designated trails. Land access via Francis Peninsula Road, follow to Merrill Rd.

Garden Bay Marine Park
This park offers an expansive shoreline with a backdrop rising to the summit of Mount Daniel. A part of Pender Harbour, this is a popular boating area with secure anchorage and a small dinghy dock. There are excellent opportunities for fishing, picnicking and swimming with marinas, stores, resorts, restaurants, repair facilities and fuel outlets nearby.

Princess Louisa Marine Park & Chatterbox Falls
A magical fjord where as many as 60 waterfalls cascade down massive granite walls. People come from all over the world to visit, and no wonder it's been called "the most beautiful anchorage in the world". Accessible only by boat or plane, and best seen with experienced guides via charter boat or floatplane due to dangerous conditions. Wilderness campsites are provided with toilets and picnic shelters nearby. Mooring buoys, boat and dinghy docks are provided. Walking trails provide access to nearby scenic features.

Desolation Sound Marine Park
This park consists of more than 14,000 acres of high land and 6,350 acres of shoreline an water and is thus the largest Marine Park in B.C., as well as the only major park of any kind on the Pacific mainland coast of Canada.

Copeland Islands Marine Park
Copeland Islands Marine Provincial Park is accessible only by boat and located northwest of Lund (20 km north of Powell River) just off the Malaspina Peninsula and southwest of Bliss Landing. The community of Lund is located a short distance from the park by water. Lund supports a hotel and pub, bakery, fuel, general store, marine ways, marine mechanical facilities and kayak rentals.


Hardy Island Marine Provincial Park
This park consists of Musket Island and Hardy Island and is strategically situated, being midway from Vancouver, Princess Louisa and Desolation Sound. This park can be approached from either Malaspina Strait or Jervis Inlet via Telescope Passage.