The cultural capital of the Sunshine Coast, Sechelt sits on a narrow two-kilometre (1.25-mile) sandbar between the Straight of Georgia and Sechelt inlet, earning its Shishalh First Nations name meaning "land between two waters".

Sechelt Accommodations and Things to Do
Halfmoon Bay Accommodations and Things to Do

At the House of Chiefs Museum, visitors can learn about local Sechelt First Nations history through photographs, masks, prehistoric stone carvings and the largest collection of documented native basketry on the West Coast - a currency once used to trade with Union Steamships in the late 1800s. The museum also houses the Raven's Cry Theatre, featuring First Nations plays, concerts, movies and storytelling. The Sunshine Coast Arts Centre hosts art exhibits, literary readings and craft fairs. Visitors can walk along the town's pier and seawall, then a short jaunt to the historic Rockwood Lodge, host of the annual Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, Canada's longest running literary festival. There's camping, swimming and kayaking at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, while divers head to Kunechin Point to explore the shallow-water wreck of the HMCS Chaudiere, one of the the top four dive sites on the Pacific Coast. Nearby Davis Bay is the ideal spot to grab an order of fish and chips then settle down on an oceanfront bench to people-watch along the esplanade. Davis Bay hosts a popular annual Sandcastle Competition, welcoming sand sculpture artists and spectactors from around the world.  

Wilson Creek contains a large rural and residential area plus some commercial and industrial developments. These include Wilson Creek Plaza, with a supermarket and other shops, plus a gas station. A private campground is next to the shopping centre. Up Field Road from Hwy. 101 is the Sechelt airport, the offices of the Sunshine Coast Regional District, as well as the road to Dakota Ridge for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. This community was named after James Wilson, a blacksmith employed by the Burns and Jackson Brothers logging camp in 1898.

Davis Bay is noted for its long stretch of accessible beach and spectacular view of the Strait of Georgia and Vancouver Island. A seawall with benches is a great place for a stroll, a chance to relax and watch the view or eat real fish and chips from the local drive-in. Great spot for fly-fishing and sunsets. Tourist amenities include motels, shops, restaurants and popular activities such as swimming, beachcombing and fishing from the wharf. Development occupies the slope above the beach, as people seek the spectacular view and close proximity to the ocean.

At supreme low tide in July, this vast sandy beach is home to the annual sandcastle competition. Be one of the stalwart souls who plunge into the chilly waters during the annual New Year's Polar Bear Swim.

Sechelt, Land Between Two Waters, is the largest centre on the lower Sunshine Coast. Located between the Sechelt Inlet (a mountain-enclosed inland sea) and the blue pacific Ocean, Sechelt is a business and service hub for the surrounding communities. Over the years, development of Sechelt as a prosperous community resulted from two primary influences: resource extraction and tourism. The sea provided easy access to the area, so transportation by boat was key to the expansion and settlement of Sechelt.

The rich heritage of the Shishalh (Sechelt) Nation is everywhere. The town is home to the Sechelt  Indian Band, which has a distinctive style of self-government. You can visit the House of Hewhiwus (House of Chiefs), which contains the tems swiya Museum and Raven's Cry Theatre. Several totem poles can be seen in various locations around town.

The Shishalh people had a population near 26,000 at the time of the first European contact. Shishalh women were famous for their beautiful woven cedar baskets, using materials gathered from the roots of the cedar tree, birch bark and local grasses for the designs.

Rockwood Lodge, a lovely heritage building surrounded by gardens, is home to the annual Festival of the Written Arts in August. Also in August, car buffs arrive for the Sleepy Hollow Rod Run and Show and Shine, when most of Cowrie Street is filled with classic vehicles.

On Porpoise Bay, have lunch or a brew overlooking the water, book a fishing, kayak or sightseeing charter, and catch a floatplane flight. Book a scuba-diving charter to explore the HMCS Chaudiere and other popular dive spots. With more than 100 local trails, cyclists can find what they are looking for, from easy to challenging.  

Snickett ('little trail' in the Sechelt language) Park, including Trail Bay Boulevard along the Sechelt waterfront, has easy beach access and is a lovely place for a stroll. There are benches and picnic tables, and a large pedestrian pier.

This small seaside village, 16 km (10 mi) north of Sechelt, is accessed from Redrooffs Road through Sargeant Bay before the road curves back around Secret Cove and Wood Bay to Highway 101. The Halfmoon Bay General Store, built in 1938, is a local ice cream spot and gathering place in front of the government wharf. Local artists and crafters display their works in two village galleries. In July, the Halfmoon Bay Country Fair features a children's parade and fishing derby, outdoor performance stages and craft booths. Hiking on the local Redrooffs Trail leads to forested walkways marked with interpretive signposts highlighting natural and historical points of interest. Rentals are available in Halfmoon Bay for canoeing and kayaking in Sargeant Bay Provincial Park, also popular for hiking, fishing and windsurfing. Locals love to spin tales about the history of Smuggler's Cove Provincial Marine Park where rum smuggling was said to be rampant during the days of Prohibition. Smuggler's Cove offers protected all-weather anchorage for boaters, as well as scuba diving, walk-in wilderness camping and a wetland habitat for resident beavers. Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, voted by CNN.com Travel as #2 on the list of "10 Dazzling Hideways By The Sea" is a destination in itself, renowned for luxury tenthouse suites, fine dining and an outdoor spa in the midst of an oceanfront rainforest.  

A sheltered harbour north of Sechelt and a popular summer resort area, Secret Cove  boasts some fine year-round sport fishing charters. With life here centred around the sea, there are government floats, fully equipped private marinas and a choice of restaurants and overnight accommodations. Hop a water taxi to Thormanby Island for time on the low tide sandy beach.

Porpoise Bay Tide Chart
Halfmoon Bay Tide Chart

Key things to Do and Places to Visit from Wilson Creek to Secret Cove

Chapman Creek Hatchery & Chapman Creek Trails
The hatchery welcomes visitors where you learn about the life cycle of the salmon and see tiny fingerlings ready for release into the ocean. The Chapman Creek trails provide a unique opportunity to witness the return of the salmon every year, or just enjoy a picnic. Access via Field Road in Wilson Creek.

Davis Bay
The beach at Davis Bay is one of the most scenic spots on Hwy. 101 as the road hugs the shoreline and the ocean stretches before you. A seawall with benches is a great place for a stroll, a chance to relax and watch the view or eat real fish and chips from the local drive-in. At supreme low tide in July, this vast sandy beach is home to the annual sandcastle competition. Great spot for fly-fishing and sunsets.

tems swiya Museum
In Sechelt, home of the Sechelt Indian Band and Tsain-Ko Gift Shop, the museum offers an historical look into the Sechelt culture. Totem poles are located on the grounds of the Sechelt Nation Hall and in various locations around town.

Rockwood Lodge
This restored heritage building on Cowrie Street in Sechelt is home to the annual Festival of the Written Arts in August. The festival draws well-known Canadian and international writers and throngs of readers every year. The botanical gardens surrounding the lodge are a delight to flower lovers and are especially beautiful in spring.

Sunshine Coast Arts Centre
Also in Sechelt, this unique log building is in itself a work of art. Exhibits feature the work of many talented local and guest artists.

Sechelt Heritage Forest
This easy trail in the Sandy Hook neighbourhood features second-growth hemlock and some big old red cedars. Follow Porpoise Bay Road, left at Sandy Hook, left at Deerhorne, left at Skookumchuck, left at Bob Rd. Trail begins at end of the road.

Kinnickinnick Park
A favourite of locals for dog walking, this advanced second-growth coniferous forest boasts big trees. Well signed and very easy, the park has several trails that loop around. Follow Trail Avenue from Sechelt, the road ends just past the park.

HMCS Chaudiere
Located up Sechelt Inlet at the mouth of Salmon Inlet, this WWII submarine tracker was sunk as an artificial reef in 1992 and is considered to be one of the top four diving spots on the Pacific coast. Several lesser-known wrecks are also in this area.

Secret Cove
Secret Cove has protected deep moorage and is home to full-service marinas, boat rentals and restaurants. Great area for fishing, and paddlers can head offshore to Simson Marine Park on South Thormanby Island where sandy beaches, forested slops and tranquil coves await.

Jedediah Island
Board a boat in beautiful Secret Cove for a 3-hour tour to one of BC's newest and most spectacular marine parks. Located between Lasqueti and Texada Islands in the Strait of Georgia, Jedediah's isolation, remoteness and tranquility have made it a prized destination for nature enthusiasts.

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