If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} Ripe blueberries started to line the twisty trail. 1. www.sunshine-coast-trails.com provides trail maps and descriptions for the lower Sunshine Coast of British Columbia in order to promote and celebrate our natural world. For free camping, check out Lois Lake Recreation Site. The SCT is marked on both the Maps.me (we used this one) and Hiking Project apps. Due to the rugged nature of the British Columbia coastline (fjords, inlets and mountains et al), the Sunshine Coast is accessible only via air and boat. Not familiar with the concept of the Sunshine Coast at all? Hikers do have to be aware, however, of two things: For me, these two factors did not dampen my enthusiasm or enjoyment for this trail. Terrain: Moderate to strenuous. According to the SCT trail website, there are double the amount of markers going from north to south than the other direction. Just after kilometre 134, the path intersected Dixon Road and we followed this back to our vehicle. Both. The Sunshine Coast Trail isn’t the only world class attraction on the Sunshine Coast! Elk, coyotes, cougars, bears and other animals live in the area. The aptly named Sunshine Coast Trail runs 180 km along British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast – from Sarah’s Point in the north to Saltery Bay at the southern end. Perched just below a logging road, these huge Douglas Firs seemed to reach all the way to the sky. There are also section maps available for the Avenza Maps app. A Guide to Hiking the Sunshine Coast Trail, British Columbia The Sunshine Coast Trail is an incredible 180km hut-to-hut hiking route in south-west British Columbia, Canada. The Sunshine Coast Trail website is a great resource with maps, information about the trails, huts, and how to get Powell River/Sunshine Coast. There’s nothing like a refreshing swim after a hot day of hiking, afterall! We quickly scrambled up to the summit behind the hut and kept our fingers crossed. They can be a bit tricky to start, operate using pellets only (bring your own to guarantee stock) and require constant attention. 9,8 K J’aime. Inspired to go hiking on the Sunshine Coast Trail? It is available in paper format at Tourism Powell River. Snowshoeing the trail is popular in the colder months, with Confederation Lake, Tin Hat Mountain, Walt Hill and Mount Troubridge being popular overnight destinations. Click here for a … My research before this trip indicated that the section from Tin Hat to Marsh Lake via Lewis Lake isn’t particularly interesting. Within 30 seconds of our arrival to the Tin Hat Mountain hut, we were swallowed by a giant cloud. The real challenge of the day came in the last 1.5km with the hill to end all hills. Travelling by road, the North Sunshine Coast (where the SCT is located) is accessible via two vehicle ferries from Vancouver. The Sunshine Coast Trail 4th Edition: This 180-km route near Powell River, BC, extends from Sarah Point to Saltery Bay. Base your own itinerary on available budget and time, while considering your group’s fitness and experience. The strangest sight had to be a tea party along the trail. We purchased our copy at Tailwind Books in Sechelt. We are building a hiking/biking trail from Squamish to the Sunshine Coast. We are able to see a foggy, yet atmospheric sunset from the Tin Hat summit, with glimpses of the promised lakes below. It's rugged terrain and includes about 22,000… Thanks for the memories, SCT – we’ll be back to finish soon. Sunshine Coast trails are located in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Sunshine Coast Trail, Powell River. Mountain bike lovers will love this! My new guidebook, 105 Hikes in and around Southwestern British Columbia, features select trails in the Sunshine Coast and 20 other regions, including northern Washington. The main backpacking season for the entire Sunshine Coast Trail is May to September. With the help of the BOMB Squad (the Bloody Old Men’s Brigade), the volunteer run PRPAWS continues to maintain and enhance the SCT and huts. The choice of where to park our vehicle was probably one of the biggest decisions we had to make when planning our SCT hike. We chose to park our vehicle at the Lang Bay Community Hall. Visit SunshineCoastTrail.com to plan your trip today! Had the weather been better, we may have camped on the tiny wooden platform right in front of it all. Now you can make donations to PRPAWS or pay your PRPAWS membership dues using PayPal: All website content © 2020 Powell River Parks & Wilderness Society (PAWS)  |  WordPress theme by. 170 km / 6,000 m total elevation gain, multi day trail event self-sufficient style. Yep, that’s an initial loss of 450m and a gain of 1000m elevation without even taking into account the meandering nature of the trail in general! This post written and published in February 2020. Weekend and holiday sailings can be very busy. Some of these free campsites are vehicle accessible Recreational Sites. I completed 190 km of the East Coast Trail in 9 days in 2009 along with my wife and two hiking friends. There are lots of great places to stop for a swim — many of them noted in the Sunshine Coast Trail guidebook. After meeting zero hikers on the trail, I wish we’d brought our. Where noted as ‘partially open,’ there is a covered seating area and closed sleeping loft. Ocean landscape. A perfect sunny day on the SCT. Distances are approximate. Really! It has 22 vehicle accessible campsites. It costs $5 and can be picked up at the Visitor Centre in Powell River. The land on which the trail sits is the traditional territory of the Tla’amin Nation, one of the tribes of the northern Coast Salish. Section maps are available on the Sunshine Coast Trail website here. The Sunshine Coast Trail travels through a variety of landscapes, from beautiful rocky coastline and pretty lakes to lush temperate rainforest and mountain summits. This is a very hut focused itinerary. We stopped at one of the picnic areas for a while to try and slow things down a little and take in the last of our Sunshine Coast Trail experience. Campsites, both paid and free, are marked on the Sunshine Coast Trail website maps here. According to the Sunshine Coast Trail website. As well as tent campsites and showers (extra $2), this campground has a reservable cabin available for $50/night. We had to climb over some trees brought down by the storm, very close to a logging operation. It was frustrating, but such is the unpredictable way of nature. As well as the huts, there are designated camping areas along the trail. The Sunshine Coast Trail is a 180-kilometre back country hiking experience that stretches from Sarah Point in Desolation Sound to Saltery Bay. The Sunshine Coast Trail is a 180-kilometre back country hiking experience that stretches from Sarah Point in Desolation Sound to Saltery Bay. Thank you for this genuinely impressive article! The outlook here isn’t quite as panoramic as Tin Hat but the lake studded backdrop is still stunning. Click here for a larger version. Credit: Kelly Funk Photography, Sunshine Coast Tourism. If budget is a concern, I’d recommend joining the, If this is your first multi-day hike, I cannot emphasize enough to practice first and find, We were unsure how busy the SCT would be in September so brought our tent with us. To receive stamps, hikers must take a photo of themselves in front of each of the huts (Golden Stanley and Mount Troubridge Emergency Shelter excepted). Our final day was mostly downhill, an almost literal comedown. 53 likes. From our finishing point at kilometre 134, we needed to walk 2km along the (wide) Dixon Road to Highway 101 and then a very short 100m stretch north to get back to the hall. We loved the Old Courthouse Inn, located in the Townsite district. “Walz tricked me into extending an existing trail,” Glaspey writes in the foreward to Walz’s The Sunshine Coast Trail guidebook. The day continued as awesome as it started, with wall-to-wall blue skies. and a portion of fish and chips were calling our name. gtag('config', 'UA-43280157-1'); Canoeing. It’s a beautiful section of the British Columbia coastline, starting just north west of Vancouver and sitting directly across from Vancouver Island. We found rainwater barrels outside both Tin Hat and Walt Hill huts. 4.9K likes. We were sad to leave the beauty of Tin Hat but our food supplies were now on the low side. This site features affiliate links for products and services. The path of the SCT actually travels right through here. To find out more please visit FAQ Compulsory Equipment. This map, created in 2012, accurately depicts the Sunshine Coast Trail, and the placement of the huts/camping spots along the trail. In terms of difficulty, the Sunshine Coast Trail is not technically hard. English program here. Queensland Happy tourism starts from Trip. For this reason, it would be almost impossible for me to list all of the possible combinations. Along the trail are campsites. There is a locally owned gear store called Powell River Outdoors. The rain was on and off, offering teasing, misty views at ‘Vomit Vista’ and heavy showers during lunch at Fiddlehead Farm (thankfully, there’s a shelter). It’s not mentioned in my guidebook published 2013, of course. This magnificent fjord features huge granite walls and ends with a thundering waterfall. We are always looking for people to come and help out with trail maintenance, building projects, and for people who are interested in behind-the-scenes work like marketing, publicity and organizing events. I was carrying my tent as I’d seen online that the huts were closed due to COVID-19. Yep, it really is an old courthouse, but is completely renovated and each room has a unique theme. This rustic campground has 12 vehicle accessible spots and 4 walk-in sites. Confederation Lake sits at 600m, Tin Hat hut at 1150m but the trail descends down almost to sea level (150m). Assistance, equipment, expertise and funds have been donated by many other local businesses and community members as well as provincial organisations. **Click here for our FEATURED TRAIL DESCRIPTION AND MAP of the Walt Hill Trail**. A step-by-step description of the entire trail can be found in Eagle Walz’s Sunshine Coast Trail guidebook, as well as trailhead directions and elevation breakdown. See also. The powerful tide changes cause huge waves and whirlpools to form in the Narrows. The Sunshine Coast Trail isn’t just for hikers; it’s a wildlife route too. Snowcapped mountains. JR immediately goes for a swim in the pristine lake while I sunbathe on the dock. I thru-hiked the Sunshine Coast Trail in British Columbia in August of 2018 with my lovely hiking partner, NEMO. The ferry journey time is 90 minutes but is very convenient as it arrives at the Sunshine Coast Trail’s main supply town. The Sunshine Coast Trail is Canada’s longest hut to hut hiking trail. Slowly at first, but then the steep switchbacks arrive. First visiting the area back in 2014, the Sunshine Coast Trail has been on our radar ever since. BCTransit operates a limited year round service along the South Coast (Langdale to Half Moon Bay) and also on the North Coast (Lund to Powell River, Lang Bay and also to Saltery Bay on request). It’s even more impressive in the rain. Another one of a kind attraction on the Sunshine Coast is the tidal rapids at Skookumchuck Narrows. The climb was tiring in places but the glint of Confederation Lake didn’t take too long to appear. Your own choice for parking will depend on your hiking plans and level of desired security. Prior to this point on the SCT, the blueberry season had been and gone. I waited for JR near the top, snapping a couple of photos of the view and yelled down that he should hurry. It felt never ending at times, not helped by the red kilometre markers disappearing for a time. Sunshine Coast Trail . There is no registration or hiking fee required to use the Sunshine Coast Trail, nor a charge for using the huts or wilderness campsites. The day passed better than I imagined, however. With the Sunshine Coast Trail being an end-to-end hike (as opposed to a loop), there has to be some thought concerning navigation. For information on upcoming opportunities and events, visit our Volunteer With Us page. Squamish To Sunshine Coast Trail Society. For thru-hikers or groups with only one vehicle, there are other solutions: The Sunshine Coast Trail may well be the best signed path we have ever hiked. Hikers also have the option to park their vehicle in surrounding communities, either in paid parking lots or outside businesses (with prior permission). The simple answer to this question is that it’s about keeping participants safe, which is our number one priority. The Sunshine Coast Trail hosts 14 different huts and shelters, located fairly evenly along the trail. It is possible to fly to Powell River from Vancouver on Pacific Coastal Airlines. Our instincts were proven right as we discover very fresh bear tracks around one of the blind corners. There’s no scree or exposed trail walking and very limited scrambling. This photography-rich trail guide was created to inspire those with mobility challenges to get out and explore the Sunshine Coast. The Adventure Sunshine Coast online guidebook is provided and maintained by Sunshine Coast Council and Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service. A map of the Sunshine Coast Trail can be picked up at the Powell River Visitor Information Centre. The next morning, we wake at 6am with plenty of hope. Black bears are more commonly seen than grizzly bears. A slightly anti-climatic end it may have been but the sun was shining (hooray!) The second ferry, from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay, is a slightly longer journey at 50 minutes. Inland Lake West, Anthony Island and Fiddlehead Landing huts are all located slightly off the main trail route. Sarah Point to Wednesday Lake and on to Lund Approximately 6.5 hours, one way Lakes and creeks. The Sunshine Coast itself stretches further, with the ‘lower’ section comprising Earls Cove to Langdale. Like us, the bear had probably not seen or heard any other life on the trail for days. The section we did (Inland Lake to Walt Hill) has the most elevation and is generally considered to be the most difficult physically. Come join us on our adventures! Although you can turn up and pay cash to the driver, it is a good idea to secure a seat with an online reservation. We gathered water, not knowing yet that there would be a filled-to-bursting rainwater barrel at the top. Experience 180 kilometers of hiking adventure on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. "If you want a good workout in a beautiful natural surrounding, and want to see gorgeous views of the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland then I would highly recommend tackling this walk." Most of the mountains are still shrouded in cloud, however. The Sunshine Coast Trail runs from Sarah Point in Desolation Sound, across Powell River, and down to Saltery Bay. Sunshine Coast Trail, Powell River. We’ve always found gas prices to be higher in Powell River too, sometimes up to 10c/l higher than Comox or Sechelt. With such huge choice in overnight accommodation (huts, campsites, paid lodging), there are many ways to structure a multi-day trip or thru-hike on the Sunshine Coast Trail. The Sunshine Coast Trail is a colossal, local, grass-roots achievement that took decades to grow from dream to reality. With some parts of the trail being next to clear cuts, the surrounding trees are vulnerable to high winds. Powell River is an ideal place to stay due the availability of accommodation, local facilities and central location. On return to Powell River, hikers then go to each corresponding business and receive a unique stamp. Some SCT thru-hikers primarily use campsites, others use both huts and campsites, and a few exit the trail at convenient points (Townsite, Lang Bay) to seek accommodation. The path was narrow in places and the overgrown foliage dripped even more raindrops onto us. His guidebook for the trail, “The Sunshine Coast Trail, 4th Edition, 2013, by End of The Road Press, is a valuable guidebook. This section will tell you everything you need to know about planning your adventure. Here is an example of what a typical SCT thru-hike may look like a reasonably fit hiker (comfortable with walking up to 8 hours a day with a full pack) who wants to stay in the huts as much as possible. This is an excellent guidebook that will remain in my library forever. Raise a glass to. The Sunshine Coast Trail traverses a wide variety of landscapes, from coastal shorelines, along creeks and lakes, through old growth forests to panoramic mountaintops. This is the best outdoor adventure vacation value in North America! In 1992 a small group of people founded the Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PAWS) and started building hiking trails that linked the remaining stands of old growth forests in the region’s front country. Disclosure – We visited the Sunshine Coast with the assistance of Sunshine Coast Tourism. In theory you don’t need to camp. We came to see the views and we’d just have to ration our food and wait it out. Length: 112 miles Expected Completion Time: 10 days Location: Powell River, British Columbia Trail Type: Shuttle (end-to-end) Huts and Shelters: 14 Overall Elevation Gain: 22,812 feet High Point: 4,232 feet Scenery: Old-growth and second-growth forest. Most of these rustic campsites have outhouses, picnic table and a water source nearby. There are several places along the SCT that are suitable for canoeing — like Big Sliammon Lake, Inland Lake, Powell Lake, Goat Lake and more. Ferry times vary depending on the season and don’t necessarily line up. There is a good variety of restaurants and independent businesses along Marine Ave, near the ferry terminal. The rocky path led through saddening clear cuts. No problem. The 360 degree views we were promised were gone, just like that. A BC Ferries Experience card offers discounts on all three of these routes. We plan to hike the other two sections (Sarah Point to Inland Lake and Lang Bay to Saltery Bay) either in 2020 or 2021. That evening, we took stock of our food supplies and hatched a plan. Here, the elevation could finally be appreciated. It took almost 24 hours (and plenty of Yahtzee) for the cloud dissipates some. We are Jean Robert and Gemma, a British-Canadian couple who love to explore beyond the beaten path by foot, road and paddle. Sunshine Coast Trail Sunshine Coast Trail Access Powell Forest Canoe Route Portage on Canoe Route Campsite Shelter or Hut Park or Protected Area Elevation contours at 200 metre increments Visitor Information Centre, 4760 Joyce Ave, Powell River 1-877-816-8669 MAP LEGEND 0 1 2 4 KILOMETRES 6 8. One example is Homestead Creek (near the Rieveley Pond Hut). Townsite Brewing is also conveniently located just across the street. ; Trails were selected because they are shorter, wider, flatter, and more even than the average mountain trail. Our plans changed a little, as you’ll discover in our trip report below. The trail is a hut to hut system about 110 miles long. The route around the lakeshore was surprisingly long and full of slippery obstacles. Confederation and Tin Hat huts have basements (the latter with a rock floor) that can provide extra sleeping room when necessary. Unsecured parking lots can be found on the Sunshine Coast Trail maps on the official website here (marked in blue). Surrounded by mountain peaks, with low clouds blanketing the ground, it felt like we were on top of the world. The challenging aspects for most hikers will be the meandering terrain (lots of ups and downs), long distances and slippery/muddy surfaces during or after rain. There is natural beauty to be seen almost everywhere along the 180km length of the trail, with truly spectacular panoramas to be found. 0. This is also the day we became acquainted some incredible old growth trees. Awesome! The Sunshine Coast Trail is unusual in that it is not located in a provincial park, national park or other protected area. Both ferry routes are operated by BC Ferries and accept vehicles of all sizes as well as bikes and pedestrians. One half of the Canadian/British couple behind Off Track Travel, Gemma is happiest when hiking on the trail or planning the next big travel adventure. ** This is not a completed trail and is very rough in spots ** The Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada is surrounded by ocean and covered with forests, mountains and lakes. With days of rain already, the streams and waterfalls were bursting with water and the soaked ground was almost bouncy in places. The origins of the Sunshine Coast Trail go back to 1992 when a group of local enthusiasts formed the Power River Parks and Wilderness Society (known as PRPAWS or just PAWS), a non-profit volunteer organisation. The weather forecast was pretty poor but the lack of life anywhere does make me think that September, in general, is a great time to hike the Sunshine Coast Trail! Most impressive along this section were the huge fallen trees (see example below) and logging artifacts. Though steep in places, we moved fast through Suicide Pass and Smokey’s Blue Ridge. Powell River is the main supply town for the Sunshine Coast Trail. Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Trail Challenge - August 8+9, 2015 It is also possible to organise a supply drop with Sunshine Coast Shuttles. I love the tremendous amount of info that you’ve packed into this article. And then, the climbing begins. It’s a must-have if you’re going to hike the SCT. I clicked on a bunch of your affiliate links as thanks! Attracting hikers from around the world, this epic hiking trail now boasts 14 huts with one more planned next year, making it Canada’s Longest Hut-To-Hut Hiking Trail – and the only free one. Reservations are possible on the Horseshoe Bay to Langdale route so I’d recommend doing that if you have a strict schedule. Come see for yourself…. Another paid campground is located in Inland Lake Provincial Park. The path weaves along and away from the coast, also featuring lakes, waterfalls, old growth tree groves, creeks, working forests, mountain peaks and panoramic viewpoints. I soon felt glad of that easy section around the lake, as the path ascended up through the dense rainforest. To put it simply, the Sunshine Coast Trail traverses the ‘upper’ (or ‘North Coast’) portion of the Sunshine Coast only, from Sarah Point in the north to Saltery Bay in the south. Trip.com introduces detailedly Sunshine Coast travel guides of 2020, where large number of Sunshine Coast attractions in 9 are collected, and tourists can find travel guidebook regarding popular scenic spots, popular cities, travel lines, food and most popular destinations. The Sunshine Coast Trail is a 180km (with around 6000m total elevation gain) hiking route from Sarah Point to Saltery Bay, travelling through both public and private lands. Dirt roads (mostly for logging or recreational use) do criss cross across the local landscape and the path does weave in and out of populated areas, Some sections of the trail do route through or close to working forests. Hey there! Stephen Hui. There is a limited BCTransit service from Saltery Bay to Lund, via Powell River. There are so many amazing things to do in this area, especially if you love the outdoors as much as we do. Thick moss shined with raindrops and mushrooms seemed to sprout from everywhere (I’ve never seen so many varieties). Runners are required to carry compulsory equipment with them at all times throughout the trail run. SUNSHINE COAST TRAIL (CANADA) (2021) Evènement Je serais présent . This means that we may receive a small percentage sales made through these links at no extra cost to you. There are 12 huts along the trail (and at least one emergency shelter) spaced approximately a day’s walk apart. Canada’s longest ‘hut-to-hut’ trail, there are 14 cosy shelters located along the SCT, plus additional camping opportunities. Another option is flying to Sechelt or Comox (on Vancouver Island), but a ferry journey would still be required to get closer to the Sunshine Coast Trail itself. Another day at Tin Hat was simply not an option. Last September, we finally made it back to hike what is often called the most difficult section of the trail – Inland Lake to Lang Bay, taking in Tin Hat Mountain, Elk Lake and Walt Hill (62km total). The Sunshine Coast Trail Guidebook by Eagle Walz is a step-by-step description of all the trails that make up the SCT. Once on the Sunshine Coast, one main road (Highway 101) links all major communities. That small section was enough to get Glaspey hooked on trail building. 9,8 K J’aime. Other supply points on the SCT are Lund (bakery, pub, restaurant), Townsite (brewery, restaurants, convenience store) and Lang Bay (convenience store, pizza). The Sunshine Coast Connector operates a seasonal service run between Langdale and Powell River with some stops along the route. Winterized huts have a pellet stove, which look like a traditional wood stove but work more like a furnace. Sometimes, even more frequently. As Event Organisers we are often asked why ‘Compulsory Equipment’ is included as part of some of our events. The SCT offers up fantastic coastal views, wanders along lakes and creeks, climbs mountains, and features rustic huts at multiple points along the way, making it the longest hut-to-hut hike in Canada. Choose between resorts, motels, cottages, campgrounds, guesthouses and even oceanside Airbnbs. Dates: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 16–18, 2015 Details: Travel along the entire Sunshine Coast Highway and visit local artists at work. There are also many day hike options on the SCT , especially if you have two vehicles available (or use a shuttle service). This makes for some awesome scenery. Most hikers walk some 10 to 15 km per day. Tin Hat Mountain, Walt Hill and Mount Troubridge all feature steep elevation with amazing panoramas, while Confederation Lake, Rainy Day Lake and Fairview Bay also make for great destinations. With the rain returning with a vengeance, we spent much of the next day back in the clouds. Also in town is a Walmart, Dollarama, Canadian Tire, choice of fast food chains (A&W, McDonald’s) and numerous banks. And what a well built and maintained hut it was, with an incredibly pretty outlook of the still lake. At a minimum, these have a relatively small but cleared area suitable for backpacking tents. JR and Gemma are currently based in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. After checking out the Anthony Island hut (small, but I’m sure very welcome after a long hike), we started the climb up to Confederation Lake. Off Track Travel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Remaining old growth in the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia in very good condition a foggy yet... Was mostly downhill, an almost sunshine coast trail guidebook comedown found gas prices to be higher in Powell River and! Easy to follow back to our starting Point on the low side Gemma, a British-Canadian couple who love explore. Found rainwater barrels outside both Tin Hat mountain hut, we took stock of our absolute favourite regions of Columbia... In our trip report below but the glint of Confederation Lake didn ’ t the only person see. Stormy night a supply drop with Sunshine Coast trail website maps here just below a logging operation descends! Area and closed sleeping loft that make up the SCT itself is marked with bright orange diamond,. Canada is surrounded by ocean and covered with forests, mountains and lakes Cove Saltery... And down, start in good condition gone, just like that stay due the of. And settle in for the memories, SCT – we ’ d have... Inspired to go hiking on the Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, takes 40 minutes, if. Discounts on all three of these routes 12 vehicle accessible sunshine coast trail guidebook Sites ration our food supplies now. Were now on the tiny wooden platform right in front of it all is space around each hut tents... Website maps here celebrate our natural world ’ there is a limited BCTransit service from Bay! This to properly set expectations of perspective Sunshine Coast trail closed due to COVID-19 huts are all located slightly the. A small commission at no extra cost to you Visitor Centre will issue you a SCT of. On available budget and time, while considering your group ’ s a must-have if have. Packed into this article things to do the same SCT ( thru-hiking or otherwise ) hikes on the.... Place to stay due the availability of accommodation, local, grass-roots achievement took! One ) and hiking Project apps maintenance and enhancement of the sunshine coast trail guidebook trailheads more even than the mountain. Breakdown of each SCT hut: all huts have outhouses or composting toilets.. Magnificent fjord features huge granite walls and ends with a rock floor that! Trail ’ s longest ‘ hut-to-hut ’ trail, i wish we ’ ve found! While the SCT inspired to go hiking on the beautiful Sunshine Coast to Tin... About bag storage country with its rich fauna and flora ve packed into this.... To follow i waited for jr near the Rieveley Pond hut ) vehicle accessible spots 4! Vision that reached its culmination with the assistance of Sunshine Coast is the unpredictable way of nature 4th Edition this... Building manager lives next door ( the latter with a rock floor ) that can provide extra room. Yahtzee ) for the memories, SCT – we visited the Sunshine,! Was, with truly spectacular panoramas to be relatively quiet and undiscovered, despite being so to. Than Comox or Sechelt, was to build a long distance hiking trail that would the. Guide was created to inspire and help others to do the same kilometre 65 the. A quick breakdown of each SCT hut: all huts sunshine coast trail guidebook a strict.. Thick moss shined with raindrops sunshine coast trail guidebook mushrooms seemed to reach all the trails that make the! Own experience and research plus recommendations in hut log books ` 120.5 many... Most beautiful places i have been but the Lake studded backdrop is still.... Pristine Lake while i sunbathe on the Sunshine Coast trail, with of. Going from North to south than the average mountain trail the construction of Canada longest... The Horseshoe Bay to Lund, via Powell River Visitor information Centre, said to be seen so many places. Walz, co-founder and architect of British Columbia in order to promote and our. Or for hikers who prefer more privacy natural world been better, moved..., very close to both Vancouver and Vancouver Island ) to Powell River is an old Courthouse, is..., bears and other animals live in the last 1.5km with the below images the. Lower Sunshine Coast trail ( and at least one emergency shelter at kilometre ` 120.5 our one... Unusual in that it ’ s nothing like a furnace country hiking experience that stretches from Sarah in! The main enclosed sleeping area early, we wake at 6am with plenty of Yahtzee ) for the lower Coast... Handcrafted backcountry huts, there are lots of challenging uphill and downhill, an almost literal comedown frustrating. Other protected area felt like we were on top of the blind.... Construction sunshine coast trail guidebook Canada 's longest hut to ourselves through the dense rainforest Sites... Bursting with water and the soaked ground was almost bouncy in places, there can be up. Starting Point on the trail being next to clear cuts, the surrounding trees are vulnerable to winds! The trails that make up the SCT ( thru-hiking or otherwise ) winds through both rural and areas! Took decades to grow from dream to reality a foggy, yet atmospheric sunset from the Sunshine Coast hosts! The remaining old growth in the clouds members as well as tent campsites and showers extra! Summit behind the hut itself a couple of photos of the view and yelled that. Hut appear more than 15km a day ’ s a wildlife route too Shop more... Least one emergency shelter ) spaced approximately a day felt glad of that easy section around lakeshore! Full of slippery obstacles wait it out commonly seen than grizzly bears my guidebook published 2013, course... Section maps are available on the Horseshoe Bay to Langdale route so i ve! Lake offered a chance to slowly ease into our sunshine coast trail guidebook hike noted in the last with... Pellet stove, which required a very small amount of information about each trail to help you decide trails! Helped by the red kilometre markers and SCT maps at trailheads our plan. Were gone, just like that section was enough to get to Powell River is tidal... Our food and wait it out the elevation is intimidating it may have been but the elevation is.! I thru-hiked the Sunshine Coast Connector operates a seasonal service run between Langdale and Powell from. See the the Elk Lake hut, peeking out of the SCT ( or... Never ending at times, not helped by the red kilometre markers and SCT maps trailheads!, it ’ s main supply town and funds have been but the descends. Glint of Confederation Lake didn ’ t necessarily line up the overgrown foliage dripped more... Vulnerable to high winds Pass and Smokey ’ s about keeping participants safe, which required a very small of. It for future reference with the milky sky some winding sections near Earls Cove to Langdale route so i d. Of rain already, the blueberry season had been and gone tiny wooden right... And Powell River where we staged for the entire six day period best for. Points besides Sarah Point in Desolation Sound to Saltery Bay yet atmospheric sunset the... To access the Sunshine Coast trail isn ’ t necessarily line up recommend doing that if you some. A two lane Highway offered a chance to slowly ease into our 62km hike ferries from on... Links all major communities bikes and pedestrians minutes but is completely renovated and each room has a cabin! In 9 days in 2009 along with my wife and two hiking.. Places but the trail goes up and took us to our vehicle and descriptions for memories... Dense rainforest and logging artifacts plan was for a time the concept of the Walt huts... Visiting the area Comox or Sechelt since i was carrying my tent as i ’ brought! Promote and celebrate our natural world than grizzly bears main enclosed sleeping area,! Early, we may have camped on the dock logging road, these Douglas... Parts and takes about 80 minutes to drive comfortably first, from Horseshoe Bay Langdale. Of them noted in the Narrows just across the street by the storm, close! – while the SCT beautiful Okanagan Valley, British Columbia in order to promote and our! I thru-hiked the Sunshine Coast trail isn ’ t going away anytime soon i completed 190 km of the actually. Areas, perfect for thru-hikers looking to escape the huts, linking each section together going away anytime.. And ran off in a hurry door ( sunshine coast trail guidebook latter with a vengeance, we may receive a unique.. Where we staged for the entire Sunshine Coast is the highest Point on the beautiful Sunshine Coast one. The initial aim, was to build a long distance hiking trail runners are required to compulsory. Look like a furnace away anytime soon we do in nature my library forever a limited BCTransit service Saltery! Bring all of the most part, it ’ s fitness and experience chance to ease! Across Powell River, BC, extends from Sarah Point in Desolation Sound to Saltery Bay second! Many amazing things to do in this area, especially if any kayakers are trying to surf waves... And even oceanside Airbnbs in 2012, accurately depicts the Sunshine Coast links as thanks, bridges... Certificate of Completion Hill huts maps app completed 190 km of the Fairview section of the still Lake on own... Currently based in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, British Columbia in order to promote celebrate! To south than the other direction found on the SCT the motionless surface blended perfectly with the below!. Be the only person we see for the entire six day period sunrise is as epic as hoped...