Boasting incredible views of the Strait of Georgia and the Coast Mountains, Sechelt offers something for everyone.
Sechelt, meaning "land between two waters" in local Coast Salish language, fittingly burgeons with things to do on both land and water.
To top it all off, Sechelt is highly accessible: It's just a 40-minute ferry ride from West Vancouver and a 27km/16.8mi drive up Highway 101. Gibsons and Pender Harbour are minutes away.
Water Activities
Grab a rod and charter a fishing boat out on Sechelt's Davis Bay or up near Pender Harbour, angling for salmon (coho, chinook, pink) during the summer and fall months. Or head to Trout Lake, Sakinaw Lake, or Ruby Lake in search of surface-feeding trout and other freshwater fish.
Kayak and canoe rentals are available from numerous outfitters, as well as B&Bs and resorts along the Sunshine Coast. Near Halfmoon Bay, paddle the sheltered waters of Smuggler's Cove, or head up to Skookumchuck Narrows near Egmont to test North America's fastest-moving saltwater rapids among other experienced kayakers. Relaxing expeditions include Sechelt Inlet and the various islands (Keats, Gambier, Bowen) near Gibsons Harbour.
The Sunshine Coast offers some of the world's best year-round cold-water diving, according to the legendary Jacques Cousteau. Explore artificial reefs like the sunken naval ship HMCS Chaudière or natural walls and pinnacles at other dive sites in Sechelt Inlet, from Tzoonie Narrows to Tuwanek Point. Enjoy a day of swimming at one of the Sunshine Coast's sandy beaches. Take a tour of a local harbour aboard a water taxi. Try windsurfing, parasailing, or water skiing. The list goes on and on.
Land Activities
Hiking is a great way to discover the Sunshine Coast's many parks. Get the heart pumping with a 40-minute climb up Soames Hill overlooking Gibsons, or stroll amid waterfalls and bubbling creeks at Cliff Gilker Park in Roberts Creek. Pender Hill Park, north of Pender Harbour, has a magnificent ecosystem full of wildflowers, arbutus trees, and shrubs.
Mountain biking buffs have a plethora of trails, loops, and riding and trick parks. Sprockids Mountain Bike Park offers 14km/9mi of trails near Gibsons, while Clack Creek and the Brodie Race Trails are highlights near Roberts Creek. The Suncoaster Trail provides 33km/20mi of excitement between Halfmoon Bay and Klein Lake, passing old railroad tracks and ancient forests.
Winter Activities
While many travelers like to experience the Sunshine Coast during the summer, there are things to do here in the winter too. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing bring crowds to the emerging Dakota Ridge winter recreation area, which gets 300cm/118in of snow. Meetings and retreats, culinary tourism, and arts and cultural exploration are also popular in the winter.
Restaurants and Festivals
The Sunshine Coast specializes in tasty dining with local, seasonal ingredients. Grab a veggie burrito at the Gumboot Restaurant in Roberts Creek. In Gibsons, try fish and chips at the classic Molly's Reach cafe featured in The Beachcombers TV series, or enjoy West Coast fine dining at Chasters, the restaurant at Bonniebrook Lodge.
Festival lovers will find much to appreciate on the Sunshine Coast. Each year, Gibsons holds the Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival and the Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival. Sechelt hosts the famous Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, the Hackett Park Craft Fair, and the Festival of the Rolling Arts with lots of vintage cars. Both Gibsons and Sechelt have thriving farmers markets with fresh fruit and veggies, and locally produced artwork.
Culture and History
Artists and art galleries are big in this quirky, funky region. Check out the works of local artists at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt or the Gibsons Public Art Gallery, and stock up on paintings, pottery, fibre art, hand-blown glass art, and photography at private studios. Artworks Tours, based in Gibsons, offers customized tours, and the annual Purple Banner Studio & Gallery Guide helps visitors locate artists independently.
To learn about the Sunshine Coast's rich history, check out the Sunshine Coast Museum in Gibsons with two floors of exhibits on logging, fishing, and more. The House of Héwhíwus (House of Chiefs) in Sechelt celebrates First Nations culture with displays of cedar baskets and traditional masks, and offers live dancing and singing in the neighbouring Raven's Cry Theatre.
Driving Routes
Explore Sechelt's activity options such as diving, fishing, golfing, hiking, and visiting museums, art galleries, and farmers markets while traveling along the Coastal Circle Route. Learn more about driving routes through Sechelt here: Driving Routes.
For more information about things to do in Sechelt and the surrounding area stop by the Sechelt Visitor Centre (5790 Teredo St.).
Read Less