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An aerial view of Sechelt at sunset.

Three-Day Getaway: BC's Sunshine Coast

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Sechelt | @dolfvermeulen

When it comes to relaxing seaside getaways, the Sunshine Coast has it all. Long stretches of sandy shorelines, expansive ocean vistas, and cozy communities? Check, check, and check. But there’s more to experience here than West Coast scenery. Along your journey, you’ll find a robust food and drink scene, a vibrant arts community, and exciting outdoor adventures.

The area consists of a north and south coast, connected by a fifty-minute BC Ferries trip from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay. Depending on your preferred style of travel, three days will allow you to explore one or the other, or maybe both if you don’t sleep.

Here are a few getaway ideas to get you started.

Banditry Cider, Sunshine Coast Tourism/Shayd Johnson

Gibsons, Roberts Creek, and Sechelt

From the Langdale Ferry Terminal, your first stop is Persephone Brewing Company, where you can taste award-winning craft beer—some of it made with hops grown onsite. Continue sampling coastal brews at Tapworks and The 101 Brewhouse and Distillery in the town of Gibsons, or cider lovers can check out Sunday Cider and Banditry Cider.

Head to nearby Gibsons Landing to browse local shops, including the Gibsons Public Market with its local food merchants and on-site bistro. Other options from a growing list of culinary gems include Buono Osteria, Smitty’s Oyster House, and Lunitas Mexican Eatery.

Once you’re sated, make your way up the coast to Roberts Creek for a gentle stroll along the pier, explore the wooden bridges and waterfall views in Cliff Gilker Park, or search for forest mushrooms along the mossy trails in Mount Elphinstone Provincial Park.

For mountain bikers, Roberts Creek is a great place to pedal; the fast, flowy Mach Chicken trail is one of the area’s most well-known rides. Worked up an appetite again? Post-hike (or bike), settle into The Gumboot Restaurant for a locally sourced meal on their sunny garden patio.

Farther north, Sechelt is home to great beaches with a number of access points along the oceanside roads around town (tip: Porpoise Bay Provincial Park boasts views up the Sechelt Inlet). If you want to take it up a notch, the area has some of BC’s best year-round mountain biking. The Coast Gravity Park—a nearby shuttle-serviced bike park—promises the perfect adrenaline fix for gravity junkies. If you don’t have your own bike, rentals are available from Elphi Cycles.

Wind down your adventure with a bite at Batch 44 Brewery and Kitchen or a custom charcuterie board at The Bricker Cider Company.

West Coast Wilderness Lodge | Destination Canada

Halfmoon Bay, Pender Harbour, and Egmont

Continue north along Highway 101 and detour onto Redrooffs Road (not a typo) for a scenic drive. Stop at the historic Halfmoon Bay General Store for coffee and baked goods before taking a short walk in Smuggler’s Cove Marine Provincial Park. Continue the detour in nearby Secret Cove, where you can take a water taxi to Thormanby Island. Spend time on Thormanby exploring beaches and trails.

Back on Highway 101, you’ll go through pretty Pender Harbour with its lake and ocean access before you detour again to Egmont. Along the stretch of road between these two communities, you may choose to accept the 10 Lake Challenge, which calls for participants to swim in all the region’s lakes in one day.

In Egmont, don’t miss the 4-kilometre (1.6-mile) hike to the Skookumchuck Narrows and watch from a safe distance as 200 billion gallons of water rushes through the narrow channel during daily ebb and flood tides. If you’re lucky, you’ll see kayakers riding the surf. And if you’re hungry, check out the Skookumchuck Bakery—tucked in the woods near the entrance to the park—for a pre- or post-walk snack.

Another Egmont must-do is a cruise up the Princess Louisa Inlet with Sunshine Coast Tours, a five-hour trip that takes you through a steep fjord surrounded by waterfalls (spectacular Chatterbox Falls is a highlight). Finish your day with a sunset dinner on the patio at West Coast Wilderness Lodge.

Tin Hat Hut along the Sunshine Coast Trail | Andrew Strain

Powell River and Lund

From Earls Cove, another BC Ferries crossing to Saltery Bay takes you to the north coast and the city of Powell River. Spend time exploring the historic Townsite, including The Patricia Theatre, Canada’s longest continuously running movie theatre. While you’re here, sip local beer at Townsite Brewing, caffeinate at 32 Lakes Coffee, and book a stay at The Old Courthouse Inn. In the downtown waterfront area, Costa Del Sol Latin Cuisine and Coastal Cookery are great spots to grab a bite.

Continue island hopping with a ferry to Texada Island and walk along Shingle Beach or Shelter Point (great for beach camping). Or cruise to the sandy beaches and warm waters of Savary Island by way of the Lund Water Taxi. You can also book a boat or kayaking tour into Desolation Sound with Terracentric Adventures or Powell River Sea Kayak, who offer glamping in the wilderness at Cabana Desolation Eco Resort.

Prefer to stay on land? Explore Canada’s longest free hut-to-hut hiking network along the Sunshine Coast Trail. Take a day trip with Footprint Nature Explorations and get inspired to come back and tackle the full 180-kilometre (119-mile) route.

Ferry arriving in Langdale | Dolf Vermeulen

Getting There

There are plenty of ways to get to the Sunshine Coast. Beat the summer traffic (and enjoy stunning views while you’re at it) by flying into Sechelt with Harbour Air or Sunshine Coast Air. Pacific Coastal Airlines also offers service to the Sunshine Coast with flights to Powell River.

Sail with BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale to reach the south coast (reservations are highly recommended if you’re driving), take the Earls Cove to Saltery Bay route to access the north coast. You can also get to the north coast from Vancouver Island via the Comox to Lund BC Ferries route, part of the larger Coastal Circle Route.

Originally published in July, 2018.

MENTIONED IN THIS STORY

Cabins & Cottages, Resorts & Wilderness Lodges

Cabana Desolation Eco Resort

Cabana Desolation Eco Resort is a comfortably designed, exclusive eco resort located on an uninhabited island in the heart of Desolation Sound,...

Phone: (604) 483-2160

View Listing

Spas & Wellness, Biking, Paddling, Hiking, Resorts & Wilderness Lodges, Accessibility

West Coast Wilderness Lodge

Our packaged nightly accommodation rate typically includes a three-course dinner and ala carte breakfast service the next morning. West Coast...

Phone: (778) 280-8610

View Listing

Hotels, Accessibility

The Old Courthouse Inn

Hotel guests can enjoy the unique charm and character of each of the 8 rooms. An eclectic mix of antiques and collectibles adorn the rooms and...

Phone: (604) 483-4000

View Listing

Sightseeing, Paddling, Hiking

Footprint Nature Explorations

Professionally guided, all inclusive, day- and multi-day kayak adventures in Desolation Sound, the Copeland Islands and Okeover Inlet. Sea...

Phone: (604) 414-6884

View Listing

Sightseeing, Boating

Sunshine Coast Tours

Scheduled tours take you to our most poplular destinations. The operator's commentary illustrates high points along the way. We'll touch on a...

Phone: (604) 883-2280

View Listing

Airlines, Accessibility

Sunshine Coast Air

Sunshine Coast Air offers a true West Coast experience whether you are an adventure enthusiast, nature lover or aviation junkie. With scheduled...

Phone: (604) 740-8889

View Listing

Sightseeing, Airlines

Harbour Air Seaplanes

Connect between Comox Marina and downtown Vancouver by seaplane in less than an hour with direct daily flights from March through November....

Phone: (800) 665-0212

View Listing

Airlines

Pacific Coastal Airlines

Phone: (604) 214-2366

View Listing

Cabins & Cottages, Resorts & Wilderness Lodges

Cabana Desolation Eco Resort

Cabana Desolation Eco Resort is a comfortably designed, exclusive eco resort located on an uninhabited island in the heart of Desolation Sound,...

Phone: (604) 483-2160

View Listing

Spas & Wellness, Biking, Paddling, Hiking, Resorts & Wilderness Lodges, Accessibility

West Coast Wilderness Lodge

Our packaged nightly accommodation rate typically includes a three-course dinner and ala carte breakfast service the next morning. West Coast...

Phone: (778) 280-8610

View Listing

Hotels, Accessibility

The Old Courthouse Inn

Hotel guests can enjoy the unique charm and character of each of the 8 rooms. An eclectic mix of antiques and collectibles adorn the rooms and...

Phone: (604) 483-4000

View Listing

Sightseeing, Paddling, Hiking

Footprint Nature Explorations

Professionally guided, all inclusive, day- and multi-day kayak adventures in Desolation Sound, the Copeland Islands and Okeover Inlet. Sea...

Phone: (604) 414-6884

View Listing

Sightseeing, Boating

Sunshine Coast Tours

Scheduled tours take you to our most poplular destinations. The operator's commentary illustrates high points along the way. We'll touch on a...

Phone: (604) 883-2280

View Listing

Airlines, Accessibility

Sunshine Coast Air

Sunshine Coast Air offers a true West Coast experience whether you are an adventure enthusiast, nature lover or aviation junkie. With scheduled...

Phone: (604) 740-8889

View Listing

Sightseeing, Airlines

Harbour Air Seaplanes

Connect between Comox Marina and downtown Vancouver by seaplane in less than an hour with direct daily flights from March through November....

Phone: (800) 665-0212

View Listing

Airlines

Pacific Coastal Airlines

Phone: (604) 214-2366

View Listing

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