Day 0: Arrival

After your flight into Vancouver you will jump on one of the twice daily flights to Powell River and 35 minutes later and you will be in PR. Alternatively you can drive up the Sunshine Coast via 2 ferries which takes around 6 hours. Powell River is the hub of the Sunshine Coast and where we begin our journey.

We’ll meet you here by the shores of the Salish Sea and drive the 20 minutes to Lund where you’ll stay at the historic Lund Hotel, built in 1918. After getting checked into your hotel we’ll provide you with any rental equipment that you requested, a canister of some bear spray for the trip and of course review all the logistics with you in detail. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions that you may have.

Day 1: Sarah Point to Manzanita Hut

After a good night’s sleep and a large breakfast you’ll head out for two nights on the trail. No more than 100 meters from the front door of the hotel and you’re in your water taxi for a 20 minute ride along the coast, hopefully past a pods of whales, to arrive at Sarah point.

The trek starts with Mount Washington and Vancouver Island in the background as the trail ascends from Sarah Point, don’t forget to look between the trees for views of Desolation sound. Perhaps you’ll spot another pod of Whales. You will walk past Hinder lake and Malaspina Lake, both of which are home to beavers who are apt to slap their tails in warning as hikers go by.

You will end your day at the semi open Manzanita Hut but if it’s early and you’re feeling strong you can always keep going:)

Day 2: Manzanita Hut to Rievely’s Pond Hut

Start the day with a morning coffee and a view of the Salish Sea. Today, you’re walking from the Manzanita hut to the Rievely’s Pond Hut. The hike takes you through some of the densest forests you’ll see this whole trip. Old growth Fir and Cedar mixed with stands of Ponderosa Pine make for beautiful cool walking in diffused green light. Following the trial you’ll venture deep into fern forests and over log bridges. It won’t matter too much if it rains as this is very dense rain forestland the trees provide an incredible amount of cover.

The Rievely’s Pond Hut, like the Manzanita Hut, is a semi-open hut. The upper section is closed in on all sides, accessed by a small set of stairs and meant for sleeping. The lower part of the hut is open to the elements. The Rievely’s Pond hut is nicknamed the Frog Chorus hut and at dusk we’ll find out why.

Day 3: Rievely’s Pond Hut to Powell Lake

It’s another beautiful day on the Sunshine Coast Trail. The trail will find you zigzagging through more head high ferns with views of desolation sound.

You will finish the day’s hike on the shores of Powell Lake, a dammed fjord Lake that is 50km by 24km.  On the shore of this beautiful lake, right off the trail, is a pub where you can grab a pint with dinner at this repurposed Shinglemill. Originally built in 1913 it now aptly named the Shinglemill Pub. Following dinner we will have a ride take you into town to spend the night at a hotel.

Day 4: Powell River to Confederation Lake Hut

After a shower and breakfast at a local cafe the hiking begins with an easy walk along Powell Lake and then the inland lake. The final part of our day sees you ascending a dirt path that eventually greets an old logging road that’s now mostly grown over. You would be hard pressed to get an ATV along the narrow path now, never mind a logging truck.  This is a steep track, though not a complex one. After a long day your arrival at Confederation Lake Hut will be well earned and may be deserving of a swim.

The Confederation Lake hut is our first enclosed hut. As such, it is entirely walled in, but you’d be wasting the lakeside benches in front of the hut by lingering inside.

Day 5: Confederation Lake Hut to Tinhat Hut

Today is our first tougher day.  From the hut we traverse over to Vomit Vista, which is likely named for someone who climbed up from sea level and didn’t even stop at the lake.

After a short break at Vomit Vista where we can peak through the trees at Powell Lake we begin our long descent towards Fiddlehead Landing. Though not as steep as yesterday’s climb, we have a few steep sections, but the trail is well switch-backed so the it keeps a somewhat gentle grade.

After two to three hours we arrive at a literal crossroads. Left and down will take us to Fiddlehead Hut on Powell Lake but our goals are much loftier so we keep on hiking to the next hut. Outside of day 8, this is our biggest climb of the trip. We will be under forest canopy for nearly the whole way as we ascend and this will help us on either a rainy day or a hot and sunny day.

Our destination is the Tinhat hut with it’s 360 degree views. It’s without a doubt a tough climb but the views up top will remove any doubt as to why you climbed to the top.

Day 6: Tinhat Hut to Elk Lake Hut

If you are going to wake up for sunrise, this is the spot to do it. With views of Nanaimo, Mount Washington, Desolation Sound, and more, we doubt you will get as spectacular a view anywhere else at this low in elevation (1185m).

We begin our hike walking along a sub alpine ridge towards Lewis Lake. For a majority of the morning we’ll be hiking through bush, scrub and subalpine trees that will allow us to keep our view of all the surrounding waters as we approach Lewis Lake. Pay attention to your footing, the trail can be a little rough and the views wild demand your gaze away.

Today, we’ll have lunch at Lewis Lake. If it’s hot and sunny, it’s time for a mid-day dip.

After lunch we continue on to Elk Lake hut where if you missed your swim at Lewis Lake you‘ll have another chance.

Day 7: Elk Lake Hut to Powell River

Out seventh day on the trail is a little bit of a shorter one. It undulates quite a bit before arriving at Walt Hill. This is a perfect spot for lunch and our chance to soak in some of the last sun rays of the summer.

We’ll continue walking downhill until we meet our transport vehicle, or we can continue all the way back down to Lake Powell to wrap up the trip.