Hut-to-Hut Hiking on The Sunshine Coast Trail, British Columbia

View of Jervis Inlet coming down Mt. Troubridge—C.Helbig

My friend Morag and I learned about the 180 km Sunshine Coast Trail—Canada’s longest hut-to-hut hiking trail— at the Vancouver Mountain Film Festival. Eagle Walz, the trail’s co-founder and president of the Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS), enticed us with images of spectacular mountain and coastal vistas, old growth forests, secluded lakes and the promise of a real roof over our heads (for free!) at the end of each hiking day. We were hooked!

Well-maintained trails and great signage on the Sunshine Coast Trail—C.Helbig

We just returned from sampling a 42 km section of the Sunshine Coast Trail (SCT) and it was every bit as good as Eagle described (despite the aching thighs). One of the many great things about the Sunshine Coast Trail (SCT) is that if you don’t have the time or energy to do the entire 180 km, it’s easy to access sections for shorter multi-day hikes or day hikes.

The trail stretches from Sarah Point, north of Lund, to Saltery Bay on British Columbia’s northern Sunshine Coast with 13 huts and 20 tent-sites, all built and maintained by volunteer labour of PRPAWS and support of community groups. We selected the section from Lang Bay (Lois Lake) to Saltery Bay via Mt. Troubridge, the trail’s highest point, and did it as a 4-day, 3-night trip.

Our route: Lang Bay to Saltery Bay (at lower right of map)  www.sunshinecoast- trail.com

DAY 1: Lois Lake Trail to Golden Stanley Hut

• Approx. 8 km (3 hours), minimal elevation gain at the end, approaching Golden Stanley Hut.

Lois Lake, Sunshine Coast Trail—C. Helbig

If you’re coming from Vancouver, there’s travel time and logistics involved (about 4.5 hours via road and 2 ferries) so it’s nice that the first day of hiking isn’t too long or difficult. We got to Saltery Bay at 2pm and left our car at the overnight parking ($5/night) just to the right of the ferry terminal. Apparently it’s not difficult to hitchhike to Lang Bay (the access point to Lois Lake), but we decided to play it safe and reserve a Powell River taxi in advance. That worked out well, and not only did the driver take us to Lang Bay, but kindly drove us up the logging road almost to Lois Lake trailhead (we had anticipated walking several km along a boring road).

Great signage along the SCT

Morag looking fresh at the start of our hike

Good drinking water near Golden Stanley Hut

Picturesque blowdown

It wasn’t hard to spot the distinctive red markers and large wooden signs for the SCT, and we were soon ambling along the pretty Lois Lake trail. The trail weaves in and out of the forest but has plenty of lake access if you’re in need of a swim. We, however, were on a mission to get to our first overnight stop, the Golden Stanley Hut.

There it is, our comfy digs for the night, which we shared with Keith, Sue, and Bruce, intrepid hikers who were doing the entire 180 km. The Golden Stanley Hut has a fully enclosed upstairs loft with room for about 10 people.

The Golden Stanley Hut, Sunshine Coast Trail—C.Helbig

I don’t normally include photos of outhouses but this one, nestled in the forest with its rock-lined path and pretty door is really skookum! Best of all, it didn’t smell.

The outhouse at Golden Stanley Hut—C.Helbig

DAY 2: Golden Stanley Hut to Mount Troubridge Hut  

• Approx. 13 km and 1100 m elevation gain (5-6 hours).

Good signage reminding us that it’s still a long way up—C.Helbig

By the Carved Chair Campsite—C.Helbig

Getting our vitamins along the trail

This was arguably our toughest hiking day with a continuous uphill grunt, but it was also my favourite day. We loved the much needed rest stop at the Carved Chair Campsite. When we finally got to Elephant Lake,  3+hours uphill, we gorged ourselves on blueberries and took a refreshing dip.

Elephant Lake, the perfect rest spot enroute to Mt. Troubridge—C.Helbig

Invigorated by our rest at Elephant Lake, the trudge up to Mt. Troubridge Hut wasn’t as bad as we had expected. Plus, all the pain was forgotten when we saw the amazing Douglas fir cabin, and discovered that there was another great swimming spot just steps from our lovely abode.

Gorgeous Mount Troubridge Hut on the Sunshine Coast Trail—C.Helbig

The Troubridge Hut is absolutely stunning. The log shell was manufactured and assembled in Powell River and then flown up in pieces by helicopter. Once again we were happy to share this next hut with Keith, Sue and Bruce who had hightailed it out of Golden Stanley before we were even up.

The lake just steps away from the Mt. Troubridge Hut—C.Helbig

Isn’t this lake and little dock a sight for sore feet, backs, thighs…! Not knowing about this gem before our arrival made it even more special.

DAY 3: Mt.Troubridge Hut to Rainy Day Lake Hut

• Approx. 11 km and about 2oo m gain to Troubridge summit, then 850 m loss to Rainy Day Lake (5 hours).

A few more steps to the top of Mt. Troubridge (1300m)—C.Helbig

Today was all about the views, a lot of thigh-burning downhill (with a little unintended uphill), and another beautiful swimming lake.

One of our biggest surprises on most of our route, but particularly this section, was the number of tiny frogs (Morag thinks they’re toads) we saw on the trail. They were everywhere, scampering when they felt our thunderous steps. We expected deer, elk, bears…but frogs?

Great views coming down Mt. Troubridge—C.Helbig

Another surprise was the lack of people on the trail. On this section we encountered no other hikers until we got to Rainy Day Lake Hut; on other days we met less than a handful. I’m selfishly glad that the SCT still seems to be a well-kept secret.

Views open up “thanks” to logging activity—C.Helbig

We had been so spoiled by the awesome trail signage that we rarely consulted the trail guide. In our complacency, we marched right past an important turnoff at km 166 and happily wandered down a logging road until we realized that we hadn’t seen any signs. We backtracked up the steep, hot road looking for where we had gone wrong. Even with the detailed instructions it took us some effort to find the overgrown turnoff (it was the only place on our entire route where signage could be improved).

Rainy Day Lake Hut—C.Helbig

With the lure of another beautiful lake, we decided to take the .5 km detour to the Rainy Day Lake Hut. The hut commands a fabulous spot on top of a bluff with views to the lake.

We shared this hut with friendly Sam and Mark who pitched their tent on the ground floor, worried that they had seen hornets in the sleeping loft. Morag and I took our chances and came away unscathed, save for a few mossy bites. (This hut is not fully enclosed like the Troubridge Hut.)

Awesome Rainy Day Lake just below the hut—C.Helbig

DAY 4: Rainy Day Lake to Saltery Bay

• Approx. 10 km, with an elevation loss of about 450 m to Fairview Bay then lots of ups and downs as the trail skirts the coast (4 hours).

Fairview Bay section of Sunshine Coast Trail—C.Helbig

The Fairview Bay section of the SCT is just glorious and I wish I could have spent a full day and night at Fairview Bay Hut relaxing and swimming and enjoying the beautiful coastal scenery. The hut is only 2 km from the Rainy Day Lake Hut but the experience is completely different. If you don’t stay at Fairview Bay, make sure you stop there for lunch or a break and don’t rush this section of the trail.

Fairview Bay Hut on Sunshine Coast Trail—C.Helbig

View from Fairview Bay Hut—C.Helbig

The Fairview Bay Hut sits right on the coast with a great bay for swimming, and views over the Jervis Inlet. The photo on the left is a view directly from the hut. Folks we met along the trail told us they had seen humpback whales. It’s an awesome spot!

From the hut, it’s a gorgeous 7 km hike to Saltery Bay, the southern terminus of the SCT. Don’t be fooled though, it’s not a flat, coastal walk. The trail undulates up and down continuously, winding its way through the forest and across rocky bluffs.

Fairview Bay section of Sunshine Coast Trail—C.Helbig

Fairview Bay Trail only a few km from Saltery Bay—C.Helbig

The photo above was taken only a few km from the end of the trail and Saltery Bay ferry terminal, but it felt a millions miles away and wonderfully peaceful. It was a great way to end our first Sunshine Coast Trail adventure. We can’t wait to return and hike the other sections!

IF YOU GO

The Sunshine Coast Trail website is a great resource with maps, information about the trails, huts, and how to get Powell River/Sunshine Coast.

The Sunshine Coast Trail Guidebook by Eagle Walz is a step-by-step description of all the trails that make up the SCT. It’s a must-have if you’re going to hike the SCT. Information on how to order can be found on the website above.