The Sunshine Coast: An Outdoor Enthusiast’s Dream Destination
The Sunshine Coast, located a mere 40-minute ferry ride away from Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay, is a 180-kilometer stretch of wilderness that offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The region boasts a wide array of geographical features ranging from mountains, inlets, marine life, surging rapids, and old-growth rainforest with rare birds.
Our three-day escape to the Sunshine Coast began with a flightseeing tour from Sechelt, and we were treated to a thrilling and worthwhile overview of the region. Our guide, Candace Campo, hailing from the local shíshálh Nation, pointed out some of the significant sites ecologically, culturally and spiritually.
The seaplane soared over narrow inlets and fjords to rival Norway’s. The mountain goats on vertical mountain walls reaching up to 1,200 meters were visible from the plane. Candace explained that the wool of these revered creatures was used by the shíshálh Nation to create elaborate ceremonial regalia. Off the left wing, we passed mountainous Spipiyus Provincial Park with its 800-year-old cedars. We flew over the dual cascades of Freil Falls. At 440 meters in height, they’re nearly eight times as high as Niagara Falls and empty into the sea near the tiny, uninhabited Harmony Islands. The islets are home to ancient burial grounds of the shíshálh Nation.
The pilot banked and circled over one of the showstopper sights of the Sunshine Coast, the Sechelt Rapids at Skookumchuck Narrows, where whirlpools churned the water’s surface, and tumultuous rapids sluiced between rocky isles. The quick flowing waters within the Skookumchuck oxygenates all life. All shellfish, all fish… everything is enlarged. Her Elders, she said, used to catch ling cod here that were two metres long.
West Coast Wilderness Lodge, situated in the heart of the region, is an ideal base for exploring the area. Paul and Patti Hansen started the resort as a wilderness retreat for school children in 1997 and soon realized they were ideally positioned for the booming interest in eco-tourism. Over the years, West Coast Wilderness Lodge has been enlarged and upgraded, placing it among the finest accommodations on the B.C. coast. A series of cedar cottages with balconies compete for the best views. The ultimate view comes from the onsite Inlets Restaurant with its cathedral windows and large decks. People fly in by float plane just for the view and to dine here. We gorged on mussels in white wine, yam-crusted ling cod, salmon Wellington and a chocolate volcano dessert.
Outdoor activities are plentiful on the Sunshine Coast, and the region offers something for everyone. From kayaking tours, snorkeling adventures, to forest wellness journeys, you will find a variety of activities to choose from. We launched kayaks into the water as black as ink, with Greg and Meriel, owners of Metta Eco Experiences leading the way. Illuminated plankton burst like blue fireworks at each paddle stroke. Glittering trails of blue light trailed behind our boats. Exactly why bioluminescent plankton emit light when disturbed remains a mystery, but the effect is magical. We also joined Greg and Meriel again the next morning for a forest wellness journey. The goal is noble if ambitious. “To make a change in one’s life by using the energy of the natural surroundings,” said Greg. We headed into old-growth forest and found a suitable spot to harness that power.
After lunch at The Backeddy Pub, we walked an easy four kilometers into Skookumchuck Provincial Park to view the famous rapids. Two hundred billion gallons of water flow through the narrows with each tidal change at speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour, making the Skookumchuck (“strong water”) the fastest saltwater rapids in North America. Two overlooks offer views for either incoming or outgoing tides. We watched daring whitewater kayakers ride the flow.
On our last day, we booked a jet-boat tour with Egmont Adventure Centre up the narrow Princess Louisa Inlet, one of the most spectacular fiords in British Columbia. Rock walls soar to heights of 2,100 meters, and more than 60 waterfalls cascade from the cliffs, including the James Bruce Falls, which drops 840 meters. At the head of the fiord, we went ashore and walked to the thundering curtain of water; 37-meter-high Chatterbox Falls.
The Sunshine Coast had set aside its blue-sky branding and thrown all types of weather at us: buffeting winds, strafing rain, low ceilings, sun, and now below us a rainbow above a rocky peninsula. However, none of this could dampen the experience of exploring one of the most beautiful regions of Canada.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, the Sunshine Coast should be at the top of your list. From the flightseeing tours to kayaking adventures and everything in between, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Book your trip today and discover the magic of the Sunshine Coast.
