I lived in Gibsons for five months in the winter of 2020/21. I went hiking every weekend and some weekdays too, so I’ve hiked all the trails on the Sunshine Coast (some of them multiple times).

In this post, I’ve got my local’s picks for the best hiking trails, plus where to find more info. There’s something for everyone with hikes to waterfalls, mountain tops, forests, and even tidal rapids. Most of the hikes are short and easy, but there are a few tough ones too.

Psst: Hiking isn’t the only thing to do on the Sunshine Coast – get my list of the best things to do on the Sunshine Coast.

Sunshine Coast Hiking Basics

Getting to the Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is part of British Columbia’s mainland, but it’s not connected to the road network. That means that you’ll need to take a ferry to get there.

You can take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay near Vancouver to Langdale near Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast. From Vancouver Island, take the ferry from Comox to Powell River.

The Sunshine Coast is also divided into two sections, separated by Jervis Inlet. You can take a ferry in between the northern section which includes Powell River, and the southern section, which includes Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Sechelt, Halfmoon Bay, and Pender Harbour.

Once you’ve arrived on the Sunshine Coast, the easiest way to get around is by car. However, there is some limited public bus service.

Hiking Season on the Sunshine Coast

With a few exceptions, most of the trails on the Sunshine Coast are near sea level, so you can hike all year. In the fall, winter, and spring, the trails may be a bit muddy or slippery, so be careful.

READ NEXT: The Best Weather Apps for Hiking

What to Bring Hiking on the Sunshine Coast

Even if you are just going for a short hike, you need to be prepared for the weather and conditions. Don’t forget the 10 essentials. (Rain gear and warm clothing are especially important outside of summer.)

Bear Safety

The Sunshine Coast has a healthy black bear population. Carry bear spray and make noise while you hike to reduce your risk of a negative bear encounter. For more info about hiking in bear country, read my post about bear safety for hikers.

Leave No Trace

The area Sunshine Coast is sensitive wilderness. Learn about Leave No Trace principles to help keep the wilderness wild.

Sunshine Coast Hiking Map

I made a custom Google map for you that shows all of the trails on this list, plus the exact location of the trailhead and parking.

Best Hikes in Gibsons

Langdale Falls

Langdale Falls is a beautiful 40-foot-tall waterfall in a deep and mossy canyon. You can start the hike right from the ferry terminal or at the Sprockids Mountain Bike Park.

READ NEXT: Langdale Falls Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC

Mount Elphinstone

The challenging hike to the top of 1232m-tall Mount Elphinstone takes all day. But the journey is worth it to enjoy the views and take pride in summitting one of the Sunshine Coast’s tallest peaks. This is one of the few hikes on the Sunshine Coast I haven’t done yet, but it’s on my list!

Soames Hill

The view from the top of Soames Hill is spectacular: you can see Gibsons, Keats Island, and of course the ocean. It’s a short hike, but it has lots of stairs so you’ll get a bit of a workout. Soames Hill is one of my favourite Sunshine Coast hikes since it has such a beautiful view.

READ NEXT: Soames Hill Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC

Best Hikes in Roberts Creek

Roberts Creek Falls

This short hike isn’t well-known. But it’s a very easy hike and the waterfall is spectacular. To get there, park at the end of Day Road in Roberts Creek, then follow the trail signs to the waterfall.

Cliff Gilker Park

This forested park has a great network of easy trails. The cedar trees, ferns, and moss are gorgeous and there are also several beautiful waterfalls and cascades. My trail guide has recommendations for the best loop through the park.

READ NEXT: Cliff Gilker Park Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC

Best Hikes in Sechelt

Dakota Ridge Snowshoe Trails

Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area is a community-run snowshoe area in the mountains above Sechelt. It has lots of rolling trails and some beautiful viewpoints. Dakota Ridge is my favourite place to go snowshoeing on the Sunshine Coast. (And they have cross-country skiing too!)

READ NEXT: How to Snowshoe and Ski at Dakota Ridge on the Sunshine Coast, BC

Chapman Creek Trail

The Selma Park neighbourhood of Sechelt is home to a great trail network through the beautiful rainforest around Chapman Creek. You can start from several different trailheads accessed from Davis Bay, but I like to use the Sechelt Airport Trailhead. These trails also connect to the Chapman Falls Trail (below).

Chapman Falls

Chapman Falls is a gorgeous cascading waterfall in a deep canyon. Sechelt’s main water source is Chapman Creek, and you’ll walk on top of a water pipe for part of the hike. You can start your hike from any of the Chapman Creek Trailheads (above), but the shortest way to get there is from the end of Reservoir Road.

Note: As of January 2021 this trail is closed due to mining in the area. It is unclear if it will reopen.

Burnett Falls

This short walk takes you to a beautiful waterfall. From the views of the lush forest along the way, you’d never guess that it’s tucked away in a pocket of green space between industrial sites. It’s one of the shortest trails on the Sunshine Coast, but it’s worthwhile since it’s so gorgeous.

Hidden Groves

The Hidden Groves are two trail networks in Sechelt Heritage Forest. Community groups worked to protect some huge old-growth trees and build tons of trails. There’s a short section on the west side of Inlet Road but most of the trails are on the east side of the road.

Tetrahedron Provincial Park and Mount Steele

Tetrahedron Provincial Park has a network of trails past several lakes and up to the summit of Mount Steele. A local outdoor club maintains four cabins in the park if you want to stay overnight. It’s a great summer hiking destination, but it’s also great in the winter on skis or snowshoes.

Note: The cabins in the park are currently closed due to the pandemic and tenting isn’t allowed, so right now you can only do day trips.

More Info: Tetrahedron Provincial Park and Mount Steele is Trip 18 in my book Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia. The book contains all the info you need to plan a day hike or backpacking trip in the park.

READ NEXT: Backcountry Huts in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies

Get My Book…

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

Kinnikinnick Park

This wilderness park in the West Porpoise Bay neighbourhood of Sechelt has several kilometres of pleasant trails. The network of trails lets you choose your own path through ferns, marsh, and mossy forest, or make a loop around the whole park.

Best Hikes in Halfmoon Bay

Triangle Lake

This trail starts at Sargent Bay Provincial Park and heads up into the forest to tiny Triangle Lake. Community volunteers maintain a loop trail around the marshy lake. Take a break at one of the viewpoints – they come with benches.

Big Tree Trail

This short trail takes you to one of the biggest trees on the Sunshine Coast. There’s a picnic area at the base so you can linger and marvel at the tree. There’s also a huge network of mountain bike trails if you want to extend your hike.

Smuggler Cove

This short hike leads past a beaver pond to the shores of Smuggler Cove. From there, you can take the left fork across the peninsula to a quiet rock outcrop, or the right fork out to the point. Both options are stunning, making this one of the prettiest Sunshine Coast hikes.

Homesite Creek Falls

This small and pretty waterfall is a short hike from Highway 101. There are trails on both sides of the creek so you can choose from several viewpoints.

Best Hikes in Pender Harbour and Egmont

Francis Point

This short hike leads along a rocky shoreline to a beautiful viewpoint atop a bluff. While the hike is relatively flat, it traverses some rocky ledges that can be very slippery when they are wet, so be careful.

Mount Daniel

The hike up 440m-tall Mount Daniel is quite steep but fairly short. Your reward is an incredible view of Pender Harbour with its numerous inlets, islands, and squiggly peninsulas.

Pender Hill

If you’re not up for the challenge of climbing Mount Daniel, Pender Hill is a great alternative. I would also argue that it has a better view. You can see Pender Harbour as well as nearby Hotel Lake and Garden Bay Lake. It’s also a steep hike, but it tops out at 231m so you don’t have as far to climb.

Skookumchuck Narrows

The hike to Skookumchuck Narrows is scenic, with lots of beautiful forest. But the main attraction is the crazy tidal whirlpools and rapids that form at the narrows when the tide changes. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular places to go hiking on the Sunshine Coast.

READ NEXT: Skookumchuck Narrows Hike on the Sunshine Coast

Best Hikes in Powell River (and the North Sunshine Coast)

Sunshine Coast Trail

The Sunshine Coast Trail runs 180km from Saltery Bay to Sarah Point on the Northern Sunshine Coast, passing through the town of Powell River. It crosses many access roads, so it’s easy to plan hikes along shorter sections of the Sunshine Coast Trail. Some of my favourite sections for day hiking are:

• Fairview Bay
• Tin Hat Hut
• Inland Lake
• Confederation Lake
• Manzanita Bluff

You can find info on all of these sections of the Sunshine Coast Trail in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.

If you’re looking for an overnight or multi-day hike, I’ve got suggestions for which sections of the Sunshine Coast are snow-free early in the year in my guide to spring backpacking in British Columbia.

Get My Book…

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

With 21 trails on this list, I’m sure you’ll find a Sunshine Coast hike that you’ll love. (Actually… you’ll probably find a few!) Have questions about hiking on the Sunshine Coast? Ask me in the comments as I’m always happy to help.

More Sunshine Coast Info:

• The Best Things to do on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Langdale Falls Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Soames Hill Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Cliff Gilker Park Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• How to Snowshoe and Ski at Dakota Ridge on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Skookumchuck Narrows Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Backpacking Manzanita Bluff and Rievely’s Pond on the Sunshine Coast Trail
• Backcountry Huts in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies

The post 21 Best Hikes on the Sunshine Coast, BC appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I lived in Gibsons for one winter. My husband and I bought season’s passes for Dakota Ridge and headed up there weekly to snowshoe. We also took cross-country ski lessons and explored the ski trails a little bit.

I’ve explored all the snowshoe trails in the park, skied the beginner-friendly ones, and driven the snowy road at least a dozen times. That means that I’m able to give you a local’s insider info on everything you need to know to visit Dakota Ridge.

In this post you’ll find:

• Dakota Ridge basics including rates, rentals, lessons, weather, and more
• Detailed driving directions to the trailhead and what kind of car you need
• An overview of the snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Dakota Ridge Basics

Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area is a small cross-country ski and snowshoe area near the town of Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia. It is run by the Sunshine Coast Regional District with the help of volunteers who sell tickets, groom the trails, and do ski patrol. There is also a small sledding hill for kids.

Dakota Ridge is on the traditional land of the Shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh peoples. Each of the trails in the area has both an English and a Coast Salish name. Check them out on the Dakota Ridge Trail Map (below).

Rates and Passes

You might be wondering, how much does it cost to ski or snowshoe at Dakota Ridge? It’s surprisingly affordable.

Dakota Ridge is cash-only and you need exact change. You can pay the volunteers if they are on duty, or self-register at the cash box on the info board.

You can also pre-purchase passes at Alpha Adventures, an outdoor store on Field Road. You’ll pass it on the way to Dakota Ridge. They are also cash-only, but they will give you change.

Seasons passes are also available if you buy before December 31. You need to visit at least nine times to make the pass worthwhile.

Rentals

There are no on-site rentals at Dakota Ridge. But you can rent skis or snowshoes from Alpha Adventures. Book in advance as they do sell out.

Lessons

You can book cross-country ski lessons at Dakota Ridge through Alpha Adventures. I took a half-day lesson with them and it was SO helpful. I definitely learned a lot to improve my technique.

Locals with kids may want to join the Dakota Ridge Nordics. They have kids’ ski lessons every Sunday morning.

Facilities

Warming Hut: There is a small rustic warming hut near the parking lot. It has a wood stove and is volunteer maintained. It is open from dawn until dusk. There are also a couple of picnic tables and ski racks outside the hut.

Food & Drink: There is no food for purchase – you have to bring your own.

Toilet: There is an outhouse near the parking lot and warming hut, but no other facilities. It is usually well-stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer though.

Garbage: There are no garbage cans on site. Please bring everything home with you.

Sledding Hill: There is a small sledding hill next to the warming hut, near the parking lot. It’s not very steep, so it will mostly appeal to younger children. Sledding is included with ski or snowshoe tickets. But you can also use the hill if you pay $6 per car.

Dogs

Dogs are allowed on all snowshoe trails at Dakota Ridge as long as they are under control. They do not have to be on a leash. Dogs are also allowed on the 1.5 km-long Sechelt Main cross-country ski trail. Dogs are not allowed on any other cross-country ski trails.

Dakota Ridge Weather

The trails at Dakota Ridge are at elevations of 1000 to 1160m, which gives the area a mountain climate. It is much colder than sea level, and it is usually windier and snowier too.

There are no Dakota Ridge weather forecasts. However, Dakota Ridge usually has very similar weather to the Cypress Mountain ski resort near Vancouver. It’s at the same elevation and is only 30km away. This mountain weather forecast for Cypress is the best forecast to use for Dakota Ridge. Use the mid-mountain elevation since it’s the closest to Dakota Ridge.

Dakota Ridge Conditions

Volunteers regularly post conditions updates on the official Dakota Ridge Facebook page. These usually include new snowfall, current weather, grooming updates, and road conditions. They post on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and sometimes during the week too. Conditions updates are usually posted between 8 and 10 am.

You can also find user-submitted conditions information, photos, and questions on the Dakota Ridge Facebook group.

There is a conditions board near the warming hut that is updated with each day’s grooming report.

Dakota Ridge Trail Map

The snowshoe and ski trails are easy to navigate, with signs at all junctions. There is also a large trail map at the info board near the warming hut. Below is the official trail map.

How to Get to Dakota Ridge

Dakota Ridge is located 14 kilometres up a gravel forest service road. You can drive yourself (if you have an appropriate vehicle – details below) or book a shuttle through Alpha Adventures.

The road is a bit bumpy and steep in places and usually very snowy or icy. If you go slowly and have good winter tires or chains, it’s a fairly easy drive in good conditions. Be sure to pull over to let others pass. Downhill traffic has the right of way.

The road is plowed regularly, but it can still be very slippery. There is a designated chain-up area on the right-hand side of the road just before a bridge about 12km in. But depending on conditions, you may need to find a pull-out lower down and chain up.

The road also passes through active logging areas, so expect to encounter big logging trucks or machinery on any day of the week.

Check conditions online ahead of time to get an idea of what to expect. Or pay attention to vehicles coming down as you’re driving up. If they have chains on, it’s probably time to pull over and put yours on!

What Kind of Car Do You Need?

Official information from the Sunshine Coast Regional District says that you need a 4-wheel drive vehicle with chains to get to Dakota Ridge. In some conditions, that is definitely true. I’ve been up there when it’s been an absolute ice rink, with cars in the ditch.

However, if you have all-wheel drive and chains, you should be fine as long as you are comfortable with winter driving. In good conditions, you don’t need chains at all – we have made it up there with just snow tires and have seen lots of small cars up there too.

Check conditions online before you go, and make conservative decisions. If you get stuck, you’ll be blocking dozens of others trying to go up and down the road!

Driving Directions to Dakota Ridge

From Sechelt, head east on Highway 101 to Field Road. From Gibsons, head west on Highway 101 to Field Road.

Go north (uphill) on Field Road, past the Field Road Plaza (where Alpha Adventures is). Continue to the end of Field Road at a T-junction 1.5km later. Turn right onto the gravel Dakota Ridge Forest Service Road. Continue on the Forest Service Road for 14km. Ignore all side branches. When in doubt, look for signs or follow the road with the most wheel tracks.

The parking area can get busy on sunny weekends. Park close to other cars so there is enough room for everyone.

Click here for google maps driving directions to Dakota Ridge.

Snowshoeing at Dakota Ridge

There are three main snowshoe trails at Dakota Ridge: Eagle Lookout, Balsam Loop, and Ridge Walker. You are not allowed to snowshoe on the cross-country ski trails.

Eagle Lookout: An easy 1.8km loop through the forest. There’s supposed to be a lookout point at the apex of the loop… but I’ve never gotten much of a view from here.

Balsam Loop: An easy/moderate 2.3km loop that visits the best viewpoint at Dakota Ridge. You can look down to the ocean and across to the backside of Mount Elphinstone. You can even glimpse Mount Baker/Koma Kulshan on clear days. The west half heads gradually uphill through a section of beautiful old-growth forest. The east half parallels a cross-country ski trail, then heads up a short, but steep hill. I prefer to do this loop clockwise since the climb is less steep.

Ridge Walker: A moderate 2.8km loop that heads uphill through the forest, then meanders through some clearings that are actually frozen ponds and marshes. This trail branches off from the Balsam Ridge trail at two points, so I usually combine the two. Note: The official map lists this as an “advanced trail” but it’s not difficult – it just heads further into the wilderness than the other snowshoe trails.

Cross-Country Skiing at Dakota Ridge

Dakota Ridge has over 25 kilometres of cross-country skiing spread across 12 trails. There is a good mix of green, blue, and black trails and lots of loop options. The trails are groomed on most days, including some groomed for skate skiing. Since I’m a beginner, I haven’t skied very many of the trails.

The trails all have signs at each junction, but it can still be a good idea to bring a copy of the trail map (above) to plan your route.

Beginners (like me) should head left from the warming hut onto the Sechelt Main trail. The easy (green) Wren, Chickadee, and Grouse Trails branch off from here. The kids’ learning area is located along this trail too.

More experienced skiers can turn right at the warming hut to explore the blue Squamish Loop and Yellow Cedar Trails. Many skiers also enjoy the backcountry challenge of a long loop route on the Blueberry and Hemlock Trails. There are also a couple of black trails located towards the end of the Sechelt Main trail.

So that’s everything you need to know to cross-country ski, snowshoe, or sled at Dakota Ridge near Sechelt on BC’s Sunshine Coast. Do you have questions? Let me know in the comments. I’m always happy to help.

READ NEXT:

• 21 Best Hikes on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• The Best Things to do on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Langdale Falls Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Cliff Gilker Park Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Soames Hill Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Skookumchuck Narrows Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• How to Choose Snowshoes: A Complete Guide

The post How to Snowshoe and Ski at Dakota Ridge on the Sunshine Coast, BC appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.