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 five months in 2020/21 and the hike to Langdale Falls was one of the closest trails to my house… and also one of my favourite hikes on the Sunshine Coast. (I love waterfall hikes!) I’ve hiked tons of trails in the area, which means I can recommend the best route for you.

The short and easy trail from Sprockids Mountain Bike Park is the most direct route to Langdale Falls. It’s a good option if you are already on the Sunshine Coast. But if you want to visit the falls as a car-free day trip from Vancouver, I’ve also got directions for hiking to the falls right from the ferry as a walk-on passenger.

In this post you’ll find:

• A custom-made Langdale Falls map that shows both trails to the falls
• Detailed driving and hiking directions from the Sprockids Trailhead
• Detailed driving and hiking directions from the Langdale Ferry Terminal Trailhead
• Tips for extending your hike

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.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Langdale Falls Hiking Map

The hike to Langdale Falls can be a bit confusing as there are a lot of junctions. I couldn’t find a good map of the trails in the area, so I made one for you. However, it’s just an overview so I also recommend that you use a GPS app like Gaia GPS, Alltrails, or Trailforks while you are on the hike. That way you can check which trail you are on as you walk.

(Psst! Want to save 20% on a Gaia GPS premium annual membership, which gets you the same maps I used on Langdale Falls hike? Use this link.)

Langdale Falls Hike from Sprockids Mountain Bike Park

The route from the Sprockids Mountain Bike Park trailhead is the shortest and easiest route to Langdale Falls. It’s a good option if you just want a quick hike to the falls and if you have a car to get to the trailhead.

Distance: 3 km

Elevation Gain: 150 m

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy

Season: Year-Round

Toilets: None

Dogs: Allowed

How to Get to the Sprockids Park Trailhead

From Langdale Ferry Terminal

Drive off the ferry and continue straight up the hill on the Sunshine Coast Highway. At the top of the hill, turn right at the flashing light onto Stewart Road.

A minute later, reach a T-junction with a gravel road. The main mountain bike park is through the gate to the left. But you should turn right and park immediately on the right side. The trailhead is a bit further down the road on the left side. Click here for Google Maps directions.

From Gibsons

From Upper Gibsons, follow the Sunshine Coast Highway east and north towards the Langdale Ferry Terminal. At the flashing light and stop sign, go straight onto Stewart Road. (Don’t turn right to go downhill to the ferry terminal.) Then follow the directions above. Click here for Google Maps directions.

Hiking Directions for Langdale Falls from Sprockids Park

The first part of the hike to Langdale Falls travels through the Sprockids Mountain Bike Park, which means you will pass a lot of junctions with mountain bike trails. However, they are all very well marked so it’s easy to stay on track. If you are ever confused, follow the blue and white markers on the trees.

To find the trailhead, continue down the road from the parking area. Look for a trail heading left into the trees just before a gate and private property sign. You are now on the White Trail.

A few steps later, go straight on the White Trail where the Pineapple Express Trail comes in from the left. Stay straight again in another few meters, ignoring the Ferry Express/Lunge Express Trail on the right.

About 100m later, go straight again, ignoring the Sprockids Climb trail on the left and the Ferry/Lunge Trail on the right. (This where the route from the Wharf Road trailhead and Langdale Ferry Terminal meets up with this hike.) A minute later, ignore a junction with the Pineapple Express Trail on your left.

Next, the trail emerges into an area of open deciduous forest. Go straight, ignoring a trail on the left that heads to the main mountain bike parking lot.

Continue through the open forest. Watch for some old abandoned cars on your right. This area was a landfill site decades ago. After it was full and had started to grow over, the local community turned it into a mountain bike park in the 1990s.

Soon after you leave to open area, look for a trail branching off to the right with a large “Langdale Falls” sign made out of a saw. Turn right and follow this trail, also known as the Blue Trail. The trail climbs gradually through the forest.

You will begin to hear Langdale Creek rushing in the canyon below you. There is a great view of the falls from the main trail, but you can also scramble down the bank to the base of the falls.

If you do choose to scramble down, be very careful as it’s quite steep. There is a thin hand-line to assist you and the dirt and gravel underfoot are very loose and can be slippery.

Once you are finished admiring the falls, head back up the steep slope and turn left on the Blue Trail to retrace your steps back to the trailhead. (Turning right at the top of the hand-line will take you into another area of mountain bike trails, described in the “Extending Your Hike” section at the bottom of this post.)

Langdale Falls Hike from the Langdale Ferry Terminal

You can hike to Langdale Falls right from the ferry terminal, which makes this a great hike to do from the Vancouver area as a walk-on passenger. You can even do this hike completely car-free by taking public transit to the ferry terminal in Horseshoe Bay. (It’s one of my picks for the best public-transit accessible hikes in Vancouver.)

Distance: 8km

Elevation Gain: 280m

Time: 3 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Season: Year-Round

Toilets: None

Dogs: Allowed

How to Get to the Wharf Road Trailhead

If you’re coming off the ferry as a foot passenger, use these directions to get to the Wharf Road Trailhead. Walk off the ferry and follow the covered walkway to the parking lot. Cut across the parking lot and pick up a paved path on the north side.

Follow the paved path uphill. At the top of the stairs, turn right onto Smith Road. Walk down Smith Road for a few minutes, then follow a trail uphill through the trees on the left. Cross the Port Mellon Highway and turn left onto Wharf Road. Follow Wharf Road to its end, which is the trailhead.

Your total walking distance from the ferry terminal is about 1.3km with about 80m of elevation gain. Click here for Google Maps directions.

Hiking Directions for Langdale Falls From the Wharf Road Trailhead

The route from the Wharf Road Trailhead to Langdale Falls intersects a lot of mountain bike trails. To stay on track, keep following the pink markers from the trailhead until you meet up with the Sprockids trails at the top of the Langdale Lunge Trail, then switch to following the blue markers.

From the end of Wharf Road, follow the trail into the open forest. Almost immediately you have a choice: The main route with pink markers is a badly eroded gravel road. In the winter or times of heavy rain, it turns into an ankle-deep creek.

A better choice is to follow Marty’s Trail, a bike trail that parallels the road closely but has a nice dirt surface and lots of beautiful cedar trees. Ignore a few side trails branching to your right – they just lead to the gravel road.

After about one kilometre, Marty’s Trail ends and you’ll be back walking along the old gravel road. Follow it as it curves around an old quarry that you will be able to see through the trees on your left. Ignore the Jammer mountain bike trail on the right and stay on the gravel road.

The road curves around to the left then heads into a long straight stretch. A few minutes later, it curves to the right and comes to a junction. Go right, following the pink markers and a sign that says “To Trails”.

Just a few meters later, the trail emerges under the power lines. Turn left and follow the Langdale Lunge Trail south. There are a few partially obscured viewpoints through this section where you can look west across Howe Sound to the ski hill at Cypress Mountain and south to the forested dome of Soames Hill.

(Psst: Did you know you can hike along the tops of these mountains? It’s part of a multi-day hike called the Howe Sound Crest Trail. You can find all the info you need to hike it in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.)

After leaving the powerline, the trail heads into the trees and starts a gradual descent into the Langdale Creek canyon. This is one of the loveliest parts of the trail with dripping moss, giant ferns, and gorgeous cedar trees. At the bottom of the canyon, cross the creek on a long wooden bridge.

On the other side, follow the trail up steep switchbacks. You’ll know you’ve reached the top when you see a large “Langdale Lunge” sign. Mountain biking down those switchbacks must be pretty exciting.

From the sign, turn right onto the Ferry Trail and head slightly uphill. A few steps later, intersect the White Trail and turn right to follow it.

You have now reached the edge of the Sprockids Mountain Bike Park. Your route from this point will be identical to the shorter route from the Sprockids Trailhead detailed above.

Extending Your Hike

With tons of trails in the area, there are lots of ways to extend your hike or create a loop.

Sprockids Loop: A good loop option is to continue on the Blue Trail from Langdale Falls (turn right instead of left at the top of the hand-line). You can take Pressure Drop Trail uphill, then follow the Ridge, Torrent, and Technical Ecstasy Trails back downhill to the main mountain bike parking lot. From there, it is a few minutes walk along the road to your car. The loop is about 4.5 km with 350m of elevation gain and should take about 2 hours. You can use this map to plan your trip, but there’s a better one posted at the trailhead.

Mount Elphinstone: This challenging and steep hike takes you to one of the tallest mountains on the South Sunshine Coast. Continue on the Blue Trail past Langdale Falls. It’s a 13km hike with 1000m of elevation gain. Use this trail guide to plan your trip.

Langdale Falls Loop: Experienced hikers armed with GPS maps can follow a network of overgrown trails to make a loop back to the Wharf Road Trailhead. From Langdale Falls, follow a faint trail to cross the creek above the falls. From there, follow brushy trails downhill to the powerlines, then the Jammer bike trail back to the gravel road that leads to Wharf Road. Don’t attempt this route in winter or high water when the creek is too dangerous to cross.

So that’s everything you need to know to plan a hike to Langdale Falls on BC’s Sunshine Coast. Do you have questions about the trail? 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
• 40+ Waterfall Hikes Near Vancouver
• Soames Hill Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Cliff Gilker Park Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• Skookumchuck Narrows Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• How to Snowshoe and Ski at Dakota Ridge on the Sunshine Coast, BC
• 100+ Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver: Trails You Can Hike Year Round
• 35 Vancouver Hikes You Can Get to on Transit
• Backpacking Manzanita Bluff and Rievely’s Pond on the Sunshine Coast Trail

The post Langdale Falls Hike on the Sunshine Coast, BC appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.