Vancouver BC Hiking
Sunshine Coast Trail
6-day Backpacking Tour
This Sunshine Coast Trail guided tour is a new coastal hiking trip on the Sunshine Coast of BC. The total trail is about 180 km long. This hiking adventure takes you from Km 65 to Km 135 over the Smith Range of BC's Sunshine Coast. Traveling through beautiful temperate rainforest, this coastal hike climbs up to the top of two peaks, Tin Hat Mountain and Walt Hill. Both offer breathtaking views over the range, the lakes below, and the sea, this is one of the best places to hike in BC. Sunshine Coast hiking trails are dotted with lakes, and covered with berries all along the way. We start on Vancouver Island, driving north to Comox, taking the ferry to Powell River. Once there, we take a shuttle to the Inland Lakes trail to start our hike. Once we finish at Km 135, we take a shuttle back to Powell River, then Vancouver Island by ferry.
- HIKING DAYS: 5
- TRAVEL DAYS: 1
- RATING: Strenuous
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Dates And
Availability -
Itinerary
We no longer offer this tour.
Itinerary
This is our typical itinerary for this tour. Because we are travelling in wilderness, itineraries can change. There are many factors that can affect how a tour actually runs. We confirm pickup times by phone, email or SMS at least 12 hours before.
This trip begins in Nanaimo, where we will arrange your pickup to drive to the Comox ferry to Powell River.
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Day One
Travel Day: Pick up 7:30 am Nanaimo and drive 1 hr 30 to the Comox to take 9:55 ferry. Equipment check, overview of trip on the ferry. After Arrival at Powell River 11:50 am, we are shuttled to the Inland Lakes area (km 64) to begin our hike to Confederation Lakes Hut (km74.1) Total hiking for day 10.1km
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Day Two
Up about 6:00 am, and after breakfast, we start our hike first descending to Fiddlehead Landing junction and then up Tin Hat Mountain. We pace our hike taking rests and check stops as we journey the steep sections. Our goal for the day, Tin Hat cabin (km 89) at elevation of 1,100 m. We stay the night at the cabin with any other hikers there. Total hiking for day 14.9km
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Day Three
up early for breakfast to try to make the peak of Tin Hat Mountain for sunrise. Then we make our way down Tin Hat Mountain to Lewis Lake to stay in a small, lakeside camp (km 95.5) We get a chance to swim and cleanup at this camp. Total hiking for day 6.4km
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Day Four
up early for breakfast, we set out afterwards along the plateau of the Smith Range, headed to Elk Lake Hut (km 109.3). This lake hut also will let us swim and enjoy the quiet lakeside cabin. Total hiking for day 13.8km
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Day Five
after breakfast, we pack up and continue out trek along the plateau, headed to Walt Hill Hut (km 123.4). This is also a climb back up to about 1,100 m. The views here show the lakes and the sea. Total hiking for day 14.1km
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Day Six
On our last morning, we are up early to get to our pickup at kilometer 135 near Lois Lake. From there, we head to the ferry area. If there is enough time, we will have a meal before boarding and heading back to Vancouver Island and Nanaimo. If we catch the 5:15 pm ferry from Powell River, it might be possible to catch a ferry to Vancouver, but no guarantees. Total hiking for day 11.6km
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What's Included
Included Not Included Transportation from and to the departure location (pick up and drop off) Your transportation to the departure location (from your home) All park fees and camping fees National Park entry fees (may change as Parks alters their policies) Professional guides Hiking Boots (should be less than 5 years old) All meals (except on travel days) Some food (on travel days and special options) Tent (shared) Hiking Boots (should be less than 5 years old) A substantial preparation guide Backpack (available for rent) Gear rental options Sleeping bags or mats (available for rent) Gratuities are not included. Recognizing your guide for their hard work and care is always appreciated; $10-20/day per guide is recommended. -
Getting There And
Where To StayGetting There
If you are travelling into the Vancouver, Victoria, or Nanaimo area from afar, you should arrive at the departure location (in Nanaimo) for your trip the day/evening prior to the trip start date and plan to leave the day following trip return.
You can fly to Vancouver (airport code YVR) or Seattle (airport code SEA) then connect to Vancouver Island using ferry, bus, or air, or arrange flights directly to Vancouver Island.
Flying to Victoria (Airport code YYJ)
Flying to Nanaimo (Airport code YCD)
Nanaimo Airporter shuttle service.
Servicing all of Vancouver Island from airports to ferrys to cruise ship terminals. Tel: 1 250 758-2133BC Ferries 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779)
We will let you know the ferry to take for travelling to Vancouver Island, but if you want to check out times, you can go the the BC Ferries website at:
www.bcferries.com/schedules/Where to Stay
Naniamo Pick up & Hotels
Pick up: Departure Bay, Duke Point Ferry Terminal, or the following Accommodations:
Days Inn Harbour View Nanaimo
Address: 809 Island Hwy South, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, V9R 5K1
Phone (250) 754-8171
Website: www.nanaimohotel.com
Best Western Dorchester Hotel
Address: 70 Church, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, V9R 5H4
Phone: (250) 754-6835
Website: www.dorchesternanaimo.com
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
Address: 121 Bastion Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia CANADA, V9R 3A2
Toll Free: 1-866-309-4432
Phone: (250) 753-4432 -
Preparing
Preparing For Your Trip
How you prepare for your adventure is important. Being well prepared will enhance the quality of your experience. Because we are travelling in wilderness, it is very important for you and for the rest of your adventure group that you are fit enough to handle the level of difficulty and demand with no problems. Our guides know how to minimize the impact of these demands as much as possible, but they cannot remove them. The depth of your experience can only increase if you have made sure that you have prepared well.
Your preparation will be different for different activities. Preparing for a kayak trip is different from preparing for a hiking trip. We have provided some basic information that can be downloaded through the following links to pdf documents. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download it from the Adobe site by clicking here.
Use the links below to download some of the preparation files for this hiking or kayaking tour. When you book your tour, we will send you a complete preparation packet to help you get ready.Please take this seriously. Most people are unaware of the demands of a coastal environment, particularly with keeping dry and warm. Your preparation will really help make your coastal hiking or kayaking tour a great experience.
Packing List For Hiking
Important Details-Preparing Yourself For Hiking
Hints and Tips For Wilderness Camping and Backpacking -
Gear Rental
Need Gear?
We have gear available to rent if you don't want to buy a particular piece of equipment, or need to travel without it.
Look over the following list to help you decide whether you want to rent. If you decide to rent gear, you can tell us on the phone or book it online with your tour.
Item Price Sherpa for Hiking Tours $2399.00 Backpack Rental $55.00 Sleeping Bag Rental $55.00 Thermarest Rental $20.00 Gaiter Rental $15.00 Hiking Pole Rental (one) $7.50 Rental Bundle 1-Sleeping Bag+Thermarest+Gaiters or hiking pole $80.00 Rental Bundle 2-backpack+gaiters+hiking pole $76.00 Rental Bundle 3-backpack+sleeping bag+Thermarest $117.00