Sunshine Coast Sechelt/Madeira Park — Day 1 of a 4-Day Trip on British Columbia Coast
I arrived in the Sunshine Coast the night before after catching the 4:45pm ferry from Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver. The crossing time from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale (Gibsons) is 40 minutes. If you have time, stop by Smitty’s Oyster House for dinner. I have heard good things about this restaurant! We stayed at an Airbnb in Madeira Park, which is an hour drive from Langdale. The summer weather was warm (25–30°C), but the trees offered shade and the Airbnb had a nice view of the marina.
Day 1
Sunshine Coast – Sechelt/Madeira Park
Before heading out for the day, we enjoyed coffee/tea and oatmeal with greek yogurt for breakfast. The view of the ocean was gorgeous from the patio and I enjoyed the light summer breeze.
Our first destination was the Skookumchuck Narrows, home to the Sechelt Rapids. Roughly 200 billion gallons of water flow through the Skookumchuck Narrows connecting the Sechelt and Jervis Inlets creating whirlpools and 2m + high waves. Twice a day, the tide direction changes. Refer to the online calendar for the best viewing times (Note: Recommended viewing times change each day). The trail to the Skookumchuck Narrows took about 1 hour and is mostly flat with ample forest shade. The trail eventually splits into two routes leading to two possible view points— North Point and Roland Point. The North Point is busier and offers a better view, but you can get close to the water at Roland Point. We headed to Roland Point first, which was slightly further, and enjoyed lunch by the water.
After lunch, we headed back to North Point. It was just past noon and it was getting hot out. There is fencing between the viewpoint and the rapids. My guess is the fencing is there to prevent anyone from falling in as it would be hazardous to try to swim through the rapids. The Skookumchuck Narrows are an amazing sight to see and highly recommended when visiting the Sunshine Coast.
After Skookumchuck Narrows, we headed for an afternoon swim at Ruby Lake. We parked at the small parking lot at Dan Bosch Park, which was busy. The lake had clear blue water and a sandy beach. The swim was refreshing after a walk through the woods.
After our swim, we headed back to the Airbnb to relax on the hammock before dinner. Note: Bring bug repellant during the summer as there are tons of mosquitoes out during the evening.
Complete Day 1 Itinerary
*Travel times may vary. Check Google Maps for most accurate travel details.
9:00am: Enjoy breakfast and coffee on the patio. Pack sandwiches for the walk to the Skookumchuck Narrows. Check the online calendar for the recommended viewing time.
10:00am: Head to the Skookumchuck Narrows (20minute drive from Madeira Park). Follow the trail to Roland Point (an hour hike) and have lunch. Enjoy the view. Head back to the North Point (15 minute hike from Roland Point).
2:00pm: Go swimming at Ruby Lake/Dan Bosch Park (15 minute drive from Skookumchuck Narrows).
4:00pm: Head back to the Airbnb and relax for the evening.
4-Day BC Coast Itinerary
Click “Download” below for an excel version of my 4-Day BC Coast Itinerary. Feel free to use the excel file as a planning template for your own trip along the BC Coast!
Travels with Carolyne 