Vancouver Hiking Trails in South Western British Columbia, Canada

Smuggler's Cove on the Sunshine Coast

Just a short, one hour ferry ride north of Vancouver lies a popular weekend get-away destination called the Sunshine Coast. One of the jewels of this area is Smuggler's Cove Provincial Park, a picturesque region with trails along the rocky ledges that look out at the stunning views of Georgia Straight.

During the summer months, Smuggler's Cove is full of anchored sailboats and pleasure craft while people swim, hike, and picnic around the protected area. Access to the cove is along a short 1.3km trail which is generally clear year-round. To get to the trailhead, head north from the town of Sechelt and watch for the provincial signs to Smuggler's Cove Park. Turn left onto the narrow road and follow it until you reach a small gravel parking area on the right with a wooden sign marking Smuggler's Cove.

The trail begins at the end of the parking area where you enter into the thick forested area and walk along the gravel path. The trail is easy to follow, relatively flat, and accessible to people of all ages. After walking a short distance, you reach a wooden walkway that crosses over a bog. During the winter months and after heavy rainfalls, parts of the walkway maybe submerged in water, so you'll have to walk around it and stay on the higher section to avoid getting your feet wet. The bog is an important habitat for animals such as beavers that can sometimes be spotted hard at working building their dams. It is important to stay on the marked trails and to keep dogs leashed in order to preserve the natural habitat.

Another 10 minutes and you arrive at the camping site area with the first glimpse of Smuggler's Cove on the right. Continue straight along the trail alongside the cove as this section of the trail will continue to the mouth of the cove with several viewpoints looking out into Georgia Straight. This section of trail goes as far as the mouth of Smuggler's Cove which offers a great vantage point on the rocks that overlook Georgia Straight and Texada Island in the distance. Follow the loop as it continues along the shores inside the cove and connects back up to the same trail that leads back towards the campsite. At the campsite, another short trail leads to a small beach area with a different view of a small island that lies just off shore.

If you are just looking to escape for the weekend or wanting a short side trip from Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast is a beautiful destination and scenery of Smuggler's Cove is a great escape from the city scenery.