I’m hiking Skookumchuck Narrows, with my partner, where ferns fan out under towering cedars cloaked in moss. Snowmelt rushes over smooth, multi-hued rocks, leaving a slippery surface. The look is layered, lush, like something out of a fairytale. At the end of the hike, I find orange and purple sea stars, clinging to rock, and a perfect view of the rapids. It’s both a highlight moment and a not uncommon experience in the Sunshine Coast.
Located in southwest British Columbia, the Sunshine Coast offers an invigorating road trip, with tiny towns joined to the mainland by ferry, Indigenous cultural experiences, and too many hiking trails to count. You can easily cover the 180 kilometres (112 miles) of Highway 101 from Langdale to Lund in one day, or roll through slowly, over six days, as we did, taking time in each community, soaking up the laid-back vibe, and watching the tide come in.
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