Route guide · Powell River, British Columbia

Sunshine Coast Trail

Canada's longest hut-to-hut route: 180 km from Sarah Point to Saltery Bay, with more than a dozen free first-come huts spaced a day apart. Most crews hike it in sections — Tin Hat Mountain and Walt Hill make natural multi-day highlights — and the huts mean a tent is optional in shoulder season.

Length: 122.9 mi
Duration: sections of 2–10+ days
Gain: +34,090 ft
Season: Apr – Oct

point-to-pointhigh point 4,260 ftmoderate with difficult sectionsspotty cell — carry offline mapsdogs on leash; not allowed in huts

Plan this trip — it’s free See the day-by-day

no permit lottery · self-register at the trailhead · the whole crew on one page

No permit quota — Free — no permits or reservations; huts are first-come, first-served (PRPAWS maintains the route). Official info

The shape of the trail

Route profile · camps

campelevation

Day by day

A reference itinerary, from real camps

Camps below are mapped campsites spaced to balance the daily miles — the same planner that builds a Trailmix trip. Your dates, pace and direction reshape it live.

Total122.9 mi · 9 nights

Days on trail

Day 1 · 9.7 mi · +2,680 ft
Trailhead → Manzanita Bluff Hut
The trail to Manzanita Bluff Hut begins with coastal views before heading inland and climbing to the hut, a popular spot for its expansive views of the Salish Sea.
no water at hut
passes Sarah Point Campsite (0.4 mi) · Feather Cove Campsite (1.7 mi) · Bliss Portage Hut (5.1 mi)
Day 2 · 5.6 mi · +800 ft
Manzanita Bluff Hut → Camp 2
Day 3 · 29 mi · +6,850 ft
Camp 2 → Confederation Lake Hut
Day 4 · 13.8 mi · +3,500 ft
Confederation Lake Hut → Camp 4
From Manzanita Bluff Hut, the trail passes through dense forest with sections of old growth on the way to Homestead Creek Campsite.
passes unnamed site (46.0 mi) · Fiddlehead Landing Hut (48.0 mi) · unnamed site (48.8 mi)
Day 5 · 13.3 mi · +4,420 ft
Camp 4 → Elk Lake Cabin
passes Tin Hat Hut (62.3 mi)
Day 6 · 11.3 mi · +2,920 ft
Elk Lake Cabin → Walt Hill Hut
passes Coyote Lake Campground (78.8 mi)
Day 7 · 9.3 mi · +810 ft
Walt Hill Hut → Camp 7
Day 8 · 8.2 mi · +2,970 ft
Camp 7 → Camp 8
passes unnamed site (92.2 mi) · Lois Point Recreation Site (92.9 mi) · Golden Stanley Hut (94.8 mi)
Day 9 · 15.6 mi · +3,710 ft
Camp 8 → Fairview Bay Hut
Day 10 · 7.1 mi · +5,370 ft · hardest
Fairview Bay Hut → Exit trailhead
passes Rainy Day Lake Hut (117.8 mi)

Conditions at the trailhead

Powell River, British Columbia · updated daily

SAT 10·10

62° / 41°

clear · 0%

SUN 10·11

60° / 39°

part sun · 0%

MON 10·12

57° / 40°

cloud · 0%

TUE 10·13

54° / 51°

showers · 39%

WED 10·14

58° / 53°

showers · 47%

HUT ETIQUETTE — Huts are shared, first-come, first-served spaces for single-night stays only. Groups of 8 or more should use campsites. Dogs are not allowed inside any huts.

LOGGING ROADS — Many access points use active industrial logging roads. A reliable shuttle is recommended as these roads require 4x4 vehicles and VHF radio communication.

Know before you go

hikesnearvancouver.ca · riseandalpine.com · wikipedia.org · sunshinecoasttrail.com

Advisory

From March 2 to June 10, 2026, a section of the trail near Saltery Bay / Jervis Inlet North will be closed for a BC Hydro project. An alternate route will be available at all times. Recreation Sites and Trails BC · current season

All advisories →

Best months

share of dry days · Open-Meteo Archive (ERA5), 10-year normals at the trailhead

TRAILHEADS

The 180 km point-to-point trail is typically hiked north to south, starting at Sarah Point and ending at the Saltery Bay ferry terminal.

qPAWS

WATER SOURCES

Water is found in lakes and creeks, but seasonal sources can be dry; all water should be treated before use.

qPAWS

HUTS & CAMPING

Huts and campsites are free and first-come, first-served; donations to the maintaining organization, qPAWS, are encouraged.

qPAWS

WILDLIFE

Bears, cougars and wolves are present; carry bear spray, make noise, and store food securely in bear caches or hung away from camp.

qPAWS

TRANSPORTATION

Multiple operators offer shuttle and water taxi services to access trailheads, which are often on remote logging roads.

qPAWS

RESUPPLY

Shuttle services can drop resupply packages at various road access points, and some local businesses will hold packages for hikers.

Sunshine Coast Shuttle

Asked around the fire (about this trail)

Do I need a permit for the Sunshine Coast Trail?

No quota permit. Free — no permits or reservations; huts are first-come, first-served (PRPAWS maintains the route).

How many days does the Sunshine Coast Trail take?

Most groups take sections of 2–10+ days. The reference itinerary here plans 9 nights, camp to camp.

When is the best time to hike the Sunshine Coast Trail?

April – October. Outside that window expect snow, storm damage or closures to change the plan.

Do I need to reserve or pay for the huts?

No, all but two huts are free and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. They cannot be reserved.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, dogs are permitted on the trail but must be on a leash. However, dogs are not allowed inside any of the huts.

Is there reliable cell service on the trail?

No, cell reception is sporadic and should not be relied upon. It is most likely to be found on slopes and ridges facing the Salish Sea or Powell River.

Get the Sunshine Coast Trail in the bag.

Dates, camps, gear split, meals and the crew — planned together on one page instead of forty threads.

Start a trip — it’s free