Roberts Creek, Sechelt and the Upper Sunshine Coast, B.C.
Share
Sechelt and its surroundings: beaches and more beaches
A few kilometres north of Gibsons, British Columbia is Cliff Gilker Park, just off the highway in Roberts Creek. Besides waterfalls, it offers an excellent network of trails adjacent to the challenging 18-hole Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club in “the Creek.” To get the full flavour of the much-loved “heart of the Creek,” turn left off Highway 101 onto Roberts Creek Road and drive to a huddle of stores and services at the Lower Road junction. Both the iconic Gumboot Garden Café and the Gumboot Restaurant next door offer live entertainment and indoor/outdoor eating.
For a rambunctious evening, join a dance with live music at Roberts Creek Hall near the corner of Roberts Creek Road and Highway 101 or watch a band on Saturday night at the local Legion (you’ll have to get a member to sign you in as a guest).
Travelling northwest from “the Creek,” you’ll cross a series of rivers before arriving in the mid-coast town of Sechelt, a narrow isthmus that separates the Strait of Georgia from Sechelt Inlet. Downtown edges along a sandy beach, with Snickett Park forming the western perimeter.
Rockwood Lodge, a restored heritage house, hosts the annual Festival of the Written Arts in mid-August, where many of Canada’s top writers read from their latest book. The Sunshine Coast Arts Centre at the corner of Trail and Medusa exhibits local and off-coast visual arts from photography and sculpture to paintings. Throughout the year, authors from the Coast and across the country read from their works here. Pioneer builder Clarke Stebner designated the centre’s unusual log construction; the building’s front doors feature etched glass panels by local First Nations carver Bradley Hunt.
Farther up the road, Halfmoon Bay’s rustic general store hails from an earlier time when steamers made daily stops at the pier to drop off mail and pick up passengers. You’ll find it on a beautiful bay accessed via Redrooffs Road. Meandering off the highway, this route winds past Sargent Bay and Coopers Green (great picnicking) before meeting the highway again near the bay. Farther along, Homesite Road, features an old growth forest and great hikes.
As you head north, the coastline gets progressively rockier towards Secret Cove and finally Pender Harbour, where communities lie clustered in tiny coves. The Pender Harbour Jazz Festival, held in September, draws top-notch performers. Madeira Park, Garden Bay and Irvines Landing nestle around the waters of Pender Harbour.
Look for raptors at Ruby Lake Resort en route to Earls Cove; besides boating and fishing, this area is ideal for bird-watching. Check out the resort’s wildlife and bird sanctuary and nearby Iris Griffith Interpretive Centre.
If the weather is good, take the Egmont turnoff just before Earls Cove and hike to Skookumchuk Rapids, where tidal forces churn placid waters into gigantic eddies and whirlpools. Check the tide table for the best viewing times. You can sometimes see gutsy kayakers playing in the frothing current.
Here on the upper Sunshine Coast, you can follow Highway 101 yet again to reach the rocky shores of Jervis Inlet, where a small car ferry will take you to Powell River. Proceed to Lund, the northern terminus of the highway, and try the delightful Nancy’s Bakery, a harbourfront gathering spot. This portion of the trip will require another day.
Useful links
Sechelt, BC info
Average customer rating
awaiting 5 vote(s)...
Email
Add to your Pocket Guide
Why Register?
