Sunshine Coast

The 150-kilometer (93-mile) Sunshine Coast lies along the northeast shore of the Strait of Georgia between Howe Sound in the south and Desolation Sound [1] in the north. This rare bit of sun-drenched Canadian coastline is bordered by countless bays and inlets, broad sandy beaches, quiet lagoons, rugged headlands, provincial parks, and lush fir forests backed by the snowcapped Coast Mountains.

Boasting Canada’s mildest climate, the Sunshine Coast enjoys moderately warm summers and mild winters. Boaters and kayakers can cruise into a number of beautiful marine parks providing sheltered anchorage and campsites amid some of the most magnificent scenery along the west coast, or anchor at sheltered fishing villages with marinas and all the modern conveniences.

Sunshine Coast Ferries

Although the Sunshine Coast is part of the mainland, there is no road access. To reach Powell River [2], at the end of the road, entails travel with BC Ferries (250/386-3431 or 888/223-3779). From Horseshoe Bay, at the west end of Vancouver [3]’s north shore, ferries regularly cross Howe Sound to Langdale. From there Highway 101 runs up the coast 81 kilometers (50 miles) to Earls Cove [4], where another ferry crosses Jervis Inlet to Saltery Bay [5].

These trips take 40 and 50 minutes respectively and run approximately every two hours 6:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m. The cost is adult $11.85, child $5.95, vehicle $39.90, which includes one-way travel on both ferries or round-trip travel on just one ferry. From Saltery Bay, it’s 35 kilometers (22 miles) to Powell River, and you can return from there along the same route or loop back on Vancouver Island [6] on the Powell River–Comox ferry (adult $11.80, child $5.90, vehicle $37.50).