The best walks and hikes around Area C (Lois Lake/Saltery Bay)

The Sunshine Coast Trail runs 180 kilometres from Sarah Point to Saltery Bay, linking coastal forest, ridgelines, lakes, and viewpoints with free public huts along the way. This segment climbs steeply through dense woods on dirt roads, singletrack trails, and rocky outcropping before arriving at the summit of Tin Hat Mountain, known for its wide views over the surrounding lakes and mountains.

The uniquely named Tin Hat Mountain gets its name from the protective hats worn by early loggers who worked on its slopes. Today it's mostly known for its panoramic views and as the midway point of the Sunshine Coast Trail. The mountain also features a first come, first served wilderness hut for hikers.

Tin Hat Hut sits at the halfway point of the Sunshine Coast Trail on the summit of Tin Hat Mountain, with 360-degree views of Powell Lake, the Coast Mountain range, the Strait of Georgia, and Vancouver Island to the west. The hut, built by volunteers in 2011, sleeps 10 and includes a pellet stove, an outhouse, picnic tables, and a fire pit. It’s free to stay on a first-come, first-served basis with no permits required, making it a great overnight destination whether you are doing a day hike or a longer section of the trail.

This is the former site of the old Fiddlehead Farm, a remote rainforest retreat that people from around the world once visited before it was logged and demolished in 2002. The meadow and a still-functioning orchard are all that remain of this once-thriving community, and in the fall, you may even find some tasty apples on the trees if you beat the local bears to them. It’s a great place to take a break, walk through the meadow, and enjoy the surroundings before continuing on the trail.

Fiddlehead Landing is a remote lakeside access point on Powell Lake along the Sunshine Coast Trail, located near the site of the former Fiddlehead Farm and an old orchard on the shoreline. Just uphill, Fiddlehead Hut is a small backcountry shelter perched above Powell Lake, offering simple overnight accommodation and views of the lake in a quiet, forested setting. This site functions as a backcountry trailhead and staging area, with direct access by water taxi from Powell Lake Marina (Contact Justin Behan, who transports hikers to and from the landing at 604-483-6527). Alternatively, land access is via the Fiddlehead Trail as part of a longer, more strenuous backcountry approach.

Sunshine Coast Trail is a fantastic 180-kilometre backcountry route stretching from Sarah Point near Desolation Sound to Saltery Bay on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, making it one of Canada’s longest hut-to-hut hiking trails. It passes through a wide range of landscapes, including coastal forest, mountain ridges, lakes, and picturesque viewpoints, with free public huts spaced along the route for overnight use. This segment is a relatively steep climb from the lakeshore through dense forest on a mix of dirt trail, wooden boardwalks, and small bridge crossings over creeks. It leads to the open summit, with sweeping views over Powell Lake and the surrounding Coast Mountains.

Although the trail is short, it’s more rugged than you might expect. The path includes uneven terrain, exposed roots, rocky scrambling sections, and a few steeper spots near the edge, so it requires attention despite the distance. It’s a quick outing overall, but the blufftop scenery and open granite slabs at the end make the effort feel worthwhile.

At the end of the trail, the forest opens onto smooth granite slabs overlooking calm coastal waters and distant, layered islands. It’s a wide, open perch where you can sit on the rock, watch kayakers glide past, or catch anglers casting into the inlet. The light here is especially beautiful toward sunset, when the water turns soft gold and the silhouettes of the surrounding headlands stand out against the horizon.