The best walks and hikes around Powell Lake

The very start of this trail seems innocent enough, heading into the woods on a dirt footpath — but it gets serious quickly. Although the trail isn't technical, it's steep enough that most people will be happy to have the occasional rope or handrail for support.

It's a short, steep haul to the plentiful viewpoints atop Valentine Mountain. Here, you'll have unparalleled views looking out over Powell River and the Salish Sea.

On the Kingfisher Trail, this narrow wooden bridge through the forest is a lovely spot to pause and enjoy the quiet, enclosed feel of the trees. It adds a bit of adventure to the walk, with a boardwalk-style crossing.

At this spot on the Kingfisher Trail, you'll find several picnic benches nestled in the shade of the woodland, perfect for taking a relaxing break.

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.