Smuggler Cove Trail Hike

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Backroad Mapbook (5th edition) Trailhead Coordinates: Page 9 (Sechelt) C4.

Follow @ihikebc Tweet 

An easy trail of 1.65 km long leads from Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park parking lot by Brooks Road off BC Highway 101 on Sunshine Coast (ferry from Horseshoe Bay gets you there) to the beginning of a 700 meter-long loop around Smuggler Cove, with several excellent viewpoints. Even before you get to the loop, the trail goes by a very long and absolutely beautiful wetlands/marsh area, the largest and the most picturesque that we have ever seen in British Columbia.

In addition, there are about ten information stands along the trail describing local flora and fauna - everything from mosses and lichens to beavers and ducks. It's an open air biology and zoology lesson in a very beautiful setting.

All trail distances are based on a GPS odometer and are approximate.

23. At 1.05 km from the trailhead, we have reached an information board containing the trail map seen in photo #5. Just past the board you can see a trail on the left, and there is another one, parallel to the first, about 30 meters further down the main trail. Both of these left turn trails join each other shortly, and end up at a former camping area about 300 meters past the info board. The view there is ok, but not as good as what comes on the main trail in just a few minutes.

Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park near Sechelt British Columbia Canada

24. So, why is this called "Smuggler" Cove? For two reasons, as described in the information stand about 100 meters further down the main trail. In short, a man used to smuggle Chinese labourers from here to the United States, and, during the Prohibition, smugglers were using this cove to do their illegal business.

Smuggler Cove Information Board

25. The first cove view - at 1.15 km of the trail.

Smuggler Cove Sunshine Coast British Columbia Canada

26. Right at this point there is some steepness to the trail, if not for long.

Smuggler Cove Trail in Sechelt BC Area

27. A staircase follows.

Smuggler Cove Trail

28. And, then, it goes down.

Hike in Sechelt BC Area - Smuggler Cove Trail

29. At about 1.3 km from the trailhead, this bench on the right side signals the arrival of great cove views.

Smuggler Cove

30. Something like that.

Smuggler Cove Provincial Park

31. Swell.

Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park

32. Looking left at the cove entrance.

Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park near Sechelt British Columbia

33. At 1.65 km of the trail, the 700 meter-long loop trail begins. It doesn't matter which way to go, and we went counter-clockwise.

Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park near Sechelt BC Canada

34. The pleasant forest continues.

Forest by Smuggler Cove on BC Sunshine Coast

35-39. 200 meters after the loop start, the main Smuggler Cove viewpoint arrives. Left to right, followed by a panorama.

Smuggler Cove

BC Sunshine Coast Smuggler Cove

Smuggler Cove British Columbia Sunshine Coast

Smuggler Cove

Smuggler Cove Panorama

More ihikebc videos are on our YouTube Channel.

40. At 300 meters from the loop start.

Smuggler Cove Provincial Park British Columbia Canada

41. At 380 meters.

Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park

42. A bit further. Looking left at the Smuggler Cove entrance.

Smuggler Cove Entrance

43. Heading towards the last good viewpoint.

Smuggler Cove Provincial Park near Sechelt BC

44-45. Here it is.

Smuggler Cove - Province of British Columbia

Smuggler Cove - BC Sunshine Coast

Smuggler Cove Trail is fairly short and easy, and features excellent views. Highly recommended.