See an overview map of Sechelt Inlet

Sechelt Inlet - Paddler's Paradise

Surprisingly few visitors to the Sunshine Coast are aware of the solitude and natural beauty awaiting them in Sechelt Inlet, the Sunshine Coast's inland sea.

While Highway 101 follows the rugged and beautiful east shore of Georgia Strait, a short half-kilometre jog to the right at the traffic light in Sechelt will deliver travellers to Porpoise Bay, the headwaters of Sechelt Inlet.

Unlike Georgia Strait, Sechelt Inlet is protected by high local mountains from wind and waves that are common on the "outside." Mornings and evenings are typically calm and peaceful with lush green mountains reflected in the tranquil, blue ocean surface. As there is no road access beyond the village of Tuwanek (about 11 km up the east shore), wilderness and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities are just around the corner.

The best way to enjoy the spectacular scenery, soothing tranquility and abundant wildlife available to visitors of Sechelt Inlet is by canoe or ocean kayak. The protection from wind and waves and the availability of many rustic wilderness marine campsites along the Inlet shoreline make the inland sea a paddler's paradise. Whether you are interested in a wilderness afternoon picnic or an ocean expedition lasting a week or more, the Inlet provides many safe, varied and unique opportunities.

Sechelt Inlet is blessed with many sand and gravel beaches, the result of alluvial deposits left by streams flowing from high in the mountains. Eight of these river estuaries have been designated as Wilderness Marine Parks. All are clearly marked and well maintained and offer excellent rustic overnight camping facilities with such luxuries as year-round fresh water, cleared tenting areas and tent-pads, outhouses and warm swimming beaches. Campers on the east shore of the Inlet are treated to spectacular evening sunsets, while west shore campers enjoy the warming rays of early morning sun with their coffee.

Visitors to Sechelt Inlet can expect to be entertained by an abundance of wildlife. Spectacular blue heron grace the shoreline, and magnificent bald eagles perch high in trees lining the shore or soar even higher in search of food. Curious seals accompany most paddlers, and a dozen varieties of ducks and other waterfowl fly, swim and dive for food all along the shore. In the evening, loons glide gracefully just offshore, and their eerie calls haunt the still evening air.

With a sharp eye, visitors can observe mountain goats high on steep mountain terrain and occasionally glimpse cougars or bears in the thick shoreline brush. Periodically the Inlet is visited by Orca whales, offering a unique opportunity to view these magnificent mammals at close proximity.

For those who enjoy dining on fresh seafood, the Inlet offers gourmet fishing. Lingcod and rock cod are abundant, and oysters and clams are available at various locations along the Inlet shore. With a little advance preparation, Dungeness crab can be trapped for a tasty evening treat, and with local knowledge and some patience, red snapper lie waiting in the deeper rocky grottoes.

Dotting the shoreline of Sechelt Inlet are other local attractions that give this area its unique personality. As you explore the endless bays and reaches you will encounter fish farm and oyster farm operations. Looking closer, you can spot remote wilderness cabins nestled in the tranquil, scenic bays. The area's industrial past is evident in the occasional clearing at the water's edge. Derelict cabins, abandoned machinery and old tobacco tins are evident and allow for hours of exploration and retrospection. For the very keen observer, there are rock paintings (pictographs) created by the Sechelt Indians over 150 years ago.

If you are looking for accessible wilderness, Sechelt Inlet is a well-kept secret that deserves your attention. For more information on Sechelt's inland sea, please call Pedals and Paddles, located on the shores of Sechelt Inlet at Tillicum Bay Marina.

Pedals & Paddles
Sechelt Inlet (Tillicum Bay Marina)
Phone: 604-885-6440
Email: info@pedalspaddles.com

 

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