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Sunshine Coast Trail notes

First-hand notes from a 2026 thru-hike, with reported information labelled separately.

How these notes are sourced. First-hand notes are from Leah’s July 2026 thru-hike. Reported notes remain dated evidence. Official rules link to the responsible organization.

Two gear guides

Bear spray on the Sunshine Coast Trail. How to carry it and use it, and getting it after you land.

Satellite messengers for the Sunshine Coast Trail. How to send an SOS beyond cell coverage.

Water

Manzanita is a dry camp.

Southbound, Wednesday Lake is the last established permanent water before Manzanita. Fill for the night, morning and walk out.

Tin Hat has no water at camp.

Southbound, Powell Lake at Fiddlehead Landing is the last established permanent water. Northbound, Elk Lake is the last established permanent water. Water nearer the summit has been reported, but its position and reliability remain uncertain.

Leah · July 2026

Carry full bottles from Sarah Point.

A signed creek near the trailhead was flowing, but it was very small.

Leah · July 2026

Walt Hill water remains unverified.

I found water downhill once. Its exact source and late-season reliability are not confirmed, so do not plan the camp around it.

Treat water from lakes, creeks and hut barrels. The app keeps established records separate from dated hiker reports.

Huts and food storage

  • qPAWS huts are free and first-come. A plan in the app is not a reservation.
  • Carry shelter. A hut can be full and planned distances can change.
  • Pellet stoves at Confederation Lake, Tin Hat, Walt Hill and Troubridge Hut. They are not stocked. Bring pellets and fire starter, and don’t count on the stove working.
  • Field-verified bear caches: Rieveley Pond, Confederation Lake, Lewis Lake campground, Walt Hill and the Troubridge summit emergency shelter. Fiddlehead Landing was reported present.
  • No cache was seen at Anthony Island, Lois Lake campground or Troubridge Hut. The Troubridge summit emergency shelter is a separate location and does have one.
  • Carry a separate food-storage plan. A cache can be full or damaged.
No permit is required to hike the SCT, and qPAWS huts are free. Inland Lake Provincial Park has separate backcountry camping permits and fees. Check BC Parks before staying at Anthony Island.

Marker posts and junctions

◆Markers run from km 0 at Sarah Point to km 178 at Saltery Bay. They count up southbound and down northbound. Reroutes mean some intervals are longer or shorter than one kilometre.
◆Spring Lake to Elk Lake: after crossing the main logging road, the trail re-enters uphill and north. I went south at this junction.
◆Elk Lake has signed alternatives. Signs refer to a road route and a Lewis Lake route. Follow current markers and junction signs.
◆Rainy Day Lake and Troubridge are separate walks from the through-route. Distances to Rainy Day Lake or the summit shelter include the spur; through-route distances stop at the junction.
◆The finish has coastal and original-route choices. Follow the current signs at the finish junctions.
◆Some viewpoints are loops off the through-line. At least one loop has its own kilometre marker.

The app flags known junctions, but its route line is still being corrected. Send a clean GPX track to sct@milecheckapp.com.

Phone, GPS and trip plans

  • Download maps and open them once before leaving signal.
  • GPS works in airplane mode. Cellular coverage is intermittent and varies by carrier, weather and terrain.
  • A recorded track can contain gaps or bad fixes. Carry backup route information.
  • Leave your route, planned nights, party members and an overdue time with someone at home.
  • A manual family update shows only what the hiker chose to publish. It is a dated update.
  • Carry a satellite communicator if your plan depends on sending messages without cell service.

Transport and resupply

Schedules, prices, pet rules and access conditions change. Use the current-source links on Getting there and the provider list in Local services.

  • Sarah Point can be reached by water taxi or road access arranged with a capable operator.
  • Route 12 serves parts of the south end; only some trips reach Saltery Bay, and several marked weekday trips do not run Thursday.
  • BC Transit permits only small pets in a secure hand-held carrier. Confirm dogs directly with private transport providers.
  • Arrange any resupply hold or drop directly. Do not leave a box without confirmation.

Before leaving

  • Check the official SCT site and official social updates for reroutes and closures.
  • Check current fire restrictions. Carry a stove and do not depend on a fire for cooking.
  • Check transport schedules directly with each operator.
  • Tell someone when to call 911 if you are overdue.
Send corrections with a date and source to sct@milecheckapp.com.