In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Horseshoe Bay via Gibsons, Sechelt and Powell River to Lund and Okeover Inlet: Highway 101 as a coastal road without a bridge, with two ferry crossings and water on both sides.
The spirit of the route
The Sunshine Coast is not an island, but it feels like one: you cannot get there without a ferry. Even the first crossing from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale changes the pace, and the city stays behind the stern. Then Highway 101 rolls through forests of Douglas fir and cedar, past bays, marinas and villages such as Gibsons and Sechelt. At Earls Cove you take the second ferry across Jervis Inlet, the mountains rise steeply out of the water, and in the wake seals trace their paths. Beyond Powell River the road ends in the fishing village of Lund, from where water taxis and kayaks head into Desolation Sound: a tangle of fjords, islands and warm bays where the water becomes almost bath-warm in summer. The route demands planning: ferry reservations, campgrounds booked in advance, time between the sailings. In return it is one of the most relaxed coastal routes in Canada.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) to Sechelt (approx. 60 km)
- The drive
- From Horseshoe Bay take BC Ferries (Route 3, about 40 minutes) to Langdale, then on Highway 101 through Gibsons and Roberts Creek to Sechelt. Two-lane, with bends and hills, speeds 50–80 km/h. Driving time only about an hour, but the ferry sets the day. Fuel stations in Gibsons, Sechelt and Davis Bay.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Gibsons Landing: a harbour town with cafés, galleries and fish stalls; known from the television series “The Beachcombers”, with Molly’s Reach as a landmark. Parking for large vehicles in the old town is tight.
- Roberts Creek: a small artists’ village with a beach, pier and paths through the coastal forest.
- Sechelt: a settlement of the shíshálh Nation with a museum, waterfront promenade and access to Sechelt Inlet; Sargeant Bay Provincial Park is a day destination for walks.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Porpoise Bay Provincial Park near Sechelt on Sechelt Inlet: campground with beach, showers and a water point, no hook-ups; check vehicle lengths and reservations at bcparks.ca. Reservations are possible around four months in advance and are quickly taken in summer. Private sites in Gibsons and Sechelt serve as a fallback; clarify operation and status in advance.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): On the Sunshine Coast there are hardly any legal free-camping spots by the sea; overnighting in a vehicle at beaches and car parks is prohibited and checked. On Crown land in the hinterland (forest roads) camping is allowed for up to 14 days, but often hard to reach for motorhomes.
- Insider tip for campers
- A ferry reservation is recommended: BC Ferries accepts reservations for the Horseshoe Bay–Langdale route; check timetables, waiting times and surcharges at bcferries.com. Vehicles over about 2.1 m in height and 6.1 m in length count as oversize and are charged separately; state height and length exactly. At weekends and in summer be at the terminal early.
2Stage 2: Sechelt to Saltery Bay (approx. 55 km)
- The drive
- Continue on Highway 101 north via Halfmoon Bay and Pender Harbour to Earls Cove, then take BC Ferries (Route 7, about 50 minutes) across Jervis Inlet to Saltery Bay. Twisty, with short climbs, speeds 50–80 km/h. Driving time on the road a good hour, plus ferry and waiting time. Fill up in Sechelt or Pender Harbour, as there are hardly any options just before the ferry.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park near Earls Cove: a hiking trail of about 4 km to the viewpoint where, at the change of tide, rapids with waves and whirlpools form; check the tide table beforehand, the trail is gentle.
- Pender Harbour: a tangle of bays and islands with marinas and lakes; Madeira Park as the village centre.
- Jervis Inlet: The ferry ride itself is a highlight, with steep mountain walls and chances of seals, sea lions and eagles.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Saltery Bay Provincial Park at the ferry landing: campground on the water, simple sites, toilets and a water point, a dive site with an underwater mermaid statue; check vehicle lengths and reservations at bcparks.ca. Before the ferry, in Garden Bay (Pender Harbour), there is the Katherine Lake Campground of the Sunshine Coast Regional District; the season runs only from the weekend in May to the day after Labour Day, after which it is closed. Reservations via katherinelakecampground.ca; watch for boil water advisories.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Free camping on the coast and at ferry landings is prohibited; ferry waiting areas are not an overnight site. On forest roads in the hinterland Crown land camping is allowed, but often unsuitable for motorhomes.
- Insider tip for campers
- A reservation is also recommended on the second crossing; the ferry times are tightly scheduled. If you are waiting for the ferry, use the time for Skookumchuck. Arrive at the terminal at least an hour beforehand.
3Stage 3: Saltery Bay to Lund (approx. 60 km)
- The drive
- From Saltery Bay on Highway 101 north to Powell River (about 30 km) and on to Lund, where Highway 101 ends. Two-lane, twisty, with hills, speeds 50–80 km/h. Driving time about 1 hour. Fuel stations and supermarkets in Powell River; in Lund only small shops.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Powell River Townsite: The Historic Townsite is a preserved “company town” ensemble of the paper mill; a walk through the streets with heritage buildings.
- Willingdon Beach and the waterfront promenade in Powell River: beach, footpaths and a view of Texada Island.
- Lund: a fishing village at the end of Highway 101 with a harbour, cafés and water taxis to Savary Island and into Desolation Sound; a visit in the evening is especially quiet.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Willingdon Beach Campground in Powell River (run by the city): a campground on the beach with about 80 sites, some with full or partial hook-ups, showers and washrooms; check operation and reservations in advance. Inland Lake Provincial Park and Recreation Site east of Powell River offer simpler sites at the lake; clarify access and vehicle lengths in advance.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): On Crown land in the hinterland of Powell River there are simple spots at lakes; access roads gravel, often unsuitable for motorhomes. Around Lund, overnighting in a vehicle at the harbour and on the road is unwelcome.
- Insider tip for campers
- Top up provisions, water and propane in Powell River: in Lund there are only small shops. The ferry from Powell River (Westview) to Texada Island (Blubber Bay) is a short extra option; check the timetable and reservations at bcferries.com.
4Stage 4: Lund to Okeover Inlet and Desolation Sound (approx. 60 km)
- The drive
- From Lund back a short way on Highway 101 and then via Malaspina Road and Okeover Road to Okeover Inlet, about 25 km, paved, with bends and hills, speeds 50–60 km/h. Driving time about 45 minutes each way. Desolation Sound itself can only be reached by boat; kayaks and water taxis start in Lund and at Okeover Inlet.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Okeover Arm Provincial Park: access to Okeover Inlet; the starting point for kayak trips into Desolation Sound.
- Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park: one of the largest marine parks in the province with warm water, bays and seals; only by boat or kayak, with tour operators in Lund; ask about prices and availability in advance.
- Savary Island: reachable by water taxi from Lund, known for long sandy beaches and almost tropically warm water in summer.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Okeover Arm Provincial Park: a simple campground on the inlet with about 14 vehicle sites (seasonal, plus a few sites open all year), stony beach, generators allowed only at certain times; check vehicle lengths and reservations at camping.bcparks.ca. Access to water camps in Desolation Sound only by boat or kayak; the fees and rules of the Marine Park apply there.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Free camping at Okeover Inlet and Lund is prohibited; Crown land on forest roads in the hinterland is possible, but often unsuitable for motorhomes.
- Insider tip for campers
- Book kayak rental and water taxis in good time; mind the tides and wind, as in Desolation Sound currents and fog can change quickly. If you are paddling without experience, book guided tours. Plan for insect repellent and sun protection.
5Stage 5: Powell River to Horseshoe Bay (return) (approx. 130 km)
- The drive
- On the return from Powell River on Highway 101 to Saltery Bay, ferry to Earls Cove, Highway 101 through Sechelt and Gibsons to Langdale and by ferry back to Horseshoe Bay. Total distance on the road about 130 km, driving time 2.5 hours plus two ferries. Check reservations for both ferries the day before.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Ferry crossings: whales and seals are not rare on the crossing; keep binoculars to hand.
- Gibsons Landing: the last stop before the return; a walk at the harbour with fish stalls.
- Davis Bay and the beach with the pier: a short stop at low tide, with a view of the Strait of Georgia.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Porpoise Bay Provincial Park near Sechelt or a private site in Gibsons for the last night; clarify operation and reservations in advance. In Vancouver there are campgrounds on the edge of the city; check vehicle size and status.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Free camping on the coast and in the city is prohibited; if you spend the last night on the Sunshine Coast, book a campground.
- Insider tip for campers
- On the return plan generously for time, as the ferry times leave no flexibility; weekends and public holidays are heavily loaded. Empty the tanks before returning the rental motorhome; ask the rental company about the conditions in advance.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- In British Columbia, camping on Crown land is generally permitted without a permit for up to 14 days at the same place; excluded are private land, reserves, parks and protected areas. On the Sunshine Coast, however, Crown land is mainly forest land in the hinterland, often hard to reach for motorhomes.
- Overnighting in a vehicle at beaches, car parks, ferry landings and in towns is prohibited and checked by municipalities and the RCMP; fines are possible. If you cannot get a site, switch to a private campground.
- Wildfire season: heed fire bans and access restrictions from the BC Wildfire Service (bcwildfire.ca); in late summer bans can also apply on the coast. Gas stoves are mostly allowed, open fires are not.
- Wildlife: Black bears occur on the Sunshine Coast; keep food and rubbish in the vehicle at night; bear spray is legal in Canada. The waters are home to seals, sea lions and orcas; keep your distance from the animals, and drones are prohibited in parks.
- Apps: iOverlander, Campendium, Park4Night and The Dyrt; reservations with BC Parks at camping.bcparks.ca, in the main season around four months in advance.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Dump stations: available in Gibsons, Sechelt and Powell River, partly at campgrounds or public sites for a fee; BC park campgrounds mostly have none. Overview at sanidumps.com.
- Drinking water: tap water in Gibsons, Sechelt and Powell River is drinkable; heed boil water advisories. Filter river water.
- Propane in Gibsons, Sechelt and Powell River; European bottles need adapters, and rental motorhomes have fixed tanks.
- Fuel: fuel stations in Gibsons, Sechelt, Pender Harbour, Powell River and Lund; fill up before the ferries. On Texada supplies are limited.
- Shopping: supermarkets in Gibsons, Sechelt and Powell River; in Lund and Okeover only small shops with a limited range.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Ferries: BC Ferries runs Horseshoe Bay–Langdale (Route 3) and Earls Cove–Saltery Bay (Route 7); reservations are recommended. Vehicles over about 2.1 m in height or 6.1 m in length pay higher fares; state dimensions exactly when booking. Check timetables and prices at bcferries.com.
- Speed limits: Highway 101 mostly 50–80 km/h, in towns 50 km/h; switch off the engine during ferry waits. From 1 October to 30 April winter tyres or snow chains are required on designated routes, rarely relevant on the coast, heed the signs.
- Vehicle dimensions in BC: height up to 4.15 m, width up to 2.6 m; car parks and ferry terminals often have their own restrictions.
- Fees: Provincial parks charge camping fees; BC Parks takes reservations around four months in advance at camping.bcparks.ca. There is no toll on Highway 101.
- Traffic law: turning right on red after stopping is permitted where not prohibited; using a phone while driving is forbidden. A German driving licence is enough for tourists; child seat and seat belt rules apply in motorhomes.
- Emergency: 911; mobile reception is patchy in parts of the coastal area. On the water, note the distress channel 16 (VHF) and the marine weather; DriveBC (drivebc.ca) shows closures.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Tide table or app: for Skookumchuck Narrows, beaches and kayak planning; the currents are strong.
- Rain jacket and a warm layer: coastal weather can change quickly, and in autumn there is a lot of rain.
- Kayak equipment or a booked tour: Desolation Sound can only be reached by boat; a life jacket and spray skirt are part of it.
- Insect repellent and sun protection: in summer there are many mosquitoes at the bays, and the sun reflects off the water.
- Printout of the ferry reservations and small change for dump stations: times are tightly scheduled, so keep the booking number ready.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
