The Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park Trail is located near Sechelt, in Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada. The trail is an easy family friendly out and back trail that totals about 4km long and minimal elevation gain. The parking lot at the trailhead has limited spots and the trail is quite popular, so it is recommended that you start early if you want a place to park.
Some Interesting History of Smuggler Cove (sauce):
A possible apocryphal story is that Smuggler Cove owes its name to its reported use by Larry Kelly. Kelly, the “King of the Smugglers” who was also known as “Pirate” came up to Canada after fighting for the confederates in the American Civil War. When the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed, many unemployed Chinese workers tried to emigrate to the United States but were forbidden official entry. Kelly assisted the Chinese to cross the border for a fee of $100 each. His insurance against detection was to have the Chinese agree to be roped together and tied to a large hunk of pig iron. If there was a chance that they would be apprehended by U.S. customs, he would throw the iron and Chinese overboard. Common misconception is that Larry Kelly was also nicknamed "Pig Iron," but this was another smuggler by the name of Jim Kelly.
The first time we went on this hike was in the summer of 2018 during our trip to Sunshine Coast, BC. We revisited the hike again when we went on our camping trip to Sunshine Coast, BC in the summer of 2020. The following pictures are from our revisit hike back in 2020. The trail starts flat and wide on a gravel path. It eventually becomes a few sections of boardwalks and bridges that passes through a few bogs. Then the trail narrows and weaves through the forest until it reaches a clearing where it boasts beautiful views of the Straight of Georgia.
Check out my previous hikes:
- The Panoramic Views of Panorama Ridge
- The Golden Larches of Frosty Mountain
- The Winter Snow of Pump Peak at Mount Seymour
- Sapphire Waters and Azure Skies of Battle Bluff
- It Isn't Always Sunshine and Blue Skies
- The Frozen River and Waterfalls of Maligne Canyon
- The Amazing Arches of Arches National Park
- The Bizarre Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park
- The Magnificent Stones of Zion National Park
- The Flowing Walls of Lower Antelope Canyon
- A Glimpse of Hope at the Hope Lookout Trail
- Turquoise Waters viewed from Sea to Summit Trail
- The Three Peaks of Mount Seymour
- The Serene Winter Scene at Dog Mountain
- Murrin Loop and Jurassic Ridge
- Yosemite National Park
- The Bear's Hump at Waterton National Park
- Views of Okanagan from Pincushion Mountain Trail
- The Half Frozen Waterfalls at Franklin Falls
- Hole in the Wall of Vancouver Island
- Sometimes You Just Get Lucky
- Winter Wonderland at Alexander Falls
- Eagle Bluffs
TOP 😁