Route: Skookumchuck Narrows
Area: Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada
Date of walk: 21st August 2025
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.7 miles
Ascent: 450 feet
Weather: Sunny and warm
Today was a travelling day as we left Powell River on the Sunshine Coast to meet up with James again in Vancouver. The journey involved two ferry trips and about 2 hours’ driving. In between the ferry trips we reckoned that we’d have sufficient time for a walk to the Skookumchuck Narrows, near Egmont on the Sechelt Peninsula
The splendidly named Skookumchuck Narrows are home to the Sechelt Rapids. The tide changes here twice a day and the flow of saltwater changes, reversing the direction and power of the incredibly turbulent waters. The difference in water levels between one side of the rapids and the other sometimes exceeds 9 feet in height, with 200 billion gallons of water flowing through
The rapids are at their peak at certain times of the day. The best waves are on the ‘XL flood current’ and viewed from Roland Point. On the ebb current, North Point offers the best viewing to see the gurgling whirlpools. Click here to download the best viewing times schedule. Having consulted the schedule we realised that we’d miss the optimal time by an hour or so, our arrival time being dictated by the ferry schedule – not a major issue as the rapids are a spectacular sight at all times
Having disembarked from the ferry at Earls Cove, we drove to nearby Egmont and parked in one of the roadside spaces at the edge of the village. An obvious sign pointed the way, and a couple of other signs warned of the possible presence of cougars and bears, so we took our bear spray just in case
An easy path took us through through second-growth rainforest. Tall Douglas Firs and Western Red Cedar towered above us, making this a very atmospheric walk. After passing by Brown Lake we arrived at the first viewpoint, North Point. This is set on a large slab of granite with a protective fence – anyone falling into the river here would be in serious difficulty. This was a fantastic spot and we watched in awe as the turbulent waters created eddies, whirlpools and waves. We didn’t have time to continue to Roland Point so, well content with what we’d seen, we retraced our steps back to the start
Click on the icon below for the route map
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Aboard the ferry from Saltery Bay to Earls Cove
Seals lolling around near the harbour
After an enjoyable ferry ride we disembarked at Earls Cove and drove over to nearby Egmont, where the trail to Skookumchuck Narrows begins
An easy track leads through old woodland
Lichen hanging from the trees creates an atmospheric scene...
We arrive at Brown Lake, a freshwater lake which is home to cutthroat trout
We follow a path by the lakeshore
Beyond Brown Lake we carry on through the woods
We arrive at North Point. We've missed the optimal time by an hour or two, but it's still a spectacular sight and sound
Whirlpools and eddies in constantly changing formations...
It's a surprise to spot someone taking a small boat through here
Mind the whirlpool!
We stood at North Point for 15 minutes or so and could have stayed longer, but had another ferry to catch. It had been a very worthwhile detour
Aboard the ferry to Vancouver, where Gilly and I both spotted a brief glimpse of a whale, a humpback I think
Later that day we met up with son James again, who took us for beer and pizza at the Cypress Village Pop Up in West Vancouver, which we enjoyed as we watched the sun go down
Downtown Vancouver and, on the left, Mount Baker in the USA
The end of a day well spent
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