SOUTHWESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 297

Along the waterfront, the Gibsons Visitor Centre (417 Marine Dr., 604/886-2374 or
866/222-3806, www.gibsonschamber.com , 9am-5pm daily in summer, weekdays only the
rest of the year) is a good first stop for Sunshine Coast information.
ROBERTS CREEK
About nine kilometers (5.6 miles) northwest of Gibsons is the small artistic community of
Roberts Creek (take the lower road off Highway 101), where arts-and-crafts appreciators
can often snatch up a bargain. In an old-growth forest, Roberts Creek Provincial Park
(mid-June-mid-Sept., $16), 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) northwest of Gibsons, has a small
campground separated from the oceanfront by a 20-minute walking trail. A smaller section
of the park is down on the ocean protecting a pebbly beach.
The relaxed atmosphere at M Up the Creek Backpacker's B&B (1261 Roberts Creek
Rd., 604/885-0384 or 877/885-8100, www.upthecreek.ca , camping $14 per person, dorm
$28, $80 s or d) is reason enough to rest your head here overnight. Throw in well-priced
beds, modern amenities such as a full kitchen and wireless Internet access, and friendly
owners, and you'll want to stay longer. Accommodations are in bright dorms or private
rooms or a cozy cabin, with a self-serve breakfast an extra $6 per person.
SECHELT AND VICINITY
Meaning “land between the waters” in the language of the Salish, Sechelt (pop. 8,500)
perches on the isthmus of the Sechelt Peninsula between the head of Sechelt Inlet and the
Strait of Georgia. Logging, fishing, and summer tourism support the town.
Sights and Recreation
One of the area's nicest spots is Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, four kilometers (2.5 miles)
north of Sechelt via East Porpoise Bay Road. The park offers open grassy areas among
forests of fir and cedar, along with a broad, sheltered sandy beach along the eastern shore
of Sechelt Inlet. Hiking trails connect the beach with a day-use area and campground, and
a woodland trail meanders along the bank of Angus Creek, where chum and coho salmon
spawn in November and December. The park is a handy base for kayakers and canoeists
exploring Sechelt Inlets Provincial Marine Recreation Area. Porpoise Bay and the nearby
rivers are also noted for good sportfishing, and oysters and clams are found along the inlet
northwest of the park.
Continue through the park two kilometers (1.2 miles) to reach Hidden Groves, a pocket
of old growth forest that has seen a lot of work by local outdoor enthusiasts in recent years