Canada's Artsy Sunshine Coast Resort Community Is A Mountain-Backed Beauty For Paddling, Fishing, And Hiking

One wouldn't expect a region renowned for its rainy weather to be home to a place called the "Sunshine Coast," but that's precisely the case in British Columbia, Canada. Along the province's western shore sits a stretch of coastline running roughly 111 miles from southerly Howe Sound to northern Desolation Sound. Along its length are islands, bays, channels, woodlands, mountains, and small coastal communities that require a plane, boat, or long car ride to reach from elsewhere in British Columbia. This is the Sunshine Coast, an area brimming with beautiful landscapes, outdoor adventure, and quaint communities. Among them is Pender Harbour.

Technically, Pender Harbour refers not to a town, but to a protected harbor rimmed by a smattering of small communities like Garden Bay, Madeira Park, and Irvines Landing. Since Pender Harbour anchors these communities together, the name generally refers to the entire area. Located on the western shore of the Sechelt Peninsula, with the Strait of Georgia at its front and mountains at its back, this community of under 3,000 residents sits right on the Sunshine Coast Highway, the region's main route. Langdale, the gateway to the Sunshine Coast thanks to its BC Ferries terminal, is roughly an hour's drive south.

Visitors flock here to stay at vacation accommodations and waterfront resorts like Pender Harbour Resort & Marina and partake in outdoor fun on land and sea, from water sports like kayaking and fishing to hiking in provincial parks. They also come for the art. The area has a strong creative streak (who wouldn't when you live in such a dreamy locale?), with galleries, artist studios, public murals, and festivals like the Pender Harbour Blues Festival. But it's the stunning landscapes at Pender Harbour's doorstep that beckon the strongest.

In Pender Harbour, water is the center of the action — literally. Boat ramps, docks, and access points line the harbor, making it easy to get out on the water. The craggy shoreline, riddled with coves, channels, and small bays, is an especially good place for kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Gear can be rented from Pender Harbour Resort or delivered to the area via Alpha Adventures. More adventurous paddlers can venture beyond the protected harbor to explore the coast, while nearby Hotel Lake and Katherine Lake are tranquil spots to float around.

Pender Harbour also draws a steady stream of anglers. The area offers saltwater and freshwater fishing, with chances to catch species like Chinook salmon and giant lingcod. Both types of fishing require a license, which can be obtained online. If you don't have your own boat, Gulf Rascal Charters offers custom half-day or full-day fishing charters. Visitors can also try their hand at prawning, using prawn traps to haul up some of the area's abundant spot prawns. If you don't want to take a boat out, there's a public fishing beach along Gunboat Bay, and nearby lakes and streams offer chances to snag trout.

Boating is also a must-do, letting you take in the Sunshine Coast's stunning scenery. Boats or slips can be rented from resorts like Pender Harbour Resort and Sunshine Coast Resort and Marina. Proof of competency, like a Pleasure Craft Operator card, is required for motorized craft. If you prefer to let someone else do the sailing, Slocat Harbor Tours and Lady Jean Boat Tours offer tours. British Columbia's coastal waters have also been praised by the likes of Jacques Cousteau as being some of the best cold-water dive sites on Earth, so certified scuba divers will want to suit up and take a gander.

Pender Harbour is equally exciting on land, as the hills, mountains, and forests surrounding the community are full of hiking trails. The wider Sunshine Coast is a fantastic destination for hiking, with routes like the scenic Sunshine Coast Trail, which runs through the region's backcountry and offers accommodations in cozy huts with jaw-dropping views. But if you don't want to set off on a multi-day trek, Pender Harbour has plenty of great trails close at hand.

Pender Hill, located just outside Irvines Landing on the north side of the harbor, is one of the best-known hikes in the area. The short, roughly 1.1-mile route is steep, but it leads you to an open summit that lets you take in sweeping views of Pender Harbour, Hotel Lake, and the coast. The trailhead is also barely a 10-minute drive from Madeira Park, so it's easy to access. Another close-to-home hike with an incredible view is Mount Daniel. Situated inside Garden Bay Marine Provincial Park, the summit viewpoint offers town, strait, island, and inland views all at once. It's a longer hike at 3 miles, with more elevation gain and a higher level of difficulty, but the vista is worth the burning quads.

Located on the Francis Peninsula (also known as Beaver Island), home to the communities of Pope Landing and Donnely Landing, Francis Point Provincial Park offers a more low-key and low-level hiking experience. An easy 1.6-mile trail leads to a tiny lighthouse, but the views across the strait toward Texada Island are the highlight. Then, after a long day out on the trails, retire for a hot tub soak at your Pender Harbour Resort cabin and enjoy a relaxing evening dining at a waterfront restaurant like The Lagoon Restaurant while basking in the bucolic views.