Sea to Sky Marine Trail
- 14
- 75 NM
- 2-7 Days
- Class 2
As there are an abundance of launch and campsites in the Sea to Sky region, your adventure can be of any length, with endless route options. See the BCMT map — Sea to Sky region — below.
The Sea to Sky Marine Trail (STSMT) consists of 14 campsites — a combination of BC Marine Trails sites, Provincial Park sites, Recreation Sites & Trails BC (RSTBC) sites.
Most sites have tent platforms, bear caches, and picnic tables — refer to each site on the BC Marine Trails map for details.
There are many launch sites to access the Sea to Sky Marine Trail, including from Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver), Gibsons (Sunshine Coast), Bowen Island, along the Sea to Sky highway, and in Squamish.
Refer to the BC Marine Trails map below for exact launch site details.
Once your route is chosen — whether a loop, or out and back — choose the launch site that works best for your trip!
Pull from here: https://www.backroadmapbooks.com/lifestyle/discover-the-sea-to-sky-marine-trail/
As a BCMT member you can access our trip resources page or easily find resources online at Sea Kayak Association of BC.
Hazards & Risks
The British Columbia coastline is an inherently dangerous location, and marine trail users assume the risk of navigating the BC coast. The BC Marine Trails Network has pinpointed some key locations where risks are increased due to pre-existing known conditions or possibility of risk. However, marine trail users are cautioned that risk can occur at any time at any location, and proper equipment, clothing, rescue gear, preparation and training are recommended to ensure optimal safety. Recurring safety considerations include:
Currents and rips: Conditions will be lessened if not eliminated at slack times, so check the Tides and Currents Tables to find the safest time to cross or transit difficult locations.
Ferry Lane Crossings: Several busy ferry corridors must be crossed over the course of the Gulf Islands, Salish Sea, or Sea to Sky Marine Trails. Risk can be minimized by monitoring the appropriate Canadian Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Services broadcast channels and by calling in on that same channel to alert traffic to your presence. We strongly recommend calling in for groups crossing ferry lanes or in questionable conditions such as chop, darkness or fog that could make paddlecraft difficult to see.
Shipping lanes: Be sure to know where shipping lanes are located on your charts and monitor Canadian Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Services broadcast channels to track shipping movement.
The STSMT is part of two major trail networks in Canada: the Trans Canada Trail and BC Marine Trails. Officially opened in June 2015, the STSMT was developed to bridge the gap between the Sea-to-Sky Trail’s southern terminus in Squamish and the Trans Canada Trail in West Vancouver. Due to challenging terrain along the eastern side of Howe Sound, which features steep cliffs, a railway, and a highway, creating a land-based connection proved difficult. Additionally, the Howe Sound Crest Trail was deemed too strenuous, making a water route the best alternative.
The project was a collaborative effort involving BC Marine Trails members and the Sea Kayak Association of BC (SKABC), who surveyed sites, cleared trails, and established landing and camping areas. Thanks to the dedicated work of volunteers, all recreational sites along the route have been equipped with composting toilets. Apodaca Provincial Park, now part of the STSMT and the Salish Sea Marine Trail, features four tent platforms and a composting toilet, enhancing the experience for paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts.
In the spring and fall of 2024, new tent platforms, tables, and bear caches were installed jointly between BCMT, SKABC, and RSTBC at multiple sites along the trail.
