Sunsets along the trail
Top spots to watch the evening show
By Sean Percy
Powell River is famous for its sunsets. It's also gaining world renown for its network of hiking trails. So we decided to put two of our favourite activities together, and find some of the most rewarding sunset-watching spots accessible only to hikers.
Sure, you can watch the sunset from the Marine Avenue viewpoint or Willingdon Beach, but there's a little extra magic when you're watching it from a bluff or a trail a little further removed from civilization. Maybe it's the solitude. Maybe it's the quiet. Or maybe it's the adrenalin rush you get thinking, as the sun dips below the horizon and paints the sky with oranges, reds and purples, that you have to find your way back down the mountain trail in the twilight.
In selecting spots, we tried to choose locations that were within easy hiking distance of vehicle access in a half hour or less—about the time you have from sunset until it gets too dark to be hiking in the woods without headlamps. But we start the list with one that's probably best done as an overnighter:
Tin Hat Mountain
The views from Tin Hat are second to none. But it's also a long hike from anywhere. Don't plan on getting down from the mountain after sunset. This is an overnight trip, and there are no facilities and few spots to even pitch a tent. But if ever there's a place to sleep under the stars, this is it. Plan for nice weather, but be prepared for a cool, wet night. The weather can change quickly up here.
Gibraltar Bluffs
On the Sunshine Coast Trail's Marathon Trail between Southview and Wild Road. It's about 20 minutes from Theodosia Branch 10 to the bluffs, which look out over the ocean and Vancouver Island.
Scout Mountain
Another piece of the Sunshine Coast Trail, Scout Mountain is quite easily accessed from the end of Sutherland Street. Park on the right hand side. Follow the signs and orange markers. There are quite a few interlacing trails here, but stick with the orange tags and you'll find the views. Happily, they're also reflective, helping you find your way off the mountain by flashlight if you're foolish enough to stay past dark. You don't have to go all the way up to the summit to get some great west-facing views. (You can also climb up the face of Scout Mountain from the baseball field at Sunset Park. It's shorter, but steep and a bit of a scramble in places. And it would be suicide in the dark!)
Valentine Mountain
From the top of Crown Avenue it's a short walk to the stairs that have been cut into the side of Valentine Mountain. This is a quick hike and it's right in town, but in just a few minutes you will feel like you're miles away. The decent can be tricky in low light, though, so be sure to be down before dark.
Other spots to consider
Rainy Day Lake, Loon Bluffs (Confederation Lake trail), Manzanita Bluffs (Gwendoline Hills), A-Branch near the Knuckleheads cabin, Fairview Bay (a sunrise spot for the early risers.)
We also consulted with local hiking guru Eagle Walz in selecting these trails. He literally wrote the books on hiking in Powell River. These are brief descriptions, but Eagle's books are the definitive trail guides and should be consulted. The Sunshine Coast Trail is now in its 3rd edition and Along the Edge of the Salish Sea includes many trails that are not along the SCT. The books are available at Breakwater Books, the Visitor's Bureau, Edgehill Store, in Lund and in various stores outside Powell River, including MEC in Vancouver.
Sunset watching tips
• This might seem a no-brainer, but find a spot that faces more or less west. That's where the sun goes down.
• Bring a flashlight; if you overstay, it can make a huge difference in finding your way home.
• Tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back.
