Located just north of Vancouver, Canada’s Sunshine Coast attracts outdoor enthusiasts from around the world; partly because if its location and partly because of its spectacular scenery. It’s close enough to a major city for an impromptu getaway, yet it retains an air of seclusion because of the absence of major highways. Couple that with the magnificent scenery — remote inlets, lush coastal forests and the occasional quaint village or town — and you have all the ingredients for an adventure-filled weekend. And although “secluded” and “adventure” are usually code words for inaccessible, gladly that’s not the case here. In fact, thanks to a forward-thinking group of local advocates and business owners, the Sunshine Coast offers several unique accessible recreation opportunities.

Getting There

Because of the availability of accessible lodging and ferry connections, Powell River makes a good home base for a Sunshine Coast visit. BC Ferries (888-223-3779, www.bcferries.com) offers direct service from Comox (on Vancouver Island), and a combination ferry and driving route from Vancouver. Although both routes also accept walk-on passengers, you’ll want to take your car, as you’ll need it to get around on the Sunshine Coast.

Departing Saltery Bay

The Comox to Powell River crossing takes just 40 minutes, but the Vancouver route is a bit more complicated. The Horseshoe Bay to Langdale leg takes 40 minutes, but then you have to drive to Earls Cove and take the 50-minute ferry to Saltery Bay. From there it’s just a short drive up to Powell River. Because of the required connections on this route, it’s best to get an early start, in case a ferry is full. If you opt for a later departure, be sure and study the schedule carefully, to make sure a same-day connection is available.

Once you get the logistics sorted out, you’ll be happy to know that access is good on all the routes. All of the ferries have drive-up ticket kiosks, so you don’t even have to get out of your car to buy a ticket. The ferries all have elevator access from the vehicle decks, barrier-free access to the lounge areas, and accessible restrooms. If you use an assistive device, and need parking close to the elevator, be sure and let the ticket agent know. You will be boarded first and instructed to turn on your emergency flashers when you board, to alert employees that you need a spot near the elevator.

Elevators provide access from the vehicle deck to the lounge deck on BC Ferries to Powell River

Finally, a word about reservations — get them if you can. Reservations are not required, but they are available for an additional fee on some routes. Basically they guarantee you a spot on that specific ferry, and they are highly recommended during peak travel times, the summer, on weekends and on holidays. Reservations are available on the Comox to Powell River route, and the Horseshoe Bay to Langdale route. They are priced at $15 if made seven or more days in advance, and $18 any other time. It may seem expensive, but it’s really a small price to pay for a little peace of mind.

Hit the Trail

A section of the 13-kilometer wheelchair-accessible Inland Lake Trail

Located north of Powell River, Inland Lake Provincial Park (www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/) is the crown jewel of accessible sites on the Sunshine Coast; largely due to the efforts of the good folks at the Model Community Project (www.modelcommunityproject.ca). Shortly after the area was designated as a provincial park, Model Community Project volunteers constructed a 13-kilometer wheelchair-accessible trail around Inland Lake. Later they added some rustic cabins, picnic shelters and outhouses along the trail. Today the Model Community Project — whose goal is to make Powell River more accessible — has a stewardship agreement with BC Parks, to raise money for improvements and repairs to the accessible facilities in the park.

Accessible parking is located near the trailhead in the campground area, and the accessible Inland Lake Trail is wide and level, with benches and picnic tables located along the route. The two rustic cabins have dirt floors, platform beds, picnic tables and outhouses, and they are available on a first-come basis. In theory, people with disabilities are supposed to be given priority to these cabins, but with no campground manager on-site it’s doubtful that able-bodied campers would give up the space. Plus, since there is no reservation system for the cabins, it’s impossible to tell if they are vacant without walking at least three kilometers. Still, if you want to roll the dice, you’ll be rewarded with a very quiet and secluded campsite.

The Pier Cabin is the closet one to the trailhead, as it’s just three kilometers from the campground. The Anthony Island Cabin is seven kiliometers away on the other side of the lake, a little over three kilometers from the campground. It’s the more isolated of the two cabins, as it sits on a small island and has an accessible path down to the beach.

A lake view on the Inland Lake trail

Even if you can’t manage an overnight visit, the Inland Lake Trail is perfect for a day hike, as it offers several picnic options. The closest picnic area is just under a kilometer from the campground, and it features a lakeside picnic table on a flat patch of grass. If you can hike a little further, the Outflow Shelter is about seven kilometers from the campground. It features a covered picnic area and an accessible outhouse. And of course, if the cabins aren’t occupied you can also use the picnic tables there.

Sheltered picnic area and rustic cabin at Inland Lake Provincial Park

A Different Take on Accessible Hiking

There are many ways to make trails accessible. If you can’t physically alter the trail, then why not use an adapted assitive device to help others access it? The latter approach is the method of choice of the Powell River Mobility Opportunities Society (PRMOS) (604-483-9867, www.prmos.org), as their volunteer sherpas introduce slow walkers and wheelchair-users to some of the more scenic (yet inaccessible) trails in the area. Says society founder CC Duncan, “Our goal is to bring together volunteers and people with mobility challenges to enjoy hikes and other activities.”

The Trail Rider easily navigates steep terrain

All of the PRMOS programs utilize a Trail Rider, a one-wheeled assistive device with a padded chair, a seat belt, adjustable leg rests, and handles in the front and back. Picture a cross between a wheelchair, a rickshaw and a wheelbarrow, and you have the Trail Rider. And as undignified as that sounds, the Trail Rider is a godsend to many people. Says Darlene, a frequent Trail Rider user, “I use a walker and have to rest frequently, so there is no way I could even do the accessible Inland Lake Trail. But with the Trail Rider, I can go anywhere. It’s really opened a lot of doors for me.”

Safe, comfortable seating on the Trail Rider

On our practice run through the Millennium Trail, the Trail Rider performed liked a champ as it managed narrow pathways, tree roots, log bridges, mud and steep steps, and allowed Darlene to experience this magnificent coastal forest. PRMOS offers a variety of free Trail Rider hikes every week, but advance reservations are required. No experience is necessary, and the volunteers will teach you everything you need to know to safely operate a Trail Rider. And if you’d like to set out on your own, you can rent a Trail Rider for a very reasonable $10 per day. You’ll need at least two able-bodied companions if you go that route, but it allows you more freedom to set your own itinerary.

Kayaking Fun

Kayak equiped with outriggers at Terra-Centric Adventures

If you’d prefer a water adventure, then head up to Lund for an accessible kayaking tour at Terra-Centric Adventures (604-483-7900, www.terracentricadventures.com). Says Christine Hollmann, Director of Operations at Terra-Centric Adventures, “We try to work with people on an individual basis to customize an adventure suitable for their ability.”

Adaptive equipment — in the form of outriggers — also plays a key role in the accessible kayak tours at Terra-Centric Adventures. The brainchild of a man who had a stroke and loved to kayak, these single and double outriggers are attached to the kayaks for added stability for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. People with mobility issues usually begin in a double kayak, and then graduate to a single kayak when they become more proficient. Says Hollmann, “Generally, you have to have be able to self-propel to use a single kayak, but we have towed single kayakers who became exhausted. We are flexible and try to work with each person’s specific abilities.”

Terra-Centric Adventures offers three-hour accessible kayak excursions, which include a marine education component with a naturalist. The accessible tours are usually private and customized to individual needs — in fact, they even designed a paddle for an arm amputee. Special accommodations are also made for boarding — which is done from a cement boat ramp or on the beach (at high tide) — to make things more accessible for slow walkers and wheelchair-users. Terra-Centric Adventures also has a partnership with the local CIL, so they’re very familiar with access adaptations of all sorts. Plan ahead though, as space fills up quickly, especially in the peak-season summer months.

Spend the Night

The best way to enjoy the Sunshine Coast is to linger on; and the Town Centre Hotel (604-485-4681, www.prtowncentre.com) is a good lodging choice for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. In fact it’s the only Powell River property that has earned a L1 (the highest) access rating. Although Canadian access criteria differs from that in the U.S., L1 access includes accessible parking, wide doorways and corridors, barrier-free pathways and elevator access to all floors.

The Towne Centre hotel has all of that and more. There’s a barrier-free path to the front entrance from the nearby accessible parking space, but accessible room 135 is closer to the accessible parking space in back. The room features wide doorways, and a queen-sized bed with wheelchair access on both sides. There is a wide sliding door into the bathroom, which includes a tub/shower combination with grab bars, toilet grab bars on the left and back walls (as seated) and a roll-under sink. All in all it’s a very comfortable room, and it’s nice to see that the small details — like lowered closet rods — weren’t forgotten.

There’s good access around the rest of the property, including the on-site restaurant, where the complimentary breakfast buffet is served. Best of all, the management heartily supports local advocacy efforts, including the work of the PRMOS. After all, access is more than just ramps and curb-cuts — it’s also an inclusive attitude.

If You Go

Tourism Powell River
(604) 485-4701
www.discoverpowellriver.com