Located at the top of the Sechelt peninsula on the romantic Sunshine Coast in British Columbia. Just 2 hours north of Vancouver you can experience everything at the same time - the coast, the mountains, the lakes and the magical and beautiful wilderness that is Ruby Lake Resort.
From Vancouver: 90 km;
From Seattle: 320 km;
From Calgary: 1050 km
One of the greatest natural shows in British Columbia occurs twice daily on the Sunshine Coast, in Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park.
The rapids at Skookumchuck are the world's fastest salt-water tidal rapids - up to 16 knots!
The word "skookum" is the Sechelt Natives' term for strong, "chuck" means water - an apt name for this impressive natural phenomenon.
Ruby Lake gets its name from the amazing ruby color at sunset. The calm waters are perfect for canoeing and swimming, with many little islands and secluded coves, perfect for a day picnic. Dan Bosch Regional Park is just ten minutes walk from our resort and provides a nice sandy spot to play and swim - great for kids.
Ruby Lake average summer temperature is 17 degrees celsius - one of the warmest lakes in BC. The water is rated as one of the clearest and cleanest on the coast.
Another fantastic place to visit is Savary Island. It has 350 feet of very fine, pure sand.
To get there, take the ferry from nearby Earls Cove, drive to Lund, park, then take a Water Taxi to the island.
It’s like a mini Hawaii, and the sunsets are beautiful. Savary is famous for clam digging as well as its oyster-beds, especially along the north side beaches.
National Geographic and Jacques Cousteau have rated B.C. the number 2 spot dive spot in the world, second only to the Red Sea.
The Sunshine Coast lays claim to the title of dive capital of Canada for its animal life, water clarity, vivid colors, diver-friendly tides, sheltered passages and deep ocean currents.
Jervis Inlet, a fifty-mile-long fjord bounded by mile-high mountain walls, divides the Sechelt Peninsula from the northern Sunshine Coast and Powell River. Jervis leads into Princess Louisa Inlet.
The Princess is famed for its awe-inspiring, pristine beauty. Chatterbox Falls, at the head of the Inlet, is a stunning natural wonder not to be missed on a Sunshine Coast tour.
Katherine Lake Regional Park, with its still waters and gently sloping sandy beach, is a great place to laze away a hot afternoon. The shore is safe and shallow, ideal for small children. Access is from Garden Bay Road, off Highway 101 north of Madeira Park.
The Forest Service campsite at Klein Lake is often very private, and the lake is home to some fine, fat trout. The excellent Klein Lake-to-Ruby Lake hiking and biking trail starts here.
View the spectacular, ancient, ‘old growth’ forests of the Caren Range. Recently named "The Spipyus Provincial Park", the Caren Range is home to some of the oldest Cedar in Western Canada.
The park boasts trees up to 1700 years old, the oldest in North America. You will be taken aback by the beauty of the local forested areas, waterfalls, wildlife and native plants.
Savary Island is 5 miles long and ½ mile wide. Some visitors walk the entire island, while others prefer to bring their bicycles, but both take in the white sandy beaches and the salt-air and ocean breezes.
A favorable environment produces forests of fir, pine, yew, alder, maple, arbutus and cedar. Seals and otter are common on the beaches. Watch for squirrels, deer, bald-eagles, hummingbirds and owls. Its warm, sheltered sandy beaches offer great swimming. Savary is truly a diamond-in-the-rough.
To learn more, see the website below or contact Jane on 604 483 9481
A diving mecca yet to be discovered by the mainstream, the Pender Harbour area offers some of the best diving in the world. From here some excellent and rarely visited dive sites may be reached by boat. Travel time is from fifteen minutes to one hour, depending on the speed of the boat. The most popular spot to dive on the Sunshine Coast is at the Skookumchuck Rapids.
Lund Water & Land Taxi
604 483 9749 (Reservations taken from 8am - 8pm)
The trailhead to the Park is just 10 minutes by car from Ruby Lake Resort. Follow the easy 4km, 45 minute trail from the parking lot, through a lush coastal forest, to this spectacular sight. Check the tide tables first to ensure maximum viewing times.
The rapids are fascinating to watch at the change of tide as the flow of saltwater switches, reversing the direction and power of the rapids. The most dramatic motion occurs at high tide when the ocean is rising. At low tide, the bays display astonishingly colorful and varied forms of marine life.
You can see Native petroglyphs (rock paintings) that have lasted for centuries. Look for Malibu Lodge at the entrance to Princess Louisa. Originally built as a luxury resort for Hollywood movie stars, it later became a summer youth camp. For history buffs and story lovers, read the legend of Princess Louisa Inlet.
Sunshine Coast Tours
1 800 870 9055 www.sunshinecoasttours.ca
