The calm waters of Ruby Lake are perfect for canoeing and swimming, with many little islands and secluded coves, perfect for a day picnic. Dan Bosch Regional Park is just 10 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.
You can also enjoy a canoe ride in Ruby Lake. Numerous scenic and some challenging portage excursions exist for the novice and experienced canoe enthusiast.
Some cottage and tent rentals include use of a canoe, or they can be rented for $12 per hour (plus tax).
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.
One of the greatest natural shows in British Columbia occurs twice daily 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.
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.
Vancouver Island is perfectly placed to protect our Georgia Strait coastline from the most vigorous Pacific weather conditions, which means you can launch a canoe or kayak anywhere from Gibsons to Pender Harbour and paddle it in relatively safe and calm waters most days of the year.
Halfmoon Sea Kayaks: 604 885 2995
Peddles & Paddles: 604 885 6440
National Geographic and Jacques Cousteau have rated BC 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.
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.
Suncoast Diving: 1866 740 8006 www.suncoastdiving.com
Fresh Water Fishing: Bring your own rod and tackle and you are ready to challenge the feisty Cut Throat Trout and kokanee that inhabit Ruby and Sakinaw Lakes. Sure to give any angler the thrill of the chase.
Salt Water Fishing: The Sunshine Coast is uniquely blessed with easy access to both salt water ocean and fresh water lakes. Ruby Lake Resort is located within minutes of numerous salt water marinas.
Enjoy a day on the sea with the exhilarating ocean breeze on your face. The Garden Bay Sailing Club, located in nearby Madeira park, offers lessons for beginners and novices.
Please contact: Tom Barker 604 883 2689
Just hours from the hustle and bustle of the city, the Sunshine Coast is a wonderful getaway via your own private boat. Docking is available at:
Fisherman’s Resort, Garden Bay 604 883 2336
Duncan’s Cove, Garden Bay 604 883 2424
Bathgate Marina, Egmont 604 883 2222
Irvine’s Landing Marina 604 883 1145
A great way to explore our coastline, hire your own motor boat for an afternoon.
Bathgate Marina, Egmont 604 883 2222
Ruby Creek is a short length of water that drains from Ruby Lake to Sakinaw Lake. The creek provides spawning habitat for a rare population of coastal cutthroat and for kokanee salmon. Kokanee spend their entire life in fresh water and, like sockeye, turn red when spawning. The best viewing time is late fall. John Daly Park, on the road to Garden Bay, is another excellent location to view salmon spawning.
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.
You can see Native petroglyphs (rock paintings) that have lasted centuries. And 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.bc.ca