McNair Lake Trail

McNair Lake Trail in Sechelt is a long, demanding out-and-back grind that rewards stubborn hikers more than casual strollers. At 22.7 km with about 802 m of gain and a high point around 1,137 m, it’s rated challenging for good reason and typically takes close to 7 hours, longer with breaks or a heavy pack. Most people treat it as a serious day mission or turn it into an overnight in the Tetrahedron area rather than a quick afternoon wander.

The route starts in the forest and works its way into classic Sunshine Coast backcountry, with a mix of old logging road, rough singletrack, creeks, and wet low spots. As you climb toward McNair Lake and the nearby cabin area, the forest opens here and there with views toward the Tetrahedron peaks and small lakes scattered in the basin. It’s not a manicured viewpoint trail; the appeal is the sense of being deep in the woods with very few other hikers around.

Recent hikers are blunt: McNair Lake Trail is extremely muddy, very buggy, and slippery, with sections of mud close to knee deep in wetter months. Some bridges are in rough shape, and there’s an informal detour people use in spring and summer to avoid a huge bog near the end, so a GPS track and solid route sense help. Expect soaked boots, bring poles, bug spray, and spare socks, and know that late summer into fall is usually the least soggy and most enjoyable time to tackle this Sechelt grind, with less standing water and fewer bugs than in spring.