Phare Lake

Phare Lake is a short, quiet loop near Sechelt that feels a lot more remote than the stats suggest. At 6 km with only about 74 m of gain and a top elevation around 343 m, it’s rated very easy and usually takes around an hour and a bit, but the terrain keeps it interesting. You get a mix of old roads, bike trails, and rocky sections without the crowds you’d see on the more popular Sechelt hikes.

Once you’re on the Phare Lake loop, the walking rolls along gently through coastal forest with a few short, steeper pitches over rock and loose stone. Parts of the route follow old logging roads, then duck onto mountain bike singletrack, so expect a changing surface underfoot. Views are mostly forest and lake rather than big panoramas, but the quiet water and lack of people give the area a calm, off-the-beaten-path feel.

Recent hikers point out that the driving directions to the Phare Lake trailhead near Sechelt are wrong: at the fork on Mason Road, stay left and continue a few minutes to reach the start. The access road is rough, so a higher-clearance vehicle helps, and on the trail itself you’ll want solid footwear; some steeper bits with loose rock can feel slick, and microspikes aren’t a bad idea in wet or icy weather. This loop is usually best from spring through fall, but even then expect a remote vibe, minimal signage, and the possibility of a bit of bushwhacking if you wander onto side trails, so download a map before you go.