Stage 12 of the Sunshine Coast Trail covers 8.9 km from Rainy Day Lake to Saltery Bay, with 347 m of ascent and 772 m of descent. The highest point is 456 m. Allow about 3.5 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Free fully enclosed shelter for 10 with a sleeping loft and covered porch above a beach (km 173), the first SCT hut, built in 2009. BC Hydro has closed the lower Fairview Bay Trail from 13 October 2026 to 28 February 2027, so check access before you go.
Ferry terminal 200 m from the trail end, with sailings across Jervis Inlet to Earls Cove for the road to Vancouver via a second ferry (Langdale to Horseshoe Bay). You pay once for both ferries in each direction.
BC Parks campground at Mermaid Cove, about 1 km north of the ferry terminal on Highway 101 and 1 km from the trail end, with an accessible shower and toilet.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed on OpenStreetMap, on the trail website or in tourism listings but could not be checked on their own current page. The trail huts are free, cannot be booked and fill up first come, first served, with one night per hut, so carry a tent. No permit or fee is needed; qPAWS asks for a $5 donation per person per night.
Emergency: call 911. Signal is patchy: carry a satellite messenger. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.