There’s a particular kind of satisfaction that comes from arriving at a hiking trail by boat. No crowded parking lots. No highway traffic. No granola bars melting in the cupholder while you debate whether the trail is “worth it.” Just the quiet sound of oars dipping in the water and the feeling that you’ve discovered something slightly hidden from the rest of the world. This experience is part of what makes How To Find the Best Hiking Trails for Boaters in the Pacific Northwest so appealing.
Some of my favourite boating memories in British Columbia have been on a mossy trail overlooking a hidden anchorage, or wandering through a cedar forest after a morning coffee.
One of the great luxuries of cruising the Pacific Northwest is that your boat serves as both transportation and accommodation. Your floating hotel room can take you there. The challenge, of course, is knowing where to go.
Fortunately, there are a few incredible resources that make finding boating-access hiking trails in British Columbia dramatically easier, whether you’re planning a weekend cruise or a longer summer adventure.
BC Marine Trails: The Best Resource for Coastal Hiking by Boat
One of the best discoveries I’ve made in recent years is the website, BC Marine Trails.
If you’re unfamiliar with it, BC Marine Trails is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving public access to British Columbia’s coastline for paddlers and recreational boaters. Think of it as a carefully curated coastal access network that helps people safely explore the shoreline.
The website includes:
Coastal campsites
- Marine-access hiking trails
- Dock and landing information
- Tide and access notes
- Site descriptions
- Photos and maps
- Environmental stewardship information
What I particularly appreciate is that the site feels as if it were designed by people who genuinely use the Coast. The information is practical rather than overly romanticized. There’s a huge difference between “beautiful coastal destination” and “can I realistically get ashore here in a dinghy at low tide?”
How to Use BC Marine Trails for Trip Planning
The website is surprisingly easy to use once you understand the layout.
You can search by region, Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island, and more, then zoom into individual access points and marine recreation sites.
When planning a trip, I usually:
- Choose a cruising region
- Look for protected anchorages nearby
- Search for trails or shore access
- Review landing conditions carefully
- Cross-reference charts and cruising guides
One thing experienced boaters know: the hike is only half the equation. Landing access, tidal conditions, dinghy security, and weather exposure matter just as much as the trail itself. Some locations are ideal at mid- to high-tide but become muddy obstacle courses at low tide. Others require sturdy footwear and a little flexibility.
For new cruisers, BC Marine Trails is also an excellent way to slowly build confidence exploring beyond marinas.
Wild Coast Publishing: Another Resource for Charts and Cruising Guides
Another resource is Wild Coast Publishing.
If you cruise British Columbia waters regularly, chances are you already own at least one of their products. Wild Coast carries an outstanding selection of marine charts, guidebooks, cruising references, and navigation resources specifically for the Pacific Northwest.
I particularly appreciate that they make it easy to order Canadian Hydrographic Service charts online, something many boaters leave until the last minute and then scramble to find before departure. There’s something reassuring about a real chart spread out on the salon table with a coffee nearby. They are the BEST for trip planning in the early stages of “where should we go?”
Wild Coast is also a fantastic source for discovering lesser-known destinations and marine parks that may not appear on generic travel websites.
The Waggoner Guide: The Pacific Northwest Boater’s Bible
No conversation about Pacific Northwest cruising guides would be complete without mentioning the Waggoner Cruising Guide.
Waggoner Cruising Guide is the number one purchased guidebook by recreational boaters seeking detailed information about marinas, anchorages, and waterways of the Pacific Northwest. Boaters will find over 300 maps and dock diagrams for easy reference; descriptions and amenities for over 500 marinas and marine parks; and over 780 best anchorages. In addition, local knowledge highlighted in red is provided for alerts and safe passage.
The Waggoner Guide has earned legendary status among cruisers for good reason. It combines navigation guidance, marina information, anchorage recommendations, fuel stops, provisioning advice, and local knowledge into one remarkably useful resource. And importantly, it’s written by people who actually cruise these waters. Sign up for their newsletter; it is a fabulous resource.
I still flip through mine constantly while trip planning. Not because I can’t use apps or charts, but because cruising guides contain something technology often misses: perspective. A chart can show you where the rocks are. A cruising guide tells you where the cinnamon buns are. Both matter.
The Waggoner Guide is particularly useful when combining hiking stops with longer cruising itineraries. Many destinations include notes about nearby walking trails, parks, or scenic shore excursions that might otherwise be overlooked.
The Book Shack: A Hidden Gem for Boating Travel Guides
One resource I don’t think enough boaters know about is The Book Shack from OP Media Group, the publisher behind Pacific Yachting Magazine.
The Book Shack carries a carefully selected collection of boating books, cruising guides, navigation references, and travel resources specifically geared toward Pacific Northwest boaters.
It’s the kind of place where you go looking for one chart and somehow leave wanting three destination guides, a tidal reference book, and a dream of cruising farther north next summer. I’ve found some fantastic regional travel inspiration there over the years, especially for smaller communities and less-publicized cruising areas.
My Favourite Types of Coastal Hikes for Cruisers
Personally, I’ve become less interested in punishing hikes and more interested in rewarding ones.
Give me:
- A forest trail ending at a viewpoint
- A quiet beach walk near my anchorage
- A historic coastal trail
- A marine park loop
- A hidden bakery within walking distance of the dock
That last one counts as exercise if you carry the pastries back to your boat.
Some of my favourite boating days involve a balance of movement and comfort. A morning hike followed by a warm shower onboard, a simple lunch on the aft deck, and maybe a good book in the afternoon sunshine.
That’s the beauty of the West Coast boating lifestyle, adventure without giving up every civilized pleasure.
Why Hiking Can Make You a Better Cruiser
I’ve noticed something interesting over the years: boaters who explore ashore tend to experience destinations differently. They remember the smell of cedar forests. The sound of ravens overhead. Tiny roadside farm stands. Hidden trails. Conversations with locals. Cruising becomes less about simply “collecting anchorages” and more about genuinely experiencing coastal places.
Walking ashore also changes your perspective when you return to the boat. The anchorage somehow feels even more peaceful afterward. And perhaps that’s the real luxury of boating in the Pacific Northwest, not simply owning the boat itself, but the ability to access places most people never see.
Final Thoughts: Adventure Begins at the Dinghy Dock
One of the best things about boating is that the day can unfold in ways you never planned. A calm anchorage leads to a trail. A trail leads to a hidden beach. A hidden beach leads to a story you’ll retell for years.
Resources like BC Marine Trails, Wild Coast Publishing, the Waggoner Cruising Guide, and The Book Shack make those adventures easier, safer, and infinitely more interesting.
