Backeddy Resort & Marina

If you’re looking for a small, quiet, and relaxing marina, Backeddy Resort & Marina is a top choice! Located in the small community of Egmont on British Columbia’s north Sechelt Peninsula, here visitors will discover an accommodating marina, the Backeddy Pub, Skookumchuck Narrows, Egmont Heritage Centre, and the Westcoast Wilderness Lodge.

Backeddy Resort & Marina

Backeddy Resort & Marina is open year-round, and reservations are suggested for the summer months. This is also a perfect location to take on last minute provisions before making the cruise to Malibu Rapids and visiting Princess Louisa Inlet.

Since currents around the area of the marina can be strong, it’s suggested to time your arrival at near slack water. Hail the marina on VHF Ch 66A for your slip assignment and an energetic wharfinger will assist with the lines.

For great pub fare, the Backeddy Pub is a must. If you’re up for a tasty challenge, try wrapping your mouth around the giant Skookum burger or one of the other delectable offerings. The pub is popular with the locals and has live music on Friday and Saturday nights. The Backeddy Pub welcomes families and minors (under 19 years) inside the pub or on the patio.

The pub offers outdoor seating overlooking the marina

If you’re looking for fine dining, a short walk up the hill from the marina is the West Coast Wilderness Lodge offering mouthwatering seasonal cuisine, indoor and outdoor dining, and a beautiful view of Sechelt Inlet. Reservations are required.

The beautiful West Coast Wilderness Lodge

A hike to the Skookumchuck Narrows, one of B.C.’s greatest natural shows, is well worth the effort. Lace-up your hiking shoes, pack some snacks and time the 90-minute trek so that you arrive at least 30-minutes before maximum flood. Just a few feet from the trail head hikers will find Skookumchuck Bakery & Cafe offering amazing cinnamon buns and other delectable treats.

The well maintained trail winds through Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park, which resides in a rainforest, where things are greener than can be imagined and several ancient Western red cedar and Douglas firs stand in all their glory.

Hard to miss the entrance to the bakery and cafe

Skookumchuck (“strong or turbulent waters” in the Salish language) Narrows roars as two hundred billion gallons of water are forced through the narrows twice a day. These are the largest and fastest-running tidal rapids in North America. The water can reach speeds of up to 16-knots making it popular with “extreme” kayakers and surfers. The most dramatic motion happens at max flood when the water is thrust into cavernous whirlpools and up into 8 to 10-foot standing waves. Standing on the water’s edge at Roland Point, you will witness the power, feel, and hear the rapids roar.

Skookumchuck Narrows

The Egmont Heritage Centre is located across from the Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park. The Centre tells the story of the native and early pioneer settlers of the area with emphasis on the logging and fishing heritage. There are special collections of early 1900s Vivian and Easthope diesel engines, antique bottles, Depression-era glass, and a gift shop featuring local books, arts and crafts. There are also outdoor displays and a picnic area.

Should you not want to take the 80-mile roundtrip or have the time to make the run in your own boat, Sunshine Coast Tours will help you discover the cultural and historical highlights of the area. They offer daily boat tours to Princess Louisa Inlet, judged one of the ten most scenic spots in North America, and to Skookumchuck Narrows. So don’t miss out!

(Deane Hislop – In Partnership with Freedom Marine)