Hiking up Pender Hill
If you’re travelling up the Sunshine Coast BC make sure you leave time for a couple of hikes.
There are so many fun things to do on BC’s Sunshine Coast from kayaking to climbing, exploring the cute towns and their breweries, or checking out these places for camping on the Sunshine Coast too. However, one of my favourites is, and always will be, hiking.
One of the best Sunshine Coast hikes, especially on the lower half, is the Pender Hill hike. The hike up Pender Hill will only take about an hour in total and the views of Hotel Lake and beyond are well worth it.
Hiking to Pender Hill
From the parking area you’ll see a small trail and a sign which points you off up into the forest. The trail quickly begins to climb and becomes steeper and steeper. There are no trail markers but the trail is well trodden so it’s not hard to stick to.
You’ll then come across a split in the path. It doesn’t matter which route you take since they quickly met up again. Follow the path and continue hiking uphill.
In a few minutes, you’ll come out of the forest and find a large rock in front of you. This is the top of Pender Hill!
Up here there’s a bench to rest and take in the views.
However, walk past the peak and go downhill towards the left where you’ll get an incredible view of Hotel Lake. If you head towards the right then you’ll get views of the Georgia Strait.
Follow the path the way you came to make your way back downhill.
Pender Hill BC hike stats
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: about 1 hour
- Distance: 1.5 km
- Elevation: 175 m
AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.
How to get to the Pender Hill trailhead
If you’re travelling down Highway 101 then turn onto Garden Bay Road. Keep an eye out for the road to Irvings Landing and follow the road as you pass both Mixal Lake and Hotel Lake.
Turn right onto Lee Road and continue uphill to the right. Here there’s a small cul-de-sac on the right with space to park to access Pender Hill Park.
What to pack for this Sunshine Coast hike
What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.
- Check out my day hike packing list here.
- If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
- Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
- Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
- If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
- You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
- You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
- Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.
Other hikes on the Sunshine Coast
If you’re looking for more hikes on the Sunshine Coast there is, of course, the beautiful Sunshine Coast trail, a multi-day hut-to-hut hiking trail where you’ll pass iconic hits like the Tin Hat Mountain Cabin.
Other easier hikes include Soames Hill, or one of my favourite hiking Sunshine Coast trips was the short and easy walk to the Skookumchuck Rapids.
Last Updated on December 29, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
