What You Need to Know About Hiking to Tin Hat Hut and Lewis Lake

Hiking to Tin Hat Hut on the Sunshine Coast is one of my favourite backpacking trips in British Columbia. The trail to Tin Hat Hut is part of the Sunshine Coast Trail, a hut-to-hut trail that covers 180 km of backcountry hiking. Not only is this multi-day backpacking trail the longest of its kind in Canada but it’s also completely free.

Tin Hat Mountain offers some of the most picturesque views over Desolation Sound and the surrounding mountains. The best part about Tin Hat Hut Trail is that you can either tackle it as a day hike or spend the night camping. Also, you can decide how much you want to hike up the mountain. In fact, you can start at the official trailhead or take the logging road most of the way up the mountain.

In this article, I will cover both alternatives, as well as a longer loop around Lewis Lake. Also, I will share the best route to get to the trailhead and more tips to make this trip unforgettable.

Overview of Hiking to Tin Hat Hut and Lewis Lake

How to Get To Tin Hat Mountain

There are two main routes to reach the trailhead to the Tin Hat Hut and Lewis Lake.

Option 1: How to Get to Tin Hat Mountain from Vancouver

• Total Time: 5 hours from first ferry to trailhead
• Distance Driven: 160 km including ferry transfer
• 2 Ferry Connection: #1 ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, #2 from Earl’s Cove to Saltery Bay. Click here for ferry reservation.
• Ferry Costs: $80 from Horseshoe Bay to Saltery Bay one way (you just pay once, one-way), so $160 return per vehicle
• Good to Know: if you can, aim for a ferry reservation from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, especially during the weekends. The ferry from Earl’s Cove does not accept reservations.

To reach the Tin Hat Mountain trailhead, the most common route involves two ferries on the Sunshine Coast and around five hours of travel (without delays).

Start by taking the Horseshoe Bay–Langdale ferry (40 mins), then drive 80 km (1.5 hours) up the coast to Earl’s Cove. From there, take the second ferry to Saltery Bay (50 mins).

After Saltery Bay, drive 15 minutes on paved road to Lang Bay, then turn onto Dixon Road. At Mile 4, merge onto Goat Main, a logging road. Continue to Spring Lake, where you’ll find several pullouts to park your car. There is no cell service here, so make sure you download offline maps in advance. Also, be sure not to block the road, as it’s actively used by logging trucks.

🥾 Trailhead Alternatives: we decided to park by Spring Lake, as we hiked the Tin Hat Hut-Lewis Lake Loop. But, if you want a shorter hike and have a 4×4 vehicle, you can drive the whole way up the logging road. Read below for more details.

Option 2: How to Get to Tin Hat Mountain from Vancouver Island

• Total Time: 3 hours from to trailhead
• Distance Driven: 82 km including ferry transfer
• Ferry Connection: from Comox to Powell River
• Ferry Costs: $43 one way per vehicle, for ferry reservations go here
• Good to Know: if you’re traveling during peak times (such as weekends, long weekends and summer months), it’s a good idea to book a ferry reservation in advance

If you want to get to Tin Hat Mountain from Vancouver Island, you can take the ferry from Comox to Powell River. Here, you then follow the same directions as above and drive to Lang Bay before turning on Dixon Road.

Looking for more Vancouver Island adventures? Check these articles on Vancouver Island!

What to Expect on the Tin Hat Hut Trail

The road to Tin Hat Mountain is not your usual road. In fact, you’ll have to drive for about 1 hour on gravel logging road. Additionally, if you want to drive further up to the end of the road, you’ll need a 4×4 vehicle.

Some of the highlights of hiking to Tin Hat Hut are the panoramic views from the top, which are arguably the best on the Sunshine Coast Trail. For an even more unique experience, enjoy a sunset from the summit. There’s something magical about the way the sun’s rays illuminate the lakes, mountain valleys, and winding ocean inlets.

At Tin Hat Hut, you can decide to sleep in the hut (it accommodates about 10 people) or outside on one of the tent pads. If these options are already taken, there are some additional flat surfaces around the area. Keep in mind that the hut is often crowded around the weekends, so start early if you have specific requirements.

What to Know Before Hiking to Tin Hat Hut

🛻 Access to Tin Hat Mountain Involves Logging Roads

It is recommended that you drive in a high clearance vehicle to reach the trailhead. The logging road to the trailhead is mainly gravel road and the last section to the top is rather bumpy.

💧 No Water at Tin Hat Hut

There is no water source while hiking to Tin Hat Hut or at the summit. So, make sure you carry enough water with you (for 2 people, I usually opt for around 8 litres). The only water streams near the area are about 3 km down southern side or at Lewis Lake.

Water Filters: I use the MSR 10L gravity water filter bag when backpacking or the grayl bottle for shorter trips.

🛖 Tin Hat Hut is First-Come, First-Served

The hut has a total of 10 sleeping spots and if you want to sleep inside you should aim to get there early. Over the weekend especially it fills up quite quickly. To sleep in the hut you’ll need a sleeping pad and sleeping bag. Also note that there is no cooking gear inside the hut. As a backup plan, carry a tent to use in case the hut is full.

⛺ Camping at Tin Hat Hut

Aside of the hut, there are 2-3 wooden tent platforms you can use for camping. These are also based on a first-come, first-served principle. So, they’re often taken early on in the day. If the wooden platforms are taken, you can pitch a tent on one of the flat surfaces around the hut.

🧻 Bring your own Toilet Paper

Near the hut there are 2 outhouse toilets but no toilet paper is provided. So, remember to pack toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

3 Options to Hike Tin Hat Mountain over a Weekend

Below I go over three options of hiking to Tin Hat Hut over a weekend. It is best to sleep overnight at Tin Hat Hut but if you’re short on time you can opt for the easy option below and do a day hike.

Easy Option: Drive to the Top of the Logging Road and Hike to Tin Hat Hut

Starting Point: Coordinates | Distance: 4.2 km return | Elevation Gain: 296 m | Time: 40 minutes uphill

If you have a 4×4 vehicle, you can drive to the end of the logging road, where there is a small parking lot. From here, hiking to Tin Hat Hut will take about 40 minutes or just under 1 hour. Overall this option involves 296 m of elevation gain and a distance of 4.2 km return trip. This is in fact the easiest path to Tin Hat Hut.

Longer Option: Start at the Bottom and Hike to Tin Hat Hut

Starting Point: Coordinates | Distance: 11.6 km return | Elevation Gain: 725 m | Time: 2 hrs uphill

Instead of driving to the top of the logging road, you can park the car at the trailhead near Spring Lake. This will add about an extra hour to your hike but the trail is not too steep and follows a shaded section through the forest.

This option is ideal for those that want a bit of a longer hike and don’t mind carrying the heavy backpack uphill.

Medium to Difficult Option: Extended Hike Around Lewis Lake

Starting Point: Coordinates | Distance: 17.7 km return | Elevation Gain: 962 m | Time: 5-6 hrs return

If you’re into a more challenging hike, I recommend the loop to Tin Hat Hut and Lewis Lake. This is the alternative we went for. In fact, we hiked to Tin Hat Hut on the first day and around Lewis Lake the second day. I go into more detail about this option in the section below.

2 Day Backpacking Trip to Tin Hat Hut and Lewis Lake

I hiked to Tin Hat Mountain over a weekend and decided to opt for a longer hiking loop that included Lewis Lake as well. So, on the first day I made my way up to Tin Hat Hut, where I also camped overnight. On the second day, I made my way back down around Lewis Lake.

Day 1: Hike to Tin Hat Mountain

Start at the Bottom of the Trail and Reach Tin Hat Hut

We parked the car at a pullout just before Spring Lake, as we knew that on the second day that’s where we’d finish the hike. From here, we walked to the trailhead and started the hike to Tin Hat Mountain.

The first hour we were the only ones on the trail, which followed a marked path through shaded forest. Then, we reached the top parking lot, which marks the start for the shorter hike to Tin Hat Hut. From here, we spent another 40 minutes uphill until we reached Tin Hat Hut.

Although the hike is steep, it’s not technically difficult. Obviously, the heavier your backpack the slower and harder your hike will be.

Head to Tin Hat Mountain Summit for Sunset

After finding a spot to pitch our tent, we went to the summit for sunset. The views are absolutely breathtaking and some of my favourites in British Columbia.

Day 2: From Tin Hat Hut Hike to Lewis Lake

Take the steep trail down to Lewis Lake

You’ll find the start of the trail to Lewis Lake just behind the outhouse toilets. Take your time down as there are some rocky and steep sections. But, don’t forget to stop along the way to enjoy the last views over the area before heading into the forest.

Reach Lewis Lake and follow the Logging Road

This section doesn’t offer many views as the trail is mainly in the forest. You will come across some water creeks and lush green trees before reaching the logging road.

You’ll walk along the road for a couple of kilometres before heading back into the forest for the last section.

Get back to the Parking Lot

By the time we reached the parking lot it was lunch time. We were very happy we parked the car right at the end of the trail.

FAQ on Hiking to Tin Hat Hut

How hard is the hike to Tin Hat Hut?

The hike itself is not too hard but involves some steep sections closer to the top. It required good fitness, especially if you carry a heavy backpack.

Can you camp at Tin Hat Hut?

Yes, you can either use the tent pads near the hut (there are 2 or 3) or the flat areas surrounding the hut. You don’t require any permits or reservations. Also, camping is completely free.

Is there water at Tin Hat Hut?

No, so you’ll need to bring your own. The closest water source is about 3 km down on the south side or at Lewis Lake.

Can you stay in Tin Hat Hut?

Yes, it’s free and open year-round but it’s on a first-come, first-served bases. Overall, there are 10 sleeping spots but it can fill up quickly especially on weekends.

Can you hike to Tin Hat Hut in winter?

Yes, but you’ll need to be more experience and equipped compared to summer. You’ll need to carry snowshoes or microspikes and be avalanche aware. Check the logging road for snow conditions before leaving.

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