Mount Daniel: The Sunshine Coast Hike You Don’t Want to Miss
BC’s Sunshine Coast might be mostly known for its coastline, beaches and rainforest, but the hiking trails deserve just as much attention.
One of those trails is Mount Daniel, in the southern part of the Sunshine Coast, just over an hour’s drive from the ferry terminal in Langdale if you’re coming from Vancouver.
The views from the top, sweeping across Pender Harbour, were one of the biggest highlights of our last weekend trip to the Sunshine Coast. We hiked it on a midday in May and although we passed a few people on the trail, we had the summit completely to ourselves for over half an hour. We may have gotten lucky, but that was a really nice surprise and not something that happens very often on easily accessible trails in BC.
It’s a moderate hike, quite steep, but it’s nothing extreme so no worries! Here’s everything you need to know before you go and we promise, it’s absolutely worth it.
What to Know Before You Hike Mount Daniel
🚙Trailhead Access: By car, just over 1 hour drive from Langdale ferry terminal
🥾 Hiking distance: 4.8 km (official), though our AllTrails recorded 6.4 km
⛰️ Elevation Gain: ~395 m
🥾 Pure Moving Time: ~2 hours (moderate pace)
📱 Cell Reception: Yes
🥵 Difficulty: Moderate, though some may find it hard. The steep gradient and loose rocks can be tough on the knees on the way down.
🌤️ Best Time to Hike: Any clear day from spring through fall
🦍💨 Outhouses: None, not even at the trailhead
🪵 Other Facilities: None
Getting to the Mount Daniel Trailhead
The trailhead is on Garden Bay Road, just off the Sunshine Coast Highway. When you search for it on Google Maps, make sure you type in ‘Mount Daniel trailhead’ and not just ‘Mount Daniel’ or you might end up somewhere random wondering where the trail is.
The parking area is small, fitting maybe 10 cars. And there are no outhouses at the trailhead, so we’d recommend making a stop before you get there. Nobody wants to start a hike already desperate.
What to Expect on the Trail
Can you spot Andy among the trees? 
Wild ferns lining the steepest section of the trail
The hike starts off easy on an old forest service road, but it doesn’t stay that way for long. The steep section comes fast and it’s the hardest part of the trail, narrow enough that you’re walking single file. Once you’re through it, the trail widens just slightly and the gradient eases a little, but there are no flat sections all the way to the top.
The good news is that you’ll be under a tree canopy the entire time, which makes a big difference on a hot day.
We usually prefer hikes that give you views along the way, but we didn’t miss them here. The forest is genuinely beautiful and the hike is short enough that it never feels like a slog.
When we hiked in May, the steep section was lined with huge ferns on both sides and looked really wild and pretty. We could hear a grouse somewhere in the trees the whole time but never managed to spot it. We also saw a huge banana slug. They are the largest terrestrial slugs in BC and can grow up to 20 cm in length, pretty cool!
Hiking tip: The surface is loose rocks and gravel, which makes the descent harder on the knees. Bring hiking poles if you have them. You’ll thank yourself on the way down.
I am the forest, I am ancient 
You can tell it’s a banana slug by the ridge along its back
The Summit Viewpoints
The view from the top at 450 metres above sea level is stunning. Pat yourself on the back, you earned this!
The summit is covered in trees, but there are three open viewpoints. The first one is marked by a big cairn and it’s where we spent most of our time. It’s oddly not marked as a viewpoint on AllTrails, so keep an eye out for it as you approach the top. From here you get wide, open views over Pender Harbour, all those little inlets and isles spread out below you, with Texada Island to the right and Vancouver Island faint on the horizon.
A 5 to 10 minute walk further brings you to two more viewpoints. The views are similar from each, but the third one looks a little further south.
All three viewpoints face southwest, which means this would be a really special spot for sunset.
If you want to hike on the Sunshine Coast, don’t skip Mount Daniel. Yes, it’s steep, but it’s short and can easily be done in half a day and it’s awesome up there at the top. If you’re planning a longer trip, check out our Sunshine Coast weekend itinerary.
Have you hiked Mount Daniel? Leave a comment below, we’d love to hear about your experience!
