Hiked August 31, 2025

Quick Overview

Distance/ Elevation 17km, 920m
Water Sources Haywire Bay Regional Park Campground (KM58)
Lost Lake (KM62)
Inland Lake (KM64)
Seasonal stream (KM68)
Stealth Falls *seasonal (KM70)
Confederation Lake Hut(KM74)
Other Sections FAQ/General Trail Information
SCT Day 3: Sliammon Lake to Haywire Bay
SCT Day 5: Confederation Lake Hut to Tin Hat Hut
Facilities Haywire Bay Regional Park: front-country campground ($), water spigots, swimming, outhouses, hot showers ($). No bear caches.
Confederation Lake Hut: Fully enclosed, winterized hut. 2 picnic tables, bear cache, extra-large tent platform, composting outhouse. Great swimming access, rowboat that doesn't leak (as of August 2025).

We had a little sleep-in as the campsite was dead quiet in the morning - a sharp contrast to the party town that it was overnight. We got up just before 7, packed and ate quickly and were on the trail by 8:20AM.

The day started with a quick leg-burner climb up towards the Haywire Bluffs. The bluffs trail peeled off from the SCT a short while later and we wound our way through the trees to Lost Lake. It was pretty marshy where we approached, but became less of a swamp and more of a lake as we got to the far side. We found a bench right at the edge of the lake and enjoyed the view in the calm of the morning.

A short couple of kilometres later, we arrived at Inland Lake and jumped onto the groomed trail that loops around the lake. It's designed to be accessible for people with disabilities, so we were able to cruise super fast along the wide flat gravel and boardwalks.

The Inland Lake Provincial Park campsite looked lovely, and as expected with the long weekend was also busy. Sites here appeared to be spaced further apart than at Haywire Bay campground, so we think even staying at Inland Lake might be a nicer alternative. There was also a large dock and concrete boat launch.

Not too far past the campground the SCT turns off from the lake loop trail; we dropped our packs there and continued on the lake trail a little further to check out the cabin on Anthony Island. It's one of two cabins on Inland Lake, with priority for people with mobility issues to camp. A significantly older cabin compared to the SCT huts we've seen, and maintained by BC Parks rather than qPAWS, it was pretty cramped and wouldn't be our first choice to overnight in. It’s a log cabin build with moss insulation stuffed into the cracks, kept dry by a cedar roof. There are three bed platforms inside the cabin, and a few picnic tables and a new outhouse in the area. (* A day later, we chatted with a woman who spent a night in the cabin - she said it's home to a number of bats, and she also heard a wolf call in the night. *)

Anthony Island Cabin

Rustic backcountry cabin, wheelchair accessible.
3 bed platforms inside cabin; moss insulation; saloon-style swinging doors that don’t lock or latch; reports of bats living in cabin.
2 picnic tables; fire pit; outhouse. No bear cache.
Water source: yes (lake).
Fees: BC Parks “backcountry permit” fee area - $10/person/night.

After a quick snack at Anthony Island, we returned to our packs and loaded up for the climb to Confederation Lake. The climb was relentless. We blazed upwards on single track before joining an old logging road. Although resembling a road at first, the logging road quickly deteriorated to a single track once again, worn down by the passage of water and time.

Snake! We saw quite a few small snakes on the trail today. They were too fast for us to snap any photos.

The road snaked its way up and across the hillside before making way for switchbacks cutting even higher towards Confederation Lake. After a couple hours of ascent, the ground finally leveled and we began to see light through the trees!

We stopped for lunch at the southwest end of the lake, unfortunately not right at the lakeside as the area was really overgrown and marshy at the lake’s edge. Lunch turned into a disappointment and a lesson: we found that half our naan bread supply had gone mouldy. Katie’s stomach sank as she looked at the bread closer and realized, no, we didn’t buy naan with green onion bits in it… And not only would we now be losing out on all those calories, but we’d also have to continue to carry that food for the entire rest of the trail. We’ll never buy the mini naan breads again – all the full-size ones lasted no problem.

Following that disappointment, we pressed on the final two kilometres to the hut; we arrived around 3PM.

Confederation Lake Hut was gorgeous. Perched right on the lakeside, there is water access only steps from the porch, plus picnic tables, benches, and a bear cache. Beside the hut there was a large wooden tent pad and an outhouse back in the trees. The hut itself is fully closed in and winterized, with amenities including a pellet stove, Coleman cooking stove, and multiple large pots and pans.

Confederation Lake Hut

Fully enclosed, winterized hut.
2 picnic tables; benches; bear cache; extra-large tent platform; composting outhouse; great swimming access; rowboat that doesn’t leak (as of August 2025).
Water source: yes (lake).

A short walk from the hut revealed a rocky area that was better for swimming, plus a serviceable rowboat! We enjoyed a quick swim to clean off, and then loaded up in the boat for a quick paddle around the area. The water was super calm and peaceful.

We relaxed for the rest of the evening, eating dinner and chatting with the two other people sharing the hut with us. They were both heading south, and we are expecting to share Tin Hat Hut with them tomorrow.

Just as we were getting ready for bed, two other folks arrived at the hut traveling northbound. They had just hiked from Tin Hat and told us about two water sources - a reliable creek at km 83, and a less reliable creek at km 86 that was almost dried up. We really appreciated the trail info ahead of heading to the water-less Tin Hat Hut tomorrow!

FAQ/General Trail Information
SCT Day 3: Sliammon Lake to Haywire Bay
SCT Day 5: Confederation Lake Hut to Tin Hat Hut