Squamish

The outdoor capital on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, where the granite walls of the Stawamus Chief and the Sea to Sky Gondola overlook the Howe Sound fjord—great for climbing, hiking and eagle watching.

Squamish lies midway along the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Highway 99) in British Columbia, Canada, about 65 km north of Vancouver and 60 km south of Whistler. Set at the northern tip of the Howe Sound fjord where the Squamish River meets the sea, it's known as the "Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada". Behind town rises the Stawamus Chief, a granite wall about 700 m high, and south of town are Shannon Falls and the Sea to Sky Gondola (these, along with the Britannia Mine Museum and Porteau Cove, are covered under the Whistler destination and can be visited along the Sea-to-Sky Highway). This destination covers activities based in Squamish: beginner climbing at Smoke Bluffs Park, the forest lakes of Alice Lake and Brohm Lake, the hike to Elfin Lakes in the Diamond Head area of Garibaldi Provincial Park, bald eagles wintering at Brackendale, and kitesurfing at the Squamish Spit. Climate: summers are warm and dry, with Jun–Sep best for climbing, hiking and lakes; Oct–Apr is rainy with snow on alpine trails, and Dec–Jan is eagle-watching season. Getting there: about 1 hour's drive from downtown Vancouver, and in summer buses run between Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler; sights around town are spread out, so you'll mostly need a car. Suggested stay: 1–2 days, or use it as an overnight stop on a Vancouver–Whistler road trip. Note: car parks at popular provincial parks fill early on summer weekends, and some Garibaldi Provincial Park trails require a free day-use pass reserved in advance on the BC Parks website; be bear-aware when hiking in the mountains.

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Where to eat

Itineraries