Sea-to-Sky Highway
Highway 99 from Vancouver to Whistler. It climbs along the fjord of Howe Sound into the Coast Mountains, where you can reach Shannon Falls, the Stawamus Chief and the Sea to Sky Gondola in a single day.
The Sea-to-Sky Highway is the section of British Columbia Highway 99 from West Vancouver to Whistler, about 120 km long. It was fully widened for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The road first runs along the eastern shore of Howe Sound, with the sea on one side and steep rock walls on the other. From Squamish, it climbs inland into the Coast Mountains. Stops along the way include Porteau Cove Provincial Park, the British Columbia Museum of Mining at Britannia Beach, the 335 m high Shannon Falls, the Stawamus Chief (a rock-climbing mecca), the Sea to Sky Gondola overlooking Howe Sound, the town of Squamish, and Brandywine Falls just before Whistler. Continuing north, you can reach Nairn Falls, Pemberton, and Joffre Lakes. Driving without stopping takes about 2 hours, but a full day is recommended, or you can stay in Whistler. The road has many bends and frequently changing speed limits, and accidents are more common in rain and winter. From October 1 to March 31, winter tires are legally required. Traffic from Whistler back to Vancouver often jams on weekends. In snowy winter weather, consider taking the bus instead.