Canada’s Adventure Capital
Squamish: An Adventure Guide
The Ultimate Squamish Travel Guide
Squamish claims to be the adventure capital of Canada, and it just might be foolish to try and take that title from them! If you live in a van, climb, backcountry ski, paddle, do windsports, or just love exploring some endless backroads, this is probably where you should be parking your rig.
Use this Squamish travel guide to get dialed in on the best things to do around Squamish, all in one place. Sure Shannon Falls are pretty cool and the gondola is a must-do experience, but there is so much more here to discover. Distant alpine lakes, rushing waterfalls and an expansive wilderness lies just beyond the town boundary for you to discover!
Some of the best things to do in Squamish are right on the edge of town. You can’t help but notice the towering walls of the Chief, reaching far above town for some of the best views of Howe Sound and the peaks of the Tantalus Range.
Squamish is the perfect place to plan a day trip from Vancouver, but it has far more to offer than that! If you’re looking for an epic BC wilderness holiday Squamish is waiting for you!
Top Attractions In Squamish
Shannon Falls
One of the tallest waterfalls in BC is a nice surprise for tired eyes driving up the Sea to Sky Highway, and a perfect place to stop in Squamiish and take in the sheer magnificence of the falls.
Watersprite Lake
A big trip but well worth the effort to hike back to Watersprite Lake, where you can enjoy some solitude in the alpine wilderness of the coast mountains.
Stewamus Chief
The Chief is the eye candy of Squamish, with an impressive 2000 foot high wall towering over town. The best part is you can reach the top as a mere mortal and enjoy the surrounding views!
Sea To Sky Gondola
Vancouver’s rain forest mecca! Go for a hike in Lynn Canyon and find yuorself crossing suspension bridges, walking through cool, shady forests and following the rushing rivers of the Lynn River as it flows through an ancient forest.
Joffre Lakes
Vancouver’s rain forest mecca! Go for a hike in Lynn Canyon and find yuorself crossing suspension bridges, walking through cool, shady forests and following the rushing rivers of the Lynn River as it flows through an ancient forest.
Things To Do In Squamish
Paddleboarding
With so many protected inlets and accessible beaches, Vancouver is the ultimate place to go for a paddleboard.
Climbing
With the largest climbing wall in Canada within spitting distance of downtown you can’t help but want to do some climbing in Squamish.
Hiking
Vancouver is riddled with hiking trails; some reaching distant peaks and some winding through ancient rain forest. Go for a hike to connect with anture and escape the buzz of the city!
Skiing & Snowboarding
Vancouver has many great fishing spots and with little effort you can get to some incredible fly fishing areas, or go deep sea fishing with a short boat ride. Fish on!
Paddling
Vancouver is surrounded with coastline, making it a paddler’s paradise. Go canoeing on a local lake, or head out sea kayaking in Howe Sound!
Biking
Vancouver is a really fun city to bike around, with Stanley Park and Kitsilano being full of winding bike paths. Or venture into the rugged downhill trails of the North Shore!
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
With daily whale watching departures heading into the Georgia Strait, and salmon heading to breeding grounds up Howe Sound, Vancouver is the perfect city to catch some wildlife in the act during your visit.
Arts and Heritage
Vancouver is a big and old enough city to have plenty going on in the cultural department. Visit the many art galleries and theatres to catch some culture, or check out the totem poles in Stanley Park!
Squamish Travel Tips
Getting To/ From Squamish
Getting to Squamish is super easy with daily shuttles from Vancouver and it’s close proximity to Vancouver Airport.
Driving To Squamish:
Squamish is an easy drive from Vancouver. Roughly 45 minutes up the scenic Sea to Sky Highway and you’re there. The highway can get a bit messy when it’s snowing, so plan ahead.
Getting To Squamish By Plane:
You can fly into Vancouver and hop on one of the many shuttles that run from Vancouver Airport to Whistler and stop in Squamish.
Getting To Squamish By Bus:
Squamish is easy to get to by bus, with many options stopping in Squamish on the way from Vancouver and airport to Whistler.
Squamish Connector runs a service between North Vancouver and Squamish.
Where To Go Hiking In Squamish
Squamish Top Hiking Trails- Easy Walks & Small Hikes
Brohm Lake Trail
2 Hours
4.5 km Return
230 m elevation
Crater rim trail is the perfect place to explore some of Whistler’s sub-alpine forest, surrounding Loggers Lake. The lake is in the bowl of an extinct volcano making for some cool geology on this hike in Whistler.
Crater Rim Trail is a few minutes south of Whistler and can easily be done in half a day, with time to stop for a swim in the lake.
Murin Lookout Trail
2 Hours
5 km Return
175 m Elevation
Whistler’s Ancient Cedars Trail is an amazing and easy way to immerse yourself in some pristine old growth forest, without having to bomb around the backcountry too far. The trail is a short drive from the core of Whistler and makes for a relatively flat and easy hike.
The ancient cedars trail is a cool place to hike on a hot day!
Cheakamus Lake Trail
5 Hours
16 km Return
No Elevation
Hiking in the Cheakamus Valley is filled with several cool finds, including a suspension bridge over a rushing river. Further up the valley is the Cheakamus lake trail, which winds through a shady old growth forest 8 km back to the beautiful Cheakamus Lake. The trail pops out at the lake roughly halfway and you could stop there, but it is far more rewarding to go the full way and see the lake from the middle.
Cheakamus Lake is a perfect place for a refreshing dip in the middle of your hike in Whistler.
Best Hiking Trails in Squamish- Big Day Hikes
Elfin Lakes Hike
5 Hours
18 km Return
820 m Elevation
Garibaldi Lake is one of the most beautiful alpine lake in the coast mountains and you haev the opportunity to hike to it. The trailhead is at Rubble Creek, just over half an hour south of Whistler and the trail is long, but gentle, switchbacking up the side of a mountain.
It’s a long day, but the views of the lake and option to continue on to Black Tusk for an even bigger day makes it all worthwhile.
The Chief
7 Hours
12 km Return
1160 m Elevation
Wedgemont Hike is a burly but worthwhile hike in Whistler. There is a lot of elevation gain in not a ton of distance, which means it is consitently steep, with a relatively rough trail.
Wedgemont Lake is absolutely gorgeous and the juice is definitely worth the squeeze. The photos you get will make up for the massage therapy you’ll need after your descent.
Al's Habrich Trail
Time: Depends on you (3.5 Hours Roughly- Lift Ticket For Return)
3 km One-way
1150 m Elevation
The Blackcomb Asscent Trail is a punishing way to get to the alpine of Blackcomb Mountain. You’ll need a lift ticket to come back down, which you need to buy before heading up.
You can hike this right to the top of Blackcomb and enter Blackcomb Meadows from here as well.
If you prefer to skip to Blackcomb Meadows, you can take the lift up as well!
Watersprite Lake
Time: 3 Hours
10 km One-way
370 m Elevation
Joffre Lakes is one of the most popular day hikes in BC and for good reason. You’ve almost certainly come across photos of people standing on the fallen tree, surrounded by emerald green water as they strike their wistful gaze or standing tree yoga pose.
Joffre Lakes is kind of like Disney Land for people who love alpine lakes. There isn’t just one lake, but three! You start at one, slog your way to the second one, and the third is soon after. From the third lake you can lay eyes on a nearby glacier and you’re welcome to hop in for a dip.
Don’t forget to pop in to Pemberton on your way back for a frosty mug of craft beer!
Explore Nearby
Vancouver
Whistler
Victoria
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