How to Spend One Day in Squamish – Itinerary

We have been to Squamish many times and actually JUST got home a few minutes ago from spending a day there ourselves so I was inspired to write this 1 day Squamish Itinerary.

I believe that Squamish SUCH a hidden gem and there is SOOO much to see and do there that a lot of people just don’t realise and are honestly completely missing out.

This guide will help you plan a super fun 1 day in Squamish and includes the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. We will start with one of the best hikes in Squamish that is a favourite amongst locals and end with a beer and a beautiful sunset spot.

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Things to Know About Squamish Before You Go

📍 Where is Squamish?

Squamish is a small town in British Columbia, Canada that you will come to along the Sea to Sky Highway on your way to Whistler. It is 1 hours drive from Vancouver and it is around 50 minutes further to Whistler from Squamish.

📆 When is the best time to visit Squamish?

Squamish is full of fun activities all year round! In Summer, there is great hiking and mountain biking, in Winter, there are magical viewpoints and fun snow activities and the breweries and restaurants are there all year!

You can use this itinerary at any time throughout the year, however, if you decide to go in Winter, you will want to be a lot more careful on the hiking trail and make sure you bring a pair of micro spikes.

🚗 How to get to Squamish from Vancouver

The best way to get to Squamish from Vancouver is by car. You can rent a car from Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

💲 We like to use Rentalcars.com to find the best rental car prices 🚗

The drive from Vancouver to Squamish is absolutely stunning. You will be driving a very windy road called the Sea to Sky Highway which runs along Howe Sound, a turquoise blue body of water surrounded by the most impressive mountains.

Make sure you keep your eyes on the road though because this stretch of road is pretty famous for crashes.

👉 If you don’t have access to a car, you can join this tour which will take you from Vancouver to Squamish and includes one of my favourite trails, Quercus Point.

🛌 Where to Stay in Squamish

Even if you only have time for 1 day in Squamish, I recommend spending 1 or 2 nights there either side if you can so that you have more time. Some of the best hotels in Squamish include:

• Executive Suites Hotel and Resort, Squamish – This hotel is located right next to one of our favourite post-hike lunch spots, Free Bird Table & Oyster Bar
• Squamish Adventure Inn – a really great option if you are on a budget
• Sandman Hotel and Suites Squamish – Free breakfast included and an indoor pool with a waterslide

Squamish 1 Day Itinerary

I have put together this 1 day Squamish itinerary which is everything we would do if we were showing friends around Squamish. You can use the map below to help navigate to each of the places in this itinerary.

Click here to open the map in Google Maps!

Breakfast at the Crabapple Café

Fuel up for your day of fun with breakfast at the Crabapple Cafe. The food here is to die for and has amazing Eggs Benedict and Maple Syrup Pancakes! They also have lots of vegan and vegetarian options.

Hike to a hidden gem

If you have ever looked into the hiking trails in Squamish, then you will have probably come across The Chief. The Chief is an extremely popular trail in Squamish but it’s not our favourite hike to do there because of how busy it is and the amount of stairs you need to climb. 😅

Instead, I recommend hiking to Slahanay Peak where you can get some amazing photos OF The Chief! We love this hike as it is a bit of a hidden gem and the views are fantastic! You can see Squamish, Howe Sound and The Chief from the viewpoint.

Can you spot Dave in the photo below?

Alternatively, if you would prefer a shorter hike, the Murrin Loop Trail is a perfect option but you should do this one on your way up to Squamish if you are coming from Vancouver. The views of Howe Sound from Quercus Viewpoint are awesome!

Head over to one of Squamish’s breweries or pubs for a post-hike lunch and a beer

We love the fact that Squamish has such great breweries and restaurants because there is no better way to end a hike. After your hike you absolutely need to stop in for lunch and a beer at Backcountry Brewing. I love this place! My favourite beer is the Trailbreaker Pale Ale and both Dave and I are obsessed with both the Prosciutto & Fig Pizza and the Forager Pizza.

If Backcountry Brewing is too busy or you would prefer to go somewhere else, I have enjoyed a post-hike lunch and a wine at Free Bird Table & Oyster Bar a couple of times now. They have a lovely outdoor, dog friendly patio that makes you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere so it is very relaxing along with cozy indoor seating if it’s too cold.

If you have never been to Squamish before AND you like views, food and suspension bridges, you should get tickets to the Sea to Sky Gondola. The gondola is a little pricey but I think it’s worth it if you haven’t done it before.
👉 Check prices and book your tickets here

Take a stroll along the Squamish River

After lunch, head over to the Squamish River to walk off that delicious food. For any Virgin River T.V show fans, stop by The Watershed Grill to see the real life Jack’s Bar!

This is a gorgeous spot in Squamish so just take a moment to relax and soak up the views of the water and the mountains.

Stop at Porteau Cove or Britannia Beach for sunset

If you have time before heading back to Vancouver, stop by Porteau Cove or Britannia Beach to watch the sunset. The sunsets here are amazing and its so worth the stop! Bring a picnic rug and a blanket and just chill out for a while and enjoy being outside.

You can also camp at Porteau Cove but reservations are SO hard to get! We have not had the chance to camp there yet but it’s on the list!

Frequently asked questions

Are there bears in Squamish?

Yes, there are Black Bears and also some Grizzly Bears in and around Squamish. During Winter, the bears are mostly hibernating and begin emerging in Spring where you could then come across one until the next Winter.

You should always carry bear spray with you if you are hiking or biking or doing anything else in the outdoors in BC. For more information on bear safety, check out this guide on Hello BC.

Is 1 day enough for Squamish?

Although you could definitely spend longer in Squamish, 1 day is enough to get in a hike, lunch at one of the breweries or restaurants and to catch the sunset somewhere gorgeous. Dave and I frequently drive up to Squamish from Vancouver just for the day but maybe one day we will actually spend an entire weekend there.

What is the best 1 day tour from Vancouver to Squamish?

There are a few different options for tours that take you from Vancouver to Squamish which all go to slightly different locations.

Shannon falls, Quercus Point and Squamish city Private tour – This tour takes you to 2 stunning waterfalls, Quercus Point which is along the Murrin Loop Trail and is a beautiful viewpoint and Squamish itself.

Squamish Howe Sound Explorer Private Tour – In this tour, you will get to see the incredible views overlooking Howe Sound from the Sea to Sky Gondola, Shannon Falls, The Eagle Run where you can spot Bald Eagles from November to January and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Capilano Salmon Hatchery.

You might also enjoy:

• The Chief Hike in Squamish – Hike to 3 Epic Peaks
• Hiking the Murrin Loop Trail for an Epic Sunset
• The Most Insane Places to Watch the Sunset in Squamish
• The Most EPIC Things to do in Squamish
• Best Hikes Near Squamish (including Easy Trails)
• An Epic 2 Day Vancouver Travel Itinerary: Breweries, Waterfalls, Sunsets
• Where to Stay in Vancouver
• Is the Sea to Sky Gondola Worth it?

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