13 EPIC Things to do in Squamish, BC
Squamish is one of our favourite places to spend the day! It’s an easy 45 minute – 1 hour drive from Vancouver and it is so much more peaceful, so stunning and there is just SO much to do and see there!
⬇ Read on to find out what makes Squamish so special! 😉
If you have heard of Whistler, (that beautiful and world famous ski town in British Columbia), then you might have heard of Squamish… maybe? Although it does often get overlooked.
Squamish is a charming, less touristy town which you will pass on your way to Whistler from Vancouver. You might be asking yourself, “why would I bother stopping in Squamish? Are there even any fun things to do in Squamish?”
If you love the outdoors, then you will love Squamish! Squamish has become more and more popular with outdoor lovers over the years as the surrounding mountains and nature are just gorgeous.
There are loads of fun activities to do in Squamish BC such as great hiking, mountain biking, scenic flights, rock climbing, gondola views and great restaurants and breweries! This guide will help you figure out what you want to see and do in Squamish.
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Quick Tips for Planning a Trip to Squamish, BC
Are you visiting Squamish and don’t have time to read the entire blog post? Here are some quick tips to help you plan your visit.
Best Places to Stay Overnight: Budget | A Little bit fancy
Best Time of the Year to visit: Any time!
Where to fly into: Vancouver International Airport – CHECK FLIGHTS HERE
Should you rent a car: Yes! Renting a car is the easiest way to get from Vancouver to Squamish. This is our go to for the best rental car deals ➡ Rentalcars.com
Top things to do in Squamish
- Visit the Sea to Sky Gondola
- Go hiking
- Go mountain biking
- Enjoy yourself at the pubs and breweries
- Try out rock climbing
- Experience Squamish from the turquoise waters of Howe Sound on a sailing trip
Best places to eat and drink in Squamish
- Fergie’s Café
- Backcountry Brewing
- Free Bird Table & Oyster Bar
Things to Know About Squamish Before Planning a Trip There
📍 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. The below map shows the locations of all of the activities included in this list of fun things to do in Squamish.
🤘 What is Squamish best known for
Squamish is known for its awesome rock climbing, because there are these huge granite boulders which make for a perfect rock climbing adventures and it is also very well known for The Chief Hike which is a hiking trail that takes you up onto the top of 3 of the granite rock faces.
We haven’t tried out the rock climbing yet in Squamish but we have seen loads of other people doing it when we are out hiking.
📆 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!
Tips for Visiting Squamish
😎 Bring sunscreen – you will likely be spending a lot of time in the sun
🐛 Bring bug spray if visiting in Summer – the bugs are relentless in the mountains
🐻 Bring bear spray if you are hiking
🕐 Arrive in Squamish early to make the most out of your time there
🛌 Where to Stay in Squamish
There are lots of options for places to stay in Squamish but the below are some of our suggestions.
- 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
🐻 Are there bears in Squamish?
There are black bears and grizzly bears in Squamish, however grizzlys are less common. Whenever you are outside hiking in and around Squamish you should carry bear spray with you and be familiar with bear safety. If you need a reminder on bear safety, check out this guide on Hello BC.
👉 Your next read: How to Spend One EPIC Day in Squamish
13 Fun Things to do in Squamish, BC
The best thing about spending time in Squamish, is that there is a range of activities both free and that cost money, so there is something for everyone!
1. Go hiking
If you love hiking to epic viewpoints, then you will love the hikes in Squamish! There are some really crazy rock formations in Squamish that remind us a lot of Yosemite and these make for some really unique hikes. Some of our favourite hikes are:
- Slhanay Peak Hike
- Murrin Loop Trail
- Stawamus Chief
- Smoke Bluffs
🥾 For a full list of the best hikes in Squamish, read this blog post next
2. Take a trip up to the Sea to Sky Gondola
If you are wanting a more relaxing day, the Sea to Sky Gondola is perfect for this or even a perfect way to relax after a big adventurous Squamish activity! If it was free or even a bit cheaper, we would be up there ALL THE TIME because it is truly the best. 😅
The gondola takes you up to 885m above sea level to the Summit Lodge where you can enjoy some yummy food and craft beer whilst taking in the amazing views of from the platform overlooking Howe Sound. The tickets aren’t exactly cheap, but it’s a really nice spot if you want some easy views to enjoy with a beer and some poutine.
At the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola there is an awesome suspension bridge and some walking trails. If you are looking for something to do in Squamish in Winter, during Winter the Sea to Sky Gondola has snowshoeing, snow tubing and ski touring available.
3. Mountain Biking
Squamish has some great mountain biking trails and is becoming more and more popular! There is a trail for everyone, from beginner trails to advanced. The Wonderland Trail is a great trail to start on for beginners or you could book in a mountain biking tour.
If you don’t have your own bike with you, you can hire a bike from Ride Hub. Check them out here.
4. Check out the Pubs and Breweries
There is no better feeling than enjoying a nice crisp beer and a hot meal after a day of outdoor adventures. There are some great restaurants and breweries in Squamish and I think we could spend an entire weekend in Squamish just enjoying the food.
Some of our favourites are:
- Backcountry Brewing
- Howe Sound Brewery
- Aframe Brewing
- The Watershed Grill – Have you heard of the Netflix show, Virgin River? The Watershed Grill is Jacks Bar!
- Free Bird Table & Oyster Bar
- Fergie’s Café
5. Watch the sunset on Britannia Beach or at Porteau Cove
One of the most amazing things about this part of the world is that you get to enjoy both the mountains and the ocean! After a day of hiking in the mountains, why not head to the beach to enjoy the sunset with some snacks? These are two of the best sunset spots in Squamish!
6. Walk to Shannon Falls and have a picnic
Shannon Falls is a great stop along the Sea to Sky Highway in Shannon Falls Provincial Park. Shannon Falls is the third tallest waterfall in British Columbia. The falls are a short 1km roundtrip from the carpark or you can even hike up above Shannon Falls to the Shannon Falls Pools.
On the way to the Lower Falls Viewpoint, you will pass a small park with picnic table and bathrooms. On a sunny day, Shannon Falls is a great place for a picnic!
7. Go on a High Ropes Adventure Course
There is a great high ropes course in Squamish called Rope Runner. This is a 2 hour long activity for the whole family and is located right in the centre of Squamish. It is best to book the course ahead of time online so ensure you get a timeslot as it is extremely popular.
🤑 It works out to be cheaper when you book tickets online as opposed to walking in.
8. Spend the Day at Alice Lake Provincial Park
Alice Lake Provincial Park has campsites for car camping and tent camping and 4 different lakes that you can hike to. The park is about a 15 minute drive from Squamish and has trails for hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, trials riders and dirt bikers!
It’s also a great place to walk your dog! We took Winnie there for the first time today and she loved it!
For hiking, I recommend the Four Lakes Trail which is 6km and takes you past all 4 lakes. Look out for Box Turtles at Alice Lake and Stump Lake!
9. Go Rock Climbing
Squamish has the most amazing granite cliffs which are great for rock climbing. People visit from all over the world to go rock climbing in Squamish. The Stawamus Chief is a famous place to go rock climbing for advanced climbers or if you are a beginner or have never climbed before, you could book a rock climbing tour.
10. Take a Scenic Flight
Squamish is beautiful from the ground, but from the air it is magnificent (or so I can imagine). A scenic flight over the beautiful Garibaldi Provincial Park has been on my bucket list since I first visited the area.
During the guided flight, you get to see stunning turquoise coloured, glacial lakes, rivers and forests as well as huge mountain peaks alongside unique volcanic formations. The flight will also take you past popular hiking sites such as Garibaldi Lake and Black Tusk Mountain.
This tour is super popular so make sure you book WELL AHEAD OF TIME – Check availability and prices here
11. Visit Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park
Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park is a really special park and one that we only heard about very recently! It is 755-hectares and was created to protect a bald eagle habitat for feeding, perching, and roosting.
Because the park was created to protect the eagles, it is closed to the public between October and March every year. This allows the eagles to feed and rest during the harsh winter season.
Outside of these months, we recommend visiting the Eagle Run Viewing Shelter which is one of the best places to see the eagles from. The best time to see the eagles is in the morning. There are also lots of other areas to see the eagles from. You can get a map and more information on these spots from the Squamish Adventure Centre.
12. Have a go at the Squamish via Ferrata
Join a tour at the Sea to Sky Gondola to experience the thrill of safely rock climbing using a fixed cable system. On this tour, you will see incredible views of Howe Sound and the snow capped Sky Pilot Mountain. While under the instruction of the tour leader, you will navigate across bridges, a catwalk and granite.
13. Take a sailing trip out into the Howe Sound
Experience Squamish and see the surrounding areas from the bright turquoise water of Howe Sound on this bucket list 3 hour sailing trip!
You might even see whales or dolphins!
Our Thoughts
Personally, we think Squamish is so underrated and will likely get more and more popular in the next few years. It is a beautiful area and a great alternative to Whistler as it is so much more convenient to reach from Vancouver. We will continue to adventure in Squamish again and again.
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