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Municipality in Canada
Photo: Psi4ce at English Wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Squamish is a town of about 20,000 people (2016) in the Sea to Sky region of British Columbia half-way between Vancouver and Whistler. Squamish calls itself "the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada" due to the abundant rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, golf, fishing, kayaking, bouldering, white-water rafting, horseback riding, scuba diving and other activities readily available in the area.
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Between mid-November and late February, Squamish hosts hundreds of Bald Eagles who winter here and feast on the plentiful salmon coming up the rivers to spawn. The most popular viewing area is Eagle Run on the Squamish River. There are a number of interpretive displays and seats in the viewing area. Eaglewatch volunteers usually staff the viewing area on weekends from Dec to early Feb and may set up telescopes at the interpretive centre.
Shannon Falls are the third highest falls in British Columbia at 335 m. The main trail is a paved ten minute walk from the parking lot to a viewpoint at the bottom of the falls. Another, steeper trail (also about ten minutes), leads to a second viewpoint. There are also other hiking trails in the park and some rock climbing routes.
West Coast Railway Heritage Park
A treasure trove of old train paraphernalia reflecting Western Canada's Heritage. The star attraction is "The Royal Hudson", a steam train that is being restored there, but there are a variety of cars and locomotives to see and tour. The 3-km miniature train ride is good fun for kids of all ages.
Museum of the largest copper mine in British Columbia, with shop and cafe. Admission to the Britannia Mine Museum includes a 75-minute guided tour into the underground and Mill No.3 to watch the show BOOM! Tours run regularly throughout the day. Reservations are highly recommended.
Park set amidst forests, four lakes and mountains. The day use area at Alice Lake has a good number of picnic tables, a playground, a kids bike skills park, and two sandy beaches with swimming areas that are popular in summer. Boat rentals are also available daily on Alice Lake during the summer months. There is a variety of hiking trails from fairly flat and wide around Alice Lake to steeper climbs to viewpoints. Mountain biking is permitted on some trails within the park and a large number of trails outside the park's boundary.
Climb aboard a gondola for some great views of Howe Sound, the Chief and Squamish. The ride is 10-12 minutes and climbs 885 m up Mount Habrich. Up top, there is a chalet/restaurant, suspension bridge, some hiking trails and three viewing platforms. The Summit Lodge Viewing Deck is the most accessible (it's next to the restaurant and the top of the gondola) and provides views of Howe Sound. The nearby Spirit Viewing Platform also provides views of Howe Sound, as well as information on the local First Nations people. The Chief Overlook Viewing Platform, with possibly the best views, looks out over the Chief and the Squamish Valley. It is accessed by the 1.6-km Panorama Trail, which is fairly wide and mostly packed dirt but does involve some hilly terrain. From the chalet, there is also access to backcountry hiking, rock climbing and mountaineering. For those who want a workout, you can hike from the base of the gondola to the top and then pay to take the gondola down.
The park provides a number of hiking trails that lead to each of the three peaks on the Stawamus Chief. It takes some effort to get to the top but the views of Howe Sound and the Squamish River valley are outstanding. Hiking times range from 3-6 hours, with the hike to the first peak being the shortest.
Squamish Golf Club
Club house, restaurant and proshop.
Group sailing excursions (12 people) aboard a 40 ft sailing yacht in North America's southern-most fjord. Reliable winds from May to Sep. Private charters available.
Tasty Chinese meals at affordable prices.
Cute little restaurant with brunch and lunch dishes like eggs benedict, hashes, sandwiches and house specialties like home-made sausages, all mostly sourced from local farms. Part of the charm is the seating — there are some tables inside but most of the seating is outside at picnic tables set on their attractive grounds with lots of room for kids to run around. It's a pricey for a sandwich, but the food is good quality and the portions are a good size. The service can be very slow though when busy.
Brewpub known for its in-house beers. The menu has a selection of burgers, pizzas and normal pub favourites. Brunch is served on weekends and holidays. There is also a dining room with a different menu and an inn.
Non-descript on the outside but clean and functional rooms. There is high-speed internet in the lobby and most rooms can access the free Wi-Fi. Some rooms have kitchenettes.
Choose from standard rooms with two queen beds or one-bedroom suites. Rooms include microwave, mini-fridge and complimentary breakfast. Wireless internet is also available.
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