Squamish revels in great outdoors
The Stawamus Chief, or the “Chief,” a sheer cliff rising dramatically on our right and a landmark and renowned magnet for rock climbers, meant we were about to reach Squamish. It’s at the head of 26- mile- long Howe Sound, a community of 20,000 that has morphed in recent years from a sleepy former logging town into one of British Columbia’s premier adrenaline centers.
“We’re pretty much known as the ‘ bathroom break’ halfway between Vancouver and Whistler,” said Jessamy Freese, owner of Sunwolf, a riverside cabin resort. “Most people don’t realize what they’re missing here.”
Squamish calls itself the outdoor recreation capital of Canada. It’s a hot spot among rock climbers, white- water rafters, kite- boarders and mountain bikers. The town’s proximity to Vancouver and reasonable housing have created a youth boom: 60% of the population is under 40.
Low- key Squamish also is known for its lively Saturday farmers market and the brew and gastropub at the Howe Sound Inn& Brewing Co.
The Chief is amajor draw for hikers who tackle the sixmile, round- trip trek up and over the top for its amazing views of the sound and the glacier- capped mountains to the north. It’s one of the province’s most popular day hikes.
In May those amazing vistas finally became accessible to all — even those in wheelchairs — with the launch of the Sea to Sky Gondola soaring 2,900 feet alongside the Chief into the spectacular coastal ranges. Injust 10 minutes you’re whisked into terrain once the domain of only hikers, climbers and backcountry skiers.
At a cafe/ restaurant you can dine on local cuisine, as well as take in the panoramic views from decks jutting over the cliff edge. A dizzying suspension bridge leads to easy interpretive trails that wind into the forest, with the stark white Sky Pilot Mountain as a backdrop.
For hard- core back country enthusiasts the gondola is a blessing too, trimming four to five hours of hard climbing off the trail time to hook into multiday hikes in neighboring Garibaldi Provincial Park.