Squamish

History

The town of Squamish had its beginning during the construction of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in the 1910s. It was the first southern terminus of that railway (now a part of Canadian National Railway). The town remains important in the operations of the line and also the port. Forestry has traditionally been the main industry in the area, and the town's largest employer was the Western Forest Products pulp mill. However, Western Pulp's Squamish Operation shut down in 2006. Before the pulp mill, the town's largest employer had been International Forest Products' (Interfor) sawmill and logging operation, but it closed a few years prior to the pulp mill's closing.
Squamish has become popular with Vancouver and Whistler residents escaping the increased cost of living in those places, both less than one hour away by highway. Tourism is an increasingly important part of the town's economy, with an emphasis on outdoor recreation.

Climate

Squamish is one of the wettest inhabited locations in Canada, with over 2,200 millimetres (87 in) of rainfall per year, often falling in long stretches through the winter.

Squamish is on Highway 99, 60 km north of downtown Vancouver (about a 45-minute drive). The town is also served by bus:

• Perimeter Bus, +1 604-717-6600. Runs direct from Vancouver's airport to Squamish with their YVR-Squamish Express service. 6 daily departures in winter.
• YVR Skylynx, Direct bus service from Vancouver International Airport and Vancouver City Centre to Squamish. Between 4 to 8 daily departures depending on the season. $65 one-way; $110 round-trip.

Private aircraft can fly into .

Squamish sprawls over a large area for a town its size, so a car is the easiest way to get around.
BC Transit provides public transportation in Squamish.

• Eagle Run

  address: Government Rd, near the Easter Seal Camp
  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 Provincial Park

  address: Highway 99 & Shannon Falls Park Rd
  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

  phone: +1 604 898-9336
  address: 39645 Government Rd
  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.

• Alice Lake Provincial Park

  address: Alice Lake Rd
  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.
• Rafting - Squamish has amazing rafting on the Elaho and Squamish Rivers 40 km (25 miles) north of the town in the Squamish Valley. The rapids are class 3 and 4, including the spectacular "Devils Elbow". Canadian Outback Adventures is the primary outfitter in this region.

• Rock climbing - Squamish is world renowned among climbers. The towering granite monolith, the Stawamus Chief, serves as the primary draw. There are over 600 established routes in the area, most of them traditional in nature, requiring the placement of gear for protection. There are many sport routes in the area with fixed/bolted protection though the majority of sport climbing in the area is along the Squamish-Whistler corridor. The boulders located at the base of the Stawamus Chief are starting to attract many climbers. This is to be partially attributed to the climbing DVD Rampage starring Chris Sharma. There are several quality guide books available for the established climbers as well as several commercial guides for hire.

• Sea to Sky Gondola

  phone: +1 604 892-2550
  address: 36800 Hwy 99
  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 Halbrich. 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.

• Stawamus Chief Provincial Park

  address: Highway 99
  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.

• Garibaldi Springs Golf Club

  phone: +1 604 898-8356
  address: 40850 Tantalus Rd
  Club house and restaurant.

• Squamish Valley Golf & Country Club

  phone: +1 604 898-9691
  address: 2458 Mamquam Rd
  Club house, restaurant and proshop.

Along Highway 99 you'll find the usual fast food fare with a higher concentration near the city center exit.

• Dragon Terrace Chinese Restaurant

  phone: +1 604 892-3717
  address: 38037 Cleveland Ave
  Tasty Chinese meals at affordable prices.

• Howe Sound Brewpub

  phone: +1 604 892-2603
  address: 37801 Cleveland Ave
  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.

• Chieftain Pub

  phone: +1 604 892-9119
  address: 38005 Cleveland Ave

• Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company

  address: 37801 Cleveland Ave

• August Jack Motor Inn

  phone: +1 604 892-3504
  address: 37947 Cleveland Ave
  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.

• Sea To Sky Hotel

  phone: +1 604 898-4874
  address: 40330 Tantalus Way
  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.

Visiting other spots in the Sea to Sky corridor holds many sightseeing and recreation possibilities:

• Britannia Beach - 10 minutes south of Squamish by car. It has the BC Mining Museum and scuba diving can be done at nearby Porteau Cove.
• Garibaldi Provincial Park - hiking to beautiful alpine lakes and vistas.
• Whistler - 55 km north of town, Whistler is one of the biggest ski resorts in North America and an all-year playground of recreational activities.