Live, Love + Squamish.
Oh, Squamish, you were a joy to explore.
Our time in Squamish felt like a true Texas spring day—sunny and in the 70s! This charming town is less than an hour's drive from Vancouver, along the poetically named Sea to Sky Highway, where the coastal mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. Nestled between Vancouver and Whistler in British Columbia, Squamish is where the Pacific Ocean meets spectacular mountains, cascading waterfalls, wildlife, and endless views. It’s no wonder Squamish has earned the title of the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.
Squamish is home to both black bears and grizzly bears, so remember to carry bear spray and make noise while hiking to reduce the risk of a negative bear encounter.
Sea to Sky Gondola
The Squamish Valley is surrounded by beautiful ocean views and coastal mountains, and since the Sea to Sky Gondola opened in 2014, anyone can easily access stunning aerial views of the area. After a 10-minute ride up, you can take photos at the viewpoints, walk across the suspension bridge, and take in the scenery on one of the many hikes.
We explored several hikes at the top, including:
Alpine Alley: Our favorite hike of the day! Part scavenger hunt, part adventure park, this 0.3-mile trail is fun for all ages. The kids loved crawling through the “animal burrow” tunnel, sliding, and “rock climbing.” Keep an eye out for the 10 pieces of gear hidden along the trail, and learn about local wildlife along the way.
Panorama Trail: This easy 0.8-mile loop took about 45 minutes to complete. It’s the most scenic of all the trails at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola, with several spur trails leading to viewpoints.
Spirit Trail: A short, easy trail with minimal elevation change and breathtaking views of Atl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound, Sky Pilot, and Goat Ridge. The Spirit Trail can be accessed from both the Backyard Plaza and the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge. Interpretive signage along the trail provides information on the area’s history, wildlife, and alpine vegetation.
Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge
The Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge is approximately 330 feet long and offers a thrilling experience, with a backdrop that falls away thousands of feet below. You’ll enjoy amazing 360-degree views of the surrounding area, from the high alpine mountains above to Howe Sound below.
Summit Lodge
The Summit Lodge features a large octagonal viewing deck and houses the Sky Pilot Restaurant and Co-Pilot Cafe. Down the stairs is Bodhi’s Sugar Shack, where you can grab ice cream cones and other treats. There’s also a playground and slackline for the kids, and a patio with tables where you can relax and enjoy a snack. The kids loved the bakery items, especially since they got to eat inside a gondola—well, a retired one that’s been turned into a picnic table, but still very cool. I enjoyed a delicious coffee and bread pudding, while the kids loved the chocolate milk and cinnamon rolls.
Downtown Squamish
Downtown Squamish is a super cute town with boutique shops, food trucks, and quaint restaurants. We found some cool street art worth taking selfies in front of before heading to our next adventure: the Britannia Mine Museum!
Britannia Mine Museum
The Britannia Mine Museum is just 10 minutes south of Squamish, and it’s a must-visit if you’re in the area. Kids and adults alike will love this historic site. The highlight is the underground tour, where we donned hard hats and took a short ride in a transport car into the tunnels to learn about copper mining. We saw the machines they used and got a glimpse into what it was like to work there. After the 45-minute tour, we headed to the imposing 20-story mill to catch the BOOM! show—a multimedia presentation that brings the old mill back to life with video, sound, visual effects, olfactory effects, and a detailed recreation of the mine’s original skip, a 3-ton rail car that hauled equipment 360 feet up and down the mill’s 45-degree angle track. Don’t forget jackets—it’s about 55 degrees in the mine area.
Recap
Our day in Squamish was short but incredibly rewarding. We felt like we experienced the best of the area, blessed to visit this spectacular natural setting at the north end of Howe Sound, where rugged landscapes and stunning vistas come together to create a unique and memorable location.
Let me share a lesson I learned today before I close this post. My sweet boy Foster has a deep love for dirt—seriously, he LOVES it. After our first walk across the suspension bridge, he decided to climb, or rather scale, a rock (with help from a legit experienced rock climber). Yep, it wasn't until my flying boy landed safely in my arms from the top of that rock that I noticed the tiniest sign reading, "Do Not Climb On This Rock." (- mom points).
I turned my back to take some pictures of the gorgeous viewpoint, and from the corner of my eye, I saw a giant poof of dirt flying into the sky. Foster wasn’t near anyone else to get them dirty, but he was absolutely coated in brown. I got onto him for getting so dirty just 20 minutes into our day, thinking, "He’s going to be so messy for all our pictures."
That’s when the “legit experienced rock climber” made a comment that struck me: “Let him get dirty. It just means he’s having fun in the great outdoors.” I thanked him for that reminder because I really needed it. We're on this year-long adventure to explore, to hike, to love our world, ourselves, and to have fun. This super-dirty, mud-caked boy, with mud on his shoes and face, is truly having the best time of his life. For him, dirt, rocks, sticks, and water are pure heaven!