Squamish
Scenic Hub for Outdoor Recreation
Story by David Burke | Images by Joern Rohde
One doesn't need to look around Squamish for long to see why it has been one of Canada’s fastest-growing communities for the past couple of decades. For many first-time visitors, the imposing face of the 702-metre (2,303-foot) Stawamus Chief is the first clue; after that, there’s the jaw-dropping scenery at the northern end of Howe Sound (Átl’ka7tsem in the Squamish language) that includes the 2,678 m (8,787 ft.) Mount Garibaldi (Nch’ḵay̓) and 335 m (1,099 ft.) Shannon Falls.
Given all that and its proximity to Vancouver and Whistler, is it any surprise that Squamish’s population swelled by 46.8 per cent from 2016 to 2023 and now numbers approximately 29,000?
Access to nature is the biggest reason Squamish has become such a mecca for outdoor recreation; it’s well known as a haven for rock climbers, mountain bikers (it’s home to current downhill world champion Jackson Goldstone and enduro world champ Elly Hoskin) and wind sports enthusiasts — most of whom know that in the local First Nations language, Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) means “mother of the wind.”
For millennia, the shores of Howe Sound have been home to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people, whose legends reverberate off of landmarks such as the Chief and Nch’ḵay̓. After Europeans arrived in the 1800s, the forest industry became the area’s primary economic driver. That industry remains influential, but between the 1980s and early 2000s, outdoor recreation and tourism gained prominence, and the community adopted the slogan “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.”
In 2021, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Howe Sound/Átl’ka7tsem as Canada’s 19th Biosphere Region, recognizing the area’s “rich Indigenous culture, biodiversity and distinct geography.” In recent years, efforts to rehabilitate Howe Sound’s environment have resulted in the restoration of salmon runs on the Squamish and Cheakamus rivers, and ever-more-frequent whale sightings in Howe Sound. exploresquamish.com
Opened in 2014, the Sea to Sky Gondola ascends 885 m (2,903 ft.) on a 10-minute ride to the Summit Lodge, where guests can enjoy stunning views of Howe Sound and the surrounding mountains. Hiking and (conditions permitting) backcountry skiing trails, suited for both a short walk or a longer trek, radiate out from the lodge, or you can just enjoy the views from its large, open deck along with a meal or a tall, cool one. The gondola also hosts numerous events. seatoskygondola.com
The 11-acre Sp’akw’us (Eagle) Feather Park, built on the site of a former chemical plant, is one of the community’s newest meeting places. Perched at the end of the Oceanfront Peninsula, with stunning views of the Chief and Howe Sound, it features the large “Welcome Gate” sculpture by local First Nations artist James Harry, representing the two ends of a Coast Salish canoe standing on end. Since the park’s opening in 2024, this sculpture has become one of Squamish’s most Instagrammable, look-where-I-am spots.
The park also features a playground in which structures are affixed with QR codes. Park visitors can use their phones to hear the voices of students at the nearby St’a7mus Elementary School, speaking about Squamish Nation art and legends.
Brackendale, Squamish’s northernmost neighbourhood, is known as the winter home of the bald eagle, attracting thousands to view the majestic raptors as they perch in the trees and feast on salmon from November to March.
In Britannia Beach, 11 kilometres (6.5 miles) to the south, the Britannia Mine Museum offers visitors a chance to pan for gold or ride an underground mine train in what was once the most productive copper mine in the British Empire. The award-winning “Boom!” is a multi-sensory, live-action presentation that brings the 102-year-old Mill No. 3 building back to life. In the Terra Lab, guests can learn about the history of human mineral extraction and practices that can reduce mining’s environmental impact. britanniaminemuseum.ca
Over the past few years, the variety of Squamish-based craft breweries, distilleries, and cideries has expanded, and the community features a wide range of excellent restaurants.
For more information about all Squamish offers, visit the Squamish Adventure Centre off Highway 99, or exploresquamish.com.