Hiking trails ranging from easy walks, to strenuous backcountry adventures are abound in the Squamish area. The most popular day hike in B.C. is the one to three hour Stairmaster excursion up the backside of the Stawamus Chief.
There are about a dozen great hikes close to Squamish, some of the best and most popular hikes in Canada. A few of them include; Stawamus Chief, Henrietta Lake, Elfin Lakes, and Garibaldi Lake & Black Tusk. These are truly outstanding hikes and should not be missed by the hiking enthusiast visiting this area. Due to the mild coastal climate of the area, many of these hikes can be done year round.
Four Lakes Trail: Alice Lake
The Four Lakes Trail is a fantastic two hour walk which begins at Alice Lake.
Visit the BC Parks website for more information on Alice Lake.
Murrin Lake
Visit the BC Parks website for more information on Murrin Lake.
Squamish River Estuary
This is an amazing place to see wildlife. The hike itself takes just under an hour but plan on more time as you will want to stop to observe the ducks, herons, hawks, bald eagles and trumpeter swans.
Brohm Lake Interpretive Forest
This has over 11km of connecting trails, all categorized from easy or moderate to steep. These trails combine hiking with an education in forestry practices and wildlife management.
Garibaldi Park
For the experienced hiker try Garibaldi Provincial Park which contains several lakes and hikes. Included in the Garibaldi Provincial Park area are: Diamond Head and Elfin Lakes , Garibaldi Lake, Cheakamus Lake, and the Singing Pass area. Some of these areas are for the more experienced hiker and weather conditions vary.
Please visit Garibaldi Parks website for more detailed information.
Henrietta Lake & Mount Roderick
Unlike various trails in Garibaldi Park, Henrietta Lake and beyond are rarely visited by more than a couple groups at a time. The route to Henrietta Lake follows a service road behind the now-defunct Woodfibre pulp mill. The service road will take you steeply up through a series of switchbacks, under a large power line and up into the Woodfibre Creek Valley quickly leaving the sights, sounds and memory of heavy industry behind.
Unfortunately, the trailhead is no longer serviced by ferry from Darrell Bay. Instead, you’ll have to arrange private transportation across Howe Sound from Squamish. Contact Jay Bicknell [1-866-466-BOAT or 1-604-815-9647].
Always hike in groups of two or more and watch for animal tracks. Remember this is home for many animals. Most of the trails in Squamish are volunteer built and maintained. The non-profit Squamish Trails Society acts as an advocacy umbrella organization for trail issues in Squamish. For more information, or if you would like to get involved, please contact the Squamish Trails Society.
