The Best Things to do in Squamish (By a Local)

Squamish, BC is known as the adventure capital of Canada… and it’s also been my hometown for the last five years. You’ll find Squamish halfway between Whistler and Vancouver, sandwiched between the ocean and the mountains. While outdoor sports are the main draw, there are tons of things to do in Squamish.

I’ve been visiting Squamish my whole life since I grew up in nearby Vancouver. I liked it so much that I moved here full time five years ago. I’m mostly a hiker, so you’ll find lots of outdoorsy recommendations in this post. But I’ve got activities for all types of visitors too.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

The Best Things to Do in Squamish

There are almost too many things to choose from on this list of Squamish activities. So I’ll start with my totally biased local’s opinion and give you my picks for the best Squamish things to do. If I have friends visiting, these are the things I always recommend.

Sea to Sky Gondola

I have an annual pass for the Sea to Sky Gondola and have been up countless times, but each time the view takes my breath away. The gondola takes you from sea level up into the mountains.

The deck at the lodge is an incredible place for lunch as you gaze down to the waters of Howe Sound and across to the surrounding mountains. You can also brave the Sky Pilot Suspension bridge.

There are several easy walking trails near the lodge. Don’t miss the Panorama Trail which leads to a spectacular viewing platform.

If you’re an avid hiker, the Sea to Sky Gondola is a fast way to get up into the mountains. My favourite hike leaving from the lodge is the Al’s Habrich Ridge trail which scrambles up over granite bluffs to subalpine terrain and viewpoints.

Save time and book your admission ticket in advance.

Shannon Falls

Don’t miss Shannon Falls. It’s one of the highest waterfalls in BC at 335 m tall. You can reach the base on a short (but steep) 5-minute walk. There are two different viewing platforms. The lower one (pictured below) has a slightly better view and doesn’t have any stairs.

The parking lot here is small and often fills up in the afternoon. Plan to go early in the day or after dinner and you should be able to get a spot.

Sp’akw’us Feather Park

If you’re looking for the best views in Squamish, head to Sp’akw’us Feather Park. It’s just south of downtown in what will eventually be the Oceanfront neighbourhood. (Right now it’s just an industrial area and some construction sites that will be condos.)

The park opened in 2024 and is honestly one of the nicest city parks I’ve been to. The main reason is the incredible view: You can see the Stawamus Chief, Shannon Falls, and Howe Sound. The park also has some cool public art (the balancing boulder is my fave) and the best playground in Squamish.

Heads up: This is the windiest spot in Squamish, especially in the afternoon and early evening. Bring a jacket, even on a hot day. You’ll be freezing without one.

You can get to Feather Park via a 20 minute walk on a paved multi-use path from downtown or you can drive. In the summer you can also take the bus.

Hiking

Hiking is the reason I moved to Squamish a few years ago. Before that, I used to drive to Squamish pretty often to go hiking.

Squamish has tons of hiking trails. There is something for everyone with hiking ranging from beginner to expert. There are easy trails in the valley bottom, steep hikes to peaks, and lots of waterfalls.

For an easy hike with great mountain views, I recommend the trails at Brohm Lake. For a moderate hike, check out Al’s Habrich Trail or Mount Crumpit. It’s a local favourite and has great views. Some of my favourite challenging hikes are High Falls Creek, Watersprite Lake and the Stawamus Chief.

For a full guide to over 20 hiking trails near Squamish, check out my list of the best hikes in Squamish over on my outdoor adventure website.

If you want a local guide to show you the trails, sign up for a hiking tour. For example, you can hike up the Stawamus Chief, then go to a craft brewery afterward.

Downtown Squamish

A decade ago, downtown Squamish was fairly sleepy. These days it is packed with cute boutiques, gear stores, great restaurants and lots of public art. Take a stroll down Cleveland Avenue to window shop. Be sure to head one block over to 2nd Avenue as well as it has some great newer shops.

Billie’s House is our local florist, but they also have housewares and gifts. I love their cute planters. Empire of Dirt has an eclectic mix of gifts, vintage, furniture, and housewares. I love the aesthetically pleasing interior of Grateful Gift Shop. They have a coffee bar too.

If you’re looking for books, head to Gather Books and Book Mountain. They are a few blocks apart on 2nd Avenue. Gather has lots of kids books and a curated selection of books for grownups. Book Mountain is mostly a used bookstore, but they have some newer books too.

Squamish was not where I expected to find world-class chocolate… but it’s here at Xoco Chocolate. They make incredible chocolate bars and gift boxes. You can also buy chocolates a la carte, which is a great way to try their flavours. I love their passion fruit and salted caramel flavours.

Lakes and Beaches

There are lots of beautiful lakes near Squamish, and most of them are fairly warm, which makes them great for swimming. There are also a few ocean beaches, but be warned – the ocean and rivers are very cold! Parking is limited at many of these places, so go early to get a spot on summer weekends.

On a summer afternoon, heading to the lake to hang out, go for a swim, or paddle around on my SUP is one of my favourite activities.

• Alice Lake is the best place to swim in Squamish. It has a sandy beach, docks to jump off of, and fairly warm water. There is lots of parking too. (Although it does fill up!) This is my go-to swimming lake.
• Brohm Lake doesn’t have a beach, but it does have lots of granite outcroppings that lead into the water. If you are adventurous, you can even jump off the cliffs. I would go here more often it if wasn’t so hard to get parking. Instead, I like to hike in via the Thompson Trail on the backside of the lake.
• Porteau Cove between Squamish and Vancouver has a pretty pebble beach on the ocean and is popular with SCUBA divers. The water is freezing though!
• Browning Lake at Murrin Provincial Park is tiny, which makes the water really warm. It’s a popular spot for inflatable floaties on hot days. However, the nearby highway is noisy and parking is limited.
• Cat Lake is another great place for a swim. There are three docks around the lake perfect for cannonballs. Access is via a short gravel road, but it’s fine for all cars. Caution: This is party central on the weekend.
• Sp’akw’us Feather Park has a small oceanfront beach. It’s located next to the port and is VERY windy, so it’s best for quick cold plunges rather than swimming.
• The Squamish and Mamquam Rivers have sandbars that locals love to sunbathe on. But the water is freezing and the current is strong, so be careful. There are river access points in town as well as on the logging roads outside of town.

Drink at Craft Breweries and Cideries

Squamish has a strong craft brewing culture, dating back to the opening of Howe Sound Brewing downtown in 1996. It’s a huge space with a big menu and a good patio. It used to be the coolest place in Squamish, but other spots hold that crown now.

Cliffside Cider is at the south edge of downtown, kind of tucked away in an alley so it feels like a local’s secret. They have a food truck on site.

House of Lager opened recently at Sp’akw’us Feather Park in a stunning new building with an incredible view. Their beer menu is small (just lager) but their food is great. It’s noisy in there though.

Head over to the industrial park to visit my favourite, Backcountry Brewing. Their wood fired pizza is amazing, their beers are creative, and they have tons of seating.

Nearby A-Frame Brewing is a bit more laidback and has a great outdoor space. Their food truck. Flipside Burgers, has some of the best (and messiest) burgers in town.

Geo Cider is a few doors down from Backcountry Brewing. Their Mexican food is great.

Hike the Stawamus Chief

Yes, hiking has its own entry on this list, but the Stawamus Chief is special enough to call out as its own activity. This 700-meter-tall (2297 ft) granite outcropping looms over the town of Squamish.

The mountain is named after the Squamish village of Stawamus (St’a7mes) at its foot. In the Squamish language, it is known as Siám’ Smánit and is said to be a longhouse transformed to stone by Xáays, the Transformer Brothers.

Rock climbers scale the sheer face of the chief, but hikers can climb steep trails up the backside. The hike is short, but the route is very challenging with lots of stairs. In some places you will use ladders and chains to scramble uphill, so it is best for experienced hikers only.

Mountain Biking

Squamish is surrounded by hundreds of kilometres of mountain bike trails with more added each year. The trails range from green (easy) to double black and pro-line (expert only). I did a bit of crosscountry riding as a kid, and then started mountain biking as an adult once I moved to Squamish.

The trails here are pretty intimidating – there aren’t a lot of good options for beginners. But you can still find some gems. If you’re a beginner/intermediate like me, I recommend Miki’s Magic and Cardrona in the Alice Lake Zone. They’re both easy blues.

The Diamond Head Zone above Quest University is the most popular since the gravel roads let you shuttle. You’ll find mostly hand-built trails and steep granite slabs in the Alice Lake/Garibaldi Highlands zone. The quiet trails in the Valleycliffe zone are mostly cross-country riding. Beginners should head to the Brackendale zone since it has mostly green trails.

The Trailforks app is essential for navigating as it can be a bit of a maze. It’s updated regularly by volunteers with the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA) to make sure trail info and conditions are correct. If you ride in here, consider becoming a SORCA member or making a donation.

RideHub has bike rentals and they also offer guided trips and lessons. I took a lesson with them when I was just starting and it helped a lot. Their coffee shop is also great.

Smoke Bluffs Park

This city park is right next to downtown, but you won’t find baseball diamonds or playgrounds – this is a Squamish-style park. Smoke Bluffs Park is home to some of the best rock climbing in town, and even if you don’t climb, it’s fun to watch.

The trails between the rock faces (which climbers call crags) are also a great place to go for a short hike or trail run. The best part is the incredible vistas of downtown, Howe Sound, and the Stawamus Chief from the Viewpoint Trail.

Garibaldi Provincial Park

Garibaldi Provincial Park is huge, spanning 1,950 square kilometres of mountain wilderness northwest of Squamish. I think it has the best scenery in BC, and it’s my favourite place in the whole world. (I love it so much that I am the current president of the Friends of Garibaldi Park Society, a non-profit that does trail maintenance and advocacy work.)

To see the park, you will need to hike. The closest access point to town is Elfin Lakes, a 22km round trip hike. North of Squamish, you can make the 18 km round-trip hike to Garibaldi Lake.

Both trails have backcountry campgrounds and additional trails for more exploring. You can find details about both of these hikes, as well as four others in Garibaldi Provincial Park, in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.

Whitewater Rafting

The snowy mountains outside of town unleash torrents of meltwater each spring and summer, feeding the Squamish, Elaho, and Cheakamus Rivers.

If you’re up for a full-day adrenaline-pumping adventure, book the Wet and Wild Elaho Exhilarator trip with Canadian Outback Rafting.

For something fun, but a bit less intense, Canadian Outback Rafting offers the family-friendly Cheakamus Splash trip.

Rock Climbing

Squamish is world-famous for rock climbing. The most well-known spot is the huge granite face of the Stawamus Chief. But climbers also head to Crags in Smoke Bluffs Park and Murrin Provincial Park. The Grand Wall boulders at the foot of the Chief are the best place to go bouldering. There are also lots of smaller crags outside of town.

If you’re a beginner, going with a guide is a good idea. Squamish Rock Guides, Altus Mountain Guides, Mountain Skills Academy, and Canada West Mountain School all offer guided tours for all abilities.

Experienced climbers can find local routes on theCrag or Mountain Project. Or stop in to Climb On Equipment to pick up a guidebook or chat with the helpful staff.

Flightseeing

Squamish has a small airport which makes a great base for flightseeing tours of the surrounding mountains.

I did the 35-minute Squamish Explorer Flightseeing Tour. It takes you over the top of Garibaldi Lake, the Black Tusk, and Mount Garibaldi (Nch’day), some of the most iconic features in the mountains north of Squamish. You’ll also get great views of the town and the Stawamus Chief. The price is pretty reasonable too.

If you’re up for a longer tour, book the Whistler Backcountry Flightseeing Tour. It is 50 minutes long and includes the same scenery as the Squamish Explorer, plus the Whistler area further north.

I really want to try the Alpine Lake Flightseeing Experience. You take a floatplane that lands on a remote alpine late below the Tzoonie Glacier. Your trip allows time to walk to a waterfall and even go for a swim.

Porteau Cove Provincial Park

Located 20 minutes south of Squamish, the small Porteau Cove Provincial Park is wedged between the Sea to Sky Highway and the deep waters of Howe Sound. The day use has a pier with incredible views of the surrounding mountains and ocean. Wander further into the park past the campground to find a short trail to a clifftop viewpoint

Whistler

World-famous Whistler is just 45 minutes away from Squamish. It makes a great day trip to ski, mountain bike, hike, or just explore the shops and restaurants in the pedestrian village. I head up there about once a month.

My favourite things to do in Whistler include hiking, the Scandinave Spa, and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Read my full list of things to do in Whistler for 80 more ideas.

Drive the Sea to Sky Highway

Squamish is right in the middle of the Sea to Sky Highway, as Highway 99 between Vancouver and Whistler is known. I’ve driven this road dozens of times and has some of the most spectacular scenery around.

You can speed through the trip in two hours, but it’s better to spend a full day or even two to take in the viewpoints, hikes, and side trips.

I’ve got a full Sea to Sky Highway Roadtrip guide on my outdoor adventure website that has all the must-see spots.

Britannia Mine Museum

The village of Britannia Beach is 10 minutes south of Squamish. It used to be home to the largest copper mine in the British Commonwealth, but today the mine is a fun interactive museum.

You can go on an underground mine tour on a train, pan for gold, and wander through the old buildings. They also have a new interactive show called BOOM!, which is really well done. I also love the historical displays that hearken back to a time when the only access was by boat.

Save time and book your museum admission ticket in advance. It includes the BOOM! experience.

Railway Museum of British Columbia

This sprawling train museum is open in summer and for special events like Thomas the Tank Engine and Polar Express the rest of the year. They have over 90 vintage train cars, engines and parts, some of which date back over 100 years. Their miniature railway is also popular with kids.

Brackendale Art Gallery

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, the Brackendale Art Gallery is a hub for artists and musicians. They host exhibitions, live music, and workshops. In January, they are also the home of the Brackendale Winter Eagle Festival. As of early 2023, it is under new management as the original owners have retired.

Bakeries

For a small town, Squamish has a lot of bakeries, and after a LOT of research, I can confirm that they are all amazing.

Sunflower Bakery and Cafe downtown is great for bread, doughnuts, and other treats. Fox and Oak, also downtown, is a hipster doughnut shop, but sooo delicious.

In the industrial park, Tall Tree Bakery has the best bread but go early as they sell out. purebread in Garibaldi Estate has a huge and amazing bakery case. I love their brownies.

Whew! We made it to the bottom of this huge list of things to do in Squamish. As a local, I know you’ll love it here as much as I do. What’s your favourite Squamish activity? Tell me in the comments.

READ NEXT:

• 10 Best Hotels in Squamish
• Sea to Sky Highway Road Trip Guide: Driving from Vancouver to Whistler
• The Best Hikes in Squamish, BC (From a Local)
• Squamish Canyon at Mamquam Falls: Is it Worth it?
• Camping in Squamish, BC: 22 Places to Camp Near Squamish
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish
• 80+ Things to Do in Whistler (By a Local)