Squamish

Around Squamish

Photo: Straitgate · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · British Columbia · 24k people

Squamish

Locals say Sea to Sky · “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada”, “The Stawamus Chief's backyard”

Where the mountains meet the sea, and every day is an adventure.

Deep pine greenGlacier blueSunset gold

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Welcome to the Sea to Sky corridor, where the mountains drop straight into the ocean. Whether you're here for the climbing, the biking, or just the view of the Chief from the highway, you'll find a community that lives for the outdoors. Grab a coffee, hit a trail, and say hi—we're friendly.

Clubs for Squamish

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The room

One room for everyone around Squamish. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Squamish. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Britannia Mine Museum A historic copper mine turned interactive museum, a short drive from Squamish.
  • Garibaldi Provincial Park Alpine lakes, glaciers, and backcountry trails, the backyard playground.
  • Shannon Falls One of BC's tallest waterfalls, just off the Sea to Sky Highway.
  • Sea to Sky Gondola A gondola ride to panoramic views, hiking trails, and a suspension bridge.
  • Stawamus Chief A massive granite monolith, a world-class climbing and hiking destination.
  • Whistler Blackcomb One of North America's largest ski resorts, with summer gondola rides and alpine activities.
  • Outdoors Hike the Stawamus Chief
  • Outdoors Mountain bike on the Valley Trail
  • With kids Hike to Shannon Falls
  • With kids Britannia Mine Museum
  • Evenings Après-ski bars
  • Evenings Brewery taprooms
  • Locals love Climbing crags
  • Locals love Craft breweries

Through the year

  • Whistler World Ski and Snowboard Festival April A week of ski competitions, concerts, and film screenings in Whistler Village.
  • Test of Metal June A legendary mountain bike race through Squamish's toughest trails, drawing riders from across BC.
  • Squamish Days August Community celebration with loggers sports, a parade, and family activities in downtown Squamish.
  • Pemberton Slow Food Cycle August A bike tour of local farms and food producers in the Pemberton Valley, with tastings along the way.
  • Sea to Sky Gondola Summer Events Summer Seasonal events like sunrise yoga and live music on the summit plaza.

Coastal mountain climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The best time to be out is from late spring to early fall for outdoor activities, and winter for snow sports. Best: Summer (July–September) is ideal for hiking, biking, and swimming, with long sunny days. Winter (December–March) brings snow to the mountains for skiing and snowboarding.

Talk like a local

“Sea to Sky”
The region around Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton, named after the scenic highway.
“The Chief”
The Stawamus Chief, the iconic mountain overlooking Squamish.
“Squampton”
A playful nickname for Squamish, blending it with Vancouver.
“The Village”
Whistler Village, the pedestrian-only core of the resort town.

Getaways

  • Vancouver City food, museums, and Stanley Park, about an hour south.
  • Nanaimo Harbour city on Vancouver Island, a short ferry ride away.
  • Parksville Beaches and family resorts on Vancouver Island.
  • Abbotsford–Mission Farmland and the Fraser Valley's outdoor markets.

Local flavour

Rooting for Vancouver Canucks (NHL), BC Lions (CFL), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS), Vancouver Giants (WHL)

Eat and drink

  • Craft beer and farm-to-table bites Squamish and Whistler have a strong brewery scene and restaurants highlighting local ingredients.
  • Mountain-town poutine Though not Quebec-style, many local pubs serve their own loaded fries and poutine as après-ski comfort food.
  • Wild salmon Fresh Pacific salmon, often grilled or smoked, is a regional staple.

Where people go

  • Ski resorts and backcountry lodges Whistler Blackcomb is world-renowned; nearby backcountry huts and cat-skiing operations define the region.
  • Climbing crags and bouldering fields The Stawamus Chief, Smoke Bluffs, and other granite formations are meccas for climbers.
  • Brewpubs and après-ski bars After a day outdoors, locals gather at breweries and casual pubs for local craft beer and comfort food.
  • Mountain trails and waterfalls From the Sea to Sky Gondola to the many provincial parks, trails and viewpoints are everywhere.

Heritage and traditions

The Sea to Sky region is proud of its dramatic mountain-and-fjord landscape, its outdoor adventure culture, and the deep-rooted Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations heritage.

This time of year in Squamish

  • Pemberton harvest September to October Farm stalls and fall fairs.

Say it like a local: “Après” — After-ski socializing

Festivals

  • Whistler Cornucopia November Food and wine festival with tastings and chef events.
  • Whistler Film Festival December Showcases Canadian and international films.
  • Whistler Pride and Ski Festival January/February LGBTQ+ winter celebration with skiing and parties.
  • Pemberton Fall Fair September Agricultural fair with livestock and local produce.
  • Whistler Children's Art Festival July Hands-on art activities for kids in the village.

Landmarks with a story

  • Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre Museum and cultural centre showcasing the two First Nations.
  • Whistler Museum Local history museum tracing the development of the resort.
  • Pemberton Museum Local history museum with pioneer artifacts.

Food traditions

  • Salmon BBQ Traditional First Nations style cooking salmon on open fire, often at community events.
  • Bannock A type of flatbread, a staple of Indigenous cuisine.
  • Pemberton Valley produce Known for potatoes, corn, and other vegetables, celebrated at the Slow Food Cycle.
  • Après-ski comfort food Hearty stews, chili, and poutine enjoyed after a day on the slopes.

Music and arts

  • Indigenous carving and weaving Squamish and Lil'wat traditions of totem carving and cedar weaving.
  • Whistler Writers Festival Literary arts festival featuring Canadian authors.
  • Outdoor-inspired art scene Photography and painting capturing the mountain landscape.

A little history

  • Pre-contact Indigenous habitation for thousands of years by Squamish and Lil'wat peoples.
  • 1910s Pacific Great Eastern Railway opened the area.
  • 1960s Whistler developed as a ski resort.
  • 2010 Whistler co-hosted the Winter Olympics.
  • Game day Test of Metal
  • Game day Whistler GranFondo
  • Outdoors Snowshoeing at Lost Lake
  • Outdoors Cross-country skiing at Whistler Olympic Park
  • With kids Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
  • With kids Whistler Olympic Park

Locals speak with a relaxed Canadian accent, often using outdoor slang and indigenous place names. Key terms include 'the Chief' for Stawamus Chief, 'the Spit' for the kitesurfing sandbar, and 'the Smoke Bluffs' for the climbing crags.

Only here

  • The Stawamus Chief is one of the largest granite monoliths in the world.
  • Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America.
  • The 2010 Winter Olympics were co-hosted here.
  • The Squamish and Lil'wat nations are part of the Four Host First Nations.
New here? A few tips
  • Learn to pronounce Squamish (SKWA-mish) and Whistler (WISS-ler).
  • Be prepared for rain at lower elevations and snow at higher; dress in layers.
  • The Sea to Sky Highway can be busy on weekends; leave early.
  • Respect indigenous culture and land; visit the cultural centre.
  • Try local craft beer and farm produce.

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Nearby

Every area
WhistlerBritish ColumbiaWhere rivers run gold and peaks touch the skyVancouverBritish ColumbiaWhere the sea meets the skySunshine CoastBritish ColumbiaWhere the forest meets the tide.NanaimoBritish ColumbiaIsland life, harbour charmCentral IslandBritish ColumbiaSalt air, old growth, and small-town warmthLadysmithBritish ColumbiaA friendly harbour on the edge of the wild.ParksvilleBritish ColumbiaWhere the forest meets the sea, and time slows down.Abbotsford–MissionBritish ColumbiaWhere the Fraser Valley feels like home.

Squamish. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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