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HIKING
Hiking
trails
ranging from easy walks to strenuous backcountry adventures 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 good to great hikes close to Squamish,
some of the best and most popular hikes in Canada. A few of them
The Chief, Henrietta Lake, Elfin Lakes, and Garibaldi Lake & Black
Tusk are truly outstanding 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.
Elfin
Lakes & Mamquam Lake, Diamond Head This is an outstanding
day hike in the area, the main difficulty is that it is far (16
km on a gravel road) from the highway and thus the only way to
get there is by car. That said, this hike is not as steep as the
others and the panoramic views through alpine meadows start early
and continue for most of the hike as you traverse across the valley
from Mount Garibaldi. There is often quite a bit of snow still
on the ground here even into August. The trail is well marked
to Elfin Lakes which is the recommended destination for an great
day hike. There are picnic tables and phenomenal views from here.
Take a dip in the small, very cold lakes if you dare. Allow 6
- 7 hours.
There is a shelter and campground at Elfin Lakes if you plan an
overnight hike. Popular destinations from here might be Mamquam
Lake, another 8 hours return trip from Elfin Lakes. Opal Cone,
Little Diamond Head, or the Gargoyles are also possible long day
trips or overnight trips in this area. Mount Garibaldi (8787 ft)
is also a possibility, but only for experienced climbing parties
and only at certain times of the year.
Alice
Lake and Murrin Lake are great short walks and are easily
accessible from Hwy 99. The Four Lakes Trail is a good two hour
walk which begins at Alice Lake. For the experienced hiker try
Garibaldi Provincial Park, also a great hike in winter but you
must bring skis or snow shoes.
The
Squamish River Estuary 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 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.
There
is also Lake Lovely Water in Tantalus Provincial Park, Deeks Lake
and Shannon Falls.
Henrietta
Lake & Mount Roderick
This is a great hike on the much less travelled (virtually isolated)
side of Howe Sound. If you really want to get away from the crowds,
this hike is for you. An added bonus is the free ferry ride across
Howe Sound. The ferry leaves from Darrell Bay, a few km south
of the Hostel and across from Shannon Falls. The ferry goes every
hour or so (schedule is at the hostel) to the pulp mill on the
other side of the Sound. Go to the First Aid building to sign
in, then begin the hike up the gravel road (right then left at
the top of the wood covered staircase you can see from the First
Aid office. The route continues up the main gravel road for a
while, then after crossing a narrow bridge heads through dense
forest – rugged but easily passable. The trail is well marked.
Decades ago there was some logging in the area, and there are
still some relics of this era along the trail. After perhaps an
hour you arrive at a dam, cabin, and Henrietta Lake. This is a
great destination and a fine place to relax and have lunch. Fishing
is rumoured to be good.
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
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