Squamish is an outdoor lovers playground and in this blog we are sharing with you our favorite things to do in Squamish, most of which involve the beautiful outdoors.
No matter how much time I spend in Squamish it never seems to be enough.
Located only an hour’s drive north of Vancouver, en route to world famous ski resort, Whistler, Squamish is easily accessible but still remains to be a hidden gem since most tourists tend to flock directly to Whistler without a second glance at the this small, scenic, mountain town.
What initially drew us to Squamish back in 2017 was its fame among the rock climbing world and as avid climbers, we were always looking for destinations that delivered versatile climbing opportunities. We came for the climbing but stayed for so many other reasons.
Surrounded by mountains, trails, rocks, lakes, and the iconic Stawamus Chief, Squamish has a little bit of everything as far as adventure goes and what makes it so cool, is not only the nature, but also the infrastructure, welcoming locals, good food, and outdoor culture.
Squamish is a home away from home for us and no matter how many times I visit, there is never enough time in Squamish
There are few places in the world that are comfortable enough for us to settle into a routine and in Squamish we do just that.
We’d grab coffee in town, get some work done with WiFi, then we’d go climb the Smoke Bluffs or go mountain biking or find some cliff jumping, then we’d grab a beer at a local brewery and head to a camping spot for the night, sometimes boondocking, sometimes at scenic campgrounds, and sometimes at campgrounds with the luxury of showers and WiFi.
If you’re looking to head to this awesome outdoor destination anytime soon, this guide will tell you everything you need to know to have an amazing trip filled with local hangouts, epic adventures, and good vibes.
Tips for Visiting
It’s pretty amazing that Squamish has managed to stay as small as it is considering it’s only a 1 hour drive from Vancouver, one of BC’s biggest cities, along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway.
That being said, Squamish is growing and it’s growing fast and while I don’t think the charm of Squamish will ever really go away, I recommend making the most of its small town feel now.
So pack you bags—or rather your bikes, ropes, cams, hiking boots, and fishing poles–get a flight to Vancouver, and go enjoy one of the world’s greatest mountain town’s, Squamish.
Disclosure: The Squamish Beer Fest and Narwhals Ice Cream were both sponsored in the making of this article however the opinions shared are of course, exclusively our own.
Getting to Squamish
Being so close to Vancouver makes getting to Squamish super cheap and easy. Vancouver is major international hub so whether you’re coming from abroad or from Canada and the US, you can find really affordable flights.
Once in Vancouver, you’ll need a ride to Squamish. While I highly recommend monopolizing the buses that run along Sea to Sky Highway when headed to Whistler, I wouldn’t recommend a shuttle or bus if Squamish is your destination.
The reason for this is because all the trailheads and basecamps of Squamish are really spread out and it’s not a very walkable town. And while there is a bike path, it doesn’t go to all the main spots on Squamish.
If you are visiting Squamish with the intent of exploring mountain biking, climbing, hiking, and just eplxoring everything the town has to offer, you will need a car.
Search for car rentals and cheap flights to Vancouver with the Skyscanner search box below. We always use Skyscanner to find cheap flights and it’s never let us down.
Prepare for Rain
In Squamish, weather is not forecasted by rain or no rain, there are simply 5 different levels because it’s almost always raining (even in the summer).
When you plan a trip to Squamish, come with the mindset that it will rain and that any exception is an amazing day!
The good thing is, mountain biking trails are usually quite doable if it’s only drizzling and the rock is granite so many routes can dry out in a day.
On the other hand, rain can really kill the views on the Chief, at Elfin Lakes, Watersprite Lakes, and on the trails at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola.
The best time to visit Squamish is definitely summer, specifically from July to September, however, even in the summer it can still rain.
Once we visited in July of 2017 and scored 5 out of 6 days of perfect sun but in July of 2019 we visited for a 10 days and only 4 of those days were sunny but we still managed to get a lot of mountain biking in on the drizzly days.
Point being, give yourself at least a week in Squamish so you have better odds of getting a few days of sun.
Make Summer Reservations
Winters (and springs and falls for that matter) are much like the rest of the PNW up here: Wet and rainy.
It’s not particularly cold but as I mentioned before, the views just aren’t as great when it isn’t sunny. Because of this, summer brings flocks of climbers, bikers, and tourists to Squamish and everything from luxurious hotels to hostels and campgrounds can become fully booked.
If you have your eye on certain accommodations, book them as soon as possible. See recommended accommodations below.
How to Save Money
A trip to Squamish can easily become expensive when you rack up the car rentals, flights, hotels, eating expenses, and excursions. The only way we’ve managed to travel full time for 8 years is by being cheap so here are 5 tips to save money in Squamish.
- Shop at Nesters Market – Eating out is fun and there are some amazing restatuarnats I will be mentioning on the Things to Do section of this blog, however, eating out racks up the expenses really fast and cooking your own food is a really easy way to save money. Nesters Market has a great variety of healthy, local foods as well as some cheap food options for you to cook your own delicious meals. They also have a rad juice bar in the market.
- Go camp – There are some awesome hostels and inns in Squamish but camping in Squamish is the way to go not only for the price but also because you’ll be immersed in Squmish’s #1 feature: nature. Click here to check out our ultimate guide to camping in Squamish.
- Bring a bike – If you’re lucky enough to only live an hour away from Squamish in the grand city of Vancouver, do yourself a favor and bring your bikes from home. Bike rentals can be really affordable in Squamish but depending on how many days you stay, you might be better off with your own.
- Skip the Guided Activities – Guided excursions can be unforgettable experiences but they can be PRICEY especially if you have a family or large group. There are a few exceptions, but more often than not, you can enjoy the same or similar activities by yourself without having to pay for a guide. More details on this I the recommended activities below.
Understanding Squamish: Maps and Neighborhoods
Squamish has 5 main area of town:
- Downtown – Downtown Swumaish is where many restaurants are. It’s also where most events are held.
- Diamond Head – This is the area just north of downtown by the Canadian Tire but east of the highway near Quest University. Up here you can see Sky Pilot and it’s where you access Elfin Lakes + a mountain biking network.
- Sea to Sky Gondola + The Chief – This area is just south of downtown.
- Alice Lake – Alice Lake is a Provincial Park that makes up a lot of the Squamish area and is the northeast area of town.
- Brackendale – Just before Alice Lake is this quaint neighborhood of Squmaihs with lots of mountain biking.
We’ve made a custom map to help you know where everything to do in Squamish. Save it to Google Maps and access it at any time:
Things to do in Squamish
1 | Hike the Sea to Summit Trail + Ride down the Gondola
What could possibly be cooler than riding the Sea to Sky Gondola? Well…hiking it. Adventurers will love this hike!
Yes, it’s strenuous. Yes, there are ladders and ropes involved. And yes, it’s freaking awesome.
If you want to experience the beauty of riding the Sea to Sky Gondola without spending a fortune, look no further than the Sea to Summit trail which runs from the gondola parking lot all the way to the gondola’s summit where some of Squamish’s greatest hiking opportunities lie.
The trail is 4.5 miles/7.5 kilometers long and gains 3,00 feet/915 meters making it quite strenuous. Once at the top, I highly recommend extending your trip to one of these iconic Squamish adventures:
Not only is this hike perfect for adventures but also a great way to save money on gondola tickets. The one way ride-down ticket on the Sea to Sky Gondola only costs $15 CAD and kids 6-12 ride free with an adult.
If strenuous hikes aren’t your thing, click here to see rates for riding the Sea to Sky Gondola.
2 | Downhill Pseudo-Tsuga + Half Nelson
If you’ve come to Squamish for it’s world class mountain biking, look no further than the Diamond Head trail system which holds two of Squamish’s most flawy and gnarly downhill rides: Pseudo-Tsuda and Half Nelson.
These two rides are fast and flowy with tight berms, smooth, rolling drops, and the occasional rocky section.
Photo credit: Sea to Sky Adventure CO
Squamish in general has a hard grading for its mountain biking trails which means that even though both Pseudo-Tsuga and Half Nelson area rated as blue/intermediate trails, these downhill rides require a high level of experience that may be closer to black diamond trails where you’re from.
Being one of Squamish’s most popular routes, there is a classic way to ride Pseudo-Tsuga and Half Nelson which I’ve included below:
- Climb Trail AKA Stl’lhalem Sintl’ – 5 mile uphill only trail that brings you to the top of Nelson. Beginner to intermediate.
- Upper Half Nelson – Basically one long, steep pump track. They say beginners could ride it but I would recommend it for intermediate and above riders.
- Ring Creek Access Road – At the End of Half Nelson you’ll head uphill for a while on a forest road. It’s not too steep but exposed to sun. 200 foot gain in 1.5 miles. You’ll cross past the Climb Trail you initially went up and continue to the top of the road at Pseudotsuga.
- Pseudo-Tsuga 1, 2, and 3 – A fast flowy trail filled with the most epic berms you could imagine on a single track trail. Beginner to intermediate riders not recommended. Best for intermediate to advanced riders. Two miles of downhilling bring you back to the trailhead.
Getting there:
The trailhead lies up on the hill near Quest University on the very start of the Diamond Head Road which takes you to Elfin Lakes. There is big dirt lot at the top that a small RV could turn around in but you’d need to go early.
3 | Explore Alice Lake Provincial Park
Alice Lake is one of Squamish’s outdoor hotspots. Filled with hiking, biking, kayaking, SUPing, swimming, chilling, and camping, a trip to Squamish isn’t complete with exploring Alice Lake Provincial Park.
One of the most popular parts of Alice Lake is the Four Lakes trail (Note: you can’t mountain bike this trail in the summer). This 4 mile loop is perfect for families or just an easy, pleasant hike.
The lake is super scenic and is perfect for chilling, kayaking, or swimming. There is a small snack bar, picnic tables, sandy shores, restrooms, and shallow wading sections.
Camping here is an amazing experience due to beautiful forest, secluded and spacious sites, nice bathroom/shower facilities, and even partial electrical hookups. Click here for more details on camping at Alice Lake.
Of Squamish’s 200+ kilometers of mountain biking, my personal favorites lie within Alice Lake Provincial Park. There is something for everyone to bike up here! The trails up here are definitely more catered to cross country mountain bikers and don’t have as much gnarly downhilling.
If you are an intermediate rider (not by Squamish standards) I highly recommend this route:
- Jacks Trail – Easy, mostly smooth trail the runs along the river valley of Alice Lake. Beginner riders can ride this as an out and back. Access to 50 Shades of Green from this trail.
- 50 Shades of Green – Smooth, moderately steep uphill only trail perfect to access Cliffs and Robs Corner. Stay left at the junction to get to Tracks from Hell.
- Mike’s Loop + Tracks From Hell – An easy to moderate mostly double track path with a few fun downhill sections. One long, narrow boardwalk section at the end.
- Mashiter Access Road – After Tracks from Hell head left up the access road. Not steep but pretty rocky, makes for slow ascent.
- Rob’s + Cliff’s Corner – These are the gems of Squamish and an intermediate riders dream. These two trail which connect with each other, are the perfect downhill grade for beginner-intermediates and are filled with wide berms, whoops, and rolling drops. This finishes at the Acmes road and you’ll head right.
- Rollercoaster – Another fun smooth swichbacking trail similar but steeper than Cliffs Corner. Intermediate.
- Lumberjacks – This trail weaves through the forest and has lots of rock drops. Isn’t particularly fun but it’s the easiest way bak to Alice Lake.
- Access Rd + Jacks – Ride the Access Road until it turns into Jacks where you’ll ride uphill on the smooth trail back to Alice PP.
Other recommended rides for more advanced riders:
- Rupert’s and Entrails – A black diamond alternative to riding Rollercoaster on the suggested route.
- Credit Line – Ride 50 Shades of Green then head right to downhill Credit Line. Finish on Jacks.
4 | Hike the Stawamus Chief
Stawamus Chief, or simply The Chief as most people call it, is one of the coolest hikes in the world. The Chief’s summit delivers the most amazing view of Howe Sound, surrounding peaks, and the town of Squamish, plus just the ascent up is enough of a reason to try this adventure.
Hiking up the Chief involves ropes and the occasional ladder rungs to assist you up the rocky cliffs. It’s not dangerous but those with a fear of heights might be frightened by the exposure.
The Chief itself has three different peaks. Many tourists only go to the first but you’re missing out if you don’t summit the second. The second delivers some of the most incredible views I’ve ever seen. The third peak is the most secluded of them all and only takes another 15 minutes to get to, however, there’s not much more to be seen from over there.
From the summit of The Chief’s second peak, you’ll have 360 degree views from Squamish to Howe Sound
5 | Bike Brackendale’s Easy Trails
Locals may scoff at the overly easy riding of Brackendale, AKA The Dump, but the trail system here is the most beginner/family friendly spot in the area and even intermediates will find Brackendale’s trails fun.
The variety of green trails makes for a dozen different ride variations that could keep a beginner rider stoked for hours on end.
Brackendale’s trail system is encompassed by a looping trail known as the Ray Peters trail. This is a really fun, wide trail that’s perfect for young kids or those who are just learning to mountain bike. Within the Ray Peter’s loop are many short single track trails.
6 | Explore the Oceanfront Trail
Squamish’s Oceanfront Trail is a great activity on a gloomy day. The short 2 kilometer trail has interpretive signs all along and you get to experience Howe Sound up close and personal.
Access to this beach/trail is at the end of Cleveland Ave right across the street from Howe Sound Brewery.
7 | Hike to Elfin Lakes
Elfin Lakes is a hike I’ve been wanting to do since I first started planning a trip to Squamish. It’s considered one of the best hikes in BC and it doesn’t come as a surprise. The alpine nature of this hike makes it magical.
The hike is a long 13.5 miles/22 kilometers roundtrip but is considered easy due to the low incline and easy path. You can choose to extend this trip to The Gargoyles, the Opal Cone, or Mamquam Lake. The path is open to mountain bikers as well. The lakes are a great place to camp or you could even stay overnight at the backcountry hut. Both require making reservations in advance.
Getting there:
What’s held us back from doing this hike is that you have drive a dirt road for 6 miles/10 kilometers to get to the trailhead. I have no idea what the road’s conditions are like but I haven’t heard any requirements for 4wd or high clearance, we just din’t wan to risk it with an RV.
8 | Go to the Squamish Farmer’s Market
The Squamish farmers market has become one of the culinary highlights of all our travels. There are very few farmers that deliver such spectacular quality food including produce, bread, honey, meat, syrup, and other artisan products.
The farmers market is held every Saturday from 10-3 from April through October and delivers more than just great local food. The lively farmers market is also a regular community meetup where you can experience the local vibe.
9 | Climb at the Smoke Bluffs
If you’re an experienced climber who already knows the prestige of Squamish climbing then I’m sure you’ve already scoured Mountain Project and know your routes, however, if you’re a beginner or intermediate level climber, a mention of The Smoke Bluffs is essential.
Squamish is renowned for its climbing. Every climber, myself included, dreams of ascending the spectacular rock face of The Chief.
Sadly, many of us aren’t good enough climbers to achieve such a route, nor are all of our readers climbers. The Smoke Bluffs is by far the most accessible place to climb in Squmaish and it’s also the top spot that guiding services take beginners to learn how to climb.
The Chief may have fantastic views but The Smoke Bluffs deliver the most incredible views of The Chief itself.
To the climbers: The Smoke Bluffs are my favorite spot to climb in Squamish not only because of the views but also because you can top rope almost 90% of the crags in Squamish. Most all the routes at TSBs are Trad and many of the routes aren’t listed as TR on Mountain Project however ropes can still be set from above on these routes due to the nature of the crag. The crag is layered in small sections of cliffs making it possible to scramble around the side of nearly every area.
Recommended Crags at The Smoke Bluffs:
- High Cliff – My #1 pick in the area. So many fun, steep and sometimes overhanging crack systems. Short approach.
- Burgers & Fries – Often crowded with guides and groups but the largest, easy area. Short approach.
- Fern Gully – Less crowded. Slabby friction climbing with 1-2 really easy routes. Fun approach.
- Neat and Cool – Some longer routes in varying difficulty and styles. Next to a playground for kids to play on. Best views of the Chief from the anchors.
- Octopus’s Garden
- Ronin’s Corner
Note: Dear hardcore climbers, yes, I’m well aware that top roping is “cheating” but as long as you are setting anchors properly as to not damage the gear and you aren’t traipsing all over the vegetation, then it doesn’t really matter.
To the non-climbers: If you’ve climbed before, there is no better place to give it a shot than at the climbing town’s most accessible crag. There are dozens of climbing guides in the area that will ease you into the ropes.
Other Noteworthy Crags for Beginner – Intermediate Climbers:
- Area 44 – Lots of easy sport climbing
- Murrin Park – Classic sport, trad, and top rope routes
- The Raven’s Castle – Multi-pitch sport
- Rogue’s Gallery – Easiest bouldering
- The Playground – Easy sport climbing off of Mamquam FSR
- Chek – Single and multi pitch sport routes with great views of Tantalus
Squamish Guidebook:
As I mentioned before, Mountain Project doesn’t give accurate beta for if a route is top ropable. If you’re a mediocre climber like us (🤷♀️) I highly recommend grabbing the top guidebook for the area, Squamish Select. This guidebook gives description for every anchor, top rope, sport, trad, single pitch, multi pitch, and bouldering route there is.
10 | Explore the Brohm Lake Rope Swing
Disclosure: Rope swings and trails to the rope swing can be dangerous and we cannot guarantee the current condition of the rope swing. Use your own judgement to decide if the trail and rope swing are within your capabilities.
The BEST rope swing in the world, period. We’ve found quite a few awesome rope swings thought out our mountain adventures but none of them top the Brohm Lake rope swing.
Just 10 minutes north of Squamish is the popping lakeside hangout, Brohm Lake. Rope swing aside, this is a really popular lake for swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, cliff jumping, and just relaxing on a sunny summer day. The lake is crowded but more often than not, the rope swing isn’t overly crowded since it lies at a 2 mile hike from the parking areas.
The rope hangs off of an overhanging tree. Though it may look precarious, don’t worry, both the rope and tree are solid…at least as of 2019 they are 😂 There are three awesome rocks you can swing off of, some suitable for little kids and some for adrenaline junkies.
Getting there:
Brohm Lake has only one designated parking lot, and that parking lot can only fit about 20 cars and no oversize vehicles, however there are two other spots you can park and I’d actually recommend them over the parking lot if you’re planning on hiking to the rope swing.
No matter which parking lot you park at, you’ll have to make a U-turn and be headed southbound. Cars and small RV’s can turn around at the Brohm Lake Parking Lot.
- Option 1: If you have a car, you can park in parking lot but get there early.
- Option 2: If you don’t park in that lot, then just after passing the turn for Brohm Lake you can park along the side of the highway right around these coordinates: (49.8182771, -123.1293388).
- Option 3: About a mile (or 2 kilometers) after that there will be another dirt parking lot that is almost always empty and is suitable for smaller RVs. It’s easy to miss so input these coordinates into your GPS so you don’t pass it: (49.8062460, -123.1229080)
From each parking area there’s a different way to get to the rope swing. Check out a trail map of the area by clicking here.
From the main parking lot, head north along the near side of the lake. You’ll pass lots of cliff jumping spots of varying heights. You’ll also pass a new rope swing that got added recently but it’s not nearly as fun. When the trail dead ends at the water, look across the lake and you’ll see the top swing. Here you can float with an inner tube or swim across the lake. Be warned, it’s a longer swim than it looks so only strong swimmers should do so.
If you park by the road, you’re going to head to the bridge that crosses the river outlet. Head right after the bridge and continue north to the Brohm rope swing coordinates.
If you park at the dirt lot, follow the dirt road to the obvious trail junction and go right. Stay left on the Alder Trail then make a right to go north on the High Trail. Continue north on this trail toward these Brohm rope swing coordinates.
Once you reach the lake on the west side follow these directions:
- When you see rocks, driftwood, and carins marking a new path to the right, follow it.
- Stay left and continue straight over the wooden bridge.
- Follow this for a few minutes and make another right when you see a wooden staircase to your right.
- Scramble down a rock and follow the trail to the lake.
11 | Explore Shannon Falls
One of Squamish’s most popular attraction is the 1,100 foot pouring waterfall, Shannon Falls. This in’t a full day activity but it’s an essential thing to do on your visit to Squamish. The waterfall is one of Squamish’s most iconic photo spots but it requires a little searching and scrambling to get to that perfect little shot.
The waterfall is within a built up provincial park just south of the Sea to Sky gondola. I highly recommend going early or late in order to get a parking spot and to enjoy the waterfall in peace.
12 | Attend a Festival
A huge part of what I love about Squamish is the tight nit community of locals and travelers. Squamish takes an active role in building this friendly community and they do so by hosting a variety of fun events year round.
Over our two visits we’ve had the opportunity to check out two of the town’s largest events including the Arcteryx Climbing Academy as well as the Squamish Beer Fest. Both events support local businesses and also draw crowds from all around North America. The combination makes for good vibes and awesome people.
Being one of the world’s most famous climbing town, it makes sense that Squamish hosts an incredible climbing festival every summer. Back in 2017, we were totally surprised to have accidentally arrived in Squamish during the perfect event for climbers like us, Arc’teryx Climbing Academy. The Arc’teryx Climbing Academy is built to unite climbers of all levels with clinics, challenges, presentations, climbing films, demos, live music, and fun.
Photo via Squamish.com
We enjoyed hanging out at the festival grounds during the demos to try out some new gear and just to be around the unique atmosphere of climbing culture which you don’t find all too often. All evening events (films, keynote speakers, photo showdown, food trucks, libations and live music) plus demo days are free to enter which is totally awesome! Click here for more details on the Arcteryx Climbing Academy.
This year, we had the opportunity to go enjoy another festival, the Squamish Beer Festival. This event showcased over 50 local breweries and cideries.
An entrance fee of $39-50 gets you samples of 4 beers and you then you can purchase additional tokens for more samples at the event. The live music and various lawn games and ax throwing set up around the venue created a fun vibe all around. There was free water and potato chips but when hunger set in, I was stoked to have so many yummy food truck options to chow down on. All in all I really liked the quaintness of it all. While the lines to the restrooms did get long, there were never lines to get beer samples and all the vendors did a great job of making the event personal and friendly.
Find other event that might be going all when you visit Squamish by clicking here.
13 | Enjoy Live Music
Squamish clearly knows how to party because in addition to the endless events and markets the town hosts, Squamish also has a free summer concert in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater every Thursday evening in July and August. The fun outdoor environment is family friendly and welcoming.
Photo credit: Arts Whistler
In addition, you can enjoy music with a view every Friday night in the summer from the restaurant at the top of Sea to Sky gondola. The weekly event is held on an outdoor patio where you can eat, dance, and enjoy sunsets. Click here to see the music lineup.
14 | Become a Ninja Warrior
Have you ever watched American Ninja Warrior show and wondered what it would be like to test your skills on some of those crazy obstacles? Well that’s exactly what local climber and trail builder Gary McFarlane created at The Ninja Gym.
We do a lot of rad outdoor adventures but this was probably the most fun our entire family has had together in years.
We couldn’t get enough swinging, jumping, climbing, and running. It really was mind blowing fun for our entire family!
When you first go in you’ll fill out a waiver and then one of the staff member will take you through a short warm up and stretching series to before letting you go on your own to explore.
I’ll admit we were all a bit nervous at attempting some of the obstacles but within five minutes of swinging across the rings and walking the rope balls, we didn’t want to stop.
Our favorite challenge became the trapeze swing and release to a bear hug catch on the heavy bag.
If we lived in Squamish we would definitely have to become members, but even if you are just passing through, you’ve gotta check out The Ninja Gym and test your skills. It will be the hardest workout you’ve ever done, but it won’t even feel like exercise because you become so focused (or obsessed like us) on completing the obstacle.
Click here to get all the details including pricing and hours or to sign up online.
Where to Eat in Squamish
15 | Backcountry Brewing
Not a day goes by in Squamish for us without a stop at Backcountry Brewing. Backcountry Brewery is in my opinion, the best brewery and eatery in Squamish. It has everything you need after a day outdoors: good food, good beer, and good vibes.
The brewery is spacious and though it can get crowded, there’s never a long wait to be seated. There is bar seating, long shared tables, and booth tables perfect for any size family or group.
The food here is out of this world and a stop as Backcountry Brewing isn’t complete without ordering one of their delicious, thin crust, artisan pizzas.
If you’re a hazy fan, Backcountry produces some of the best New England style hazy’s as well as some very creative sours.
16 | Tall Tree Bakery
Just next door to Backcountry the best eatery in Squamish, is the best bakery in Squamish, Tall Tree.
This place is an essential morning stop for us every day in Squamish!
Tall Tree has some of the most amazing sourdoughs I’ve ever tasted and their pastries nearly rival those of France. They always have sourdough but on different days of the week they also have delicious variations like olive or cranberry.
I love the adorable atmosphere of the shop, though it isn’t a sit in bakery. Be sure to get to the bakery early on weekends before they sell out of bread and pastries. Unfortunately they are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
17 | Narwhals Ice Cream Truck
Narwhals is a perfect place to hang out on a sunny afternoon. This ice cream truck is more than just yummy ice cream. Narwhals goal was to create a fun community hangout and with a big grassy area, picnic tables, and a kids playing area, they did just that.
Being right on the water overlooking the Chief, Narwhals is also super pretty and going around sunset delivers incredible colors reflecting on the water.
The ice cream here is AMAZING and Narwhals prides themselves on how rich and creamy their ice cream is since they mix in less air than any other ice cream. There are also vegan and dairy free options which was perfect for us.
Narwhals is right next to the Smoke Bluffs trailhead making it perfect to swing by after climbing or hiking plus it sits on the Squamish bike path, which could be a great destination for a family bike ride.
Note: The ice cream truck is only open weather permitting so check out their website to see if they’re open.
18 | Zephyr Cafe
Whether you’re looking to eat a full breakfast, find a healthy snack, or just grab a coffee, Zephyr is an essential morning stop but not just for the food. Zephyr is the ultimate locals hangout and it’s a great place to experience the culture of the town. From climbers visiting the area to the local “regulars,” Zephyr isn’t just a cafe but an epicenter of Squamish happenings.
Zephyr of course has amazing food as well. Their menu is locally sourced with dozens of vegan and gluten free options. The espresso drinks we ordered were delicious as well. The only negative here is the price. If you’re on a tight budget, you should still swing by for just a cup of coffee because this is where you experience Squamish culture and it’s a great place for a digital nomads to get work done.
There is a direct correlation between how crowded the cafe is to how sunny it is outside. On rainy days, this place can become packed and for a good reason. The space is lively and welcoming after their recent renovation that made the cafe about 3 times bigger than it used to be in 2017. The space is now much more spacious and lively with plenty of room for everyone.
Where to Stay in Squamish
Squamish has a lot of rad places to stay as far as hotels, inn, and vacation rentals but there are are also a ton of rad campgrounds to choose from in the area plus by camping, you can save a ton of money.
Check out our Complete Guide to Camping in Squamish
If you don’t want to camp, I highly recommend the Squamish Adventure Inn as the top place to stay. We didn’t have the opportunity to stay here ourselves since we were traveling in our RV,, however, we had a chance to take a look at the place when we were at Narwhals Ice Cream next door and we’re blown away with the Inn. It’s in prime location on the river overlooking The Chief, within walking distance of downtown, and the accommodation itself seemed really nice. There’s also a community kitchen at Squamish Adventure Inn so you still have the option to cook your own food and save money on not eating out. Click here to search for availability at Squamish Adventure Inn.
If you want to search for other accommodation in the area, use the search box below.
Booking.comRelated: Other Adventures in the Area
Squamish is definitely my favorite spot on Sea to Sky Highway however there are still so MANY incredible adventures from Vancouver to Whistler. If you plan on visiting the are, be sure to check out our other related blogs:
- 25 Amazing Things to do in Whistler and other Tips for Visiting
- Ultimate Guide to Camping in Squamish and Whistler
- Sea to Sky Road Trip Itinerary
- Canada National Parks Road Trip
- Ultimate Guide To Day Hiking In Lake Louise
Before you go, you may want to grab our free Adventure Resource Bundle with hiking pack list, unbiased gear reviews, hiking trail guides, free ebooks, trip planning worksheets, & more.
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