Things to do in Squamish

Since it is the "Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada", the activities on offer:

Windsurfing in Squamish -The Squamish Spit located at the mouth of the Squamish River, where it enters Howe Sound, is considered by many windsurfing afficionados to be one of the top 10 windsurfing locations in the World. In the summer, when the sun shines, the thermal winds blow allowing wind surfers to reach speeds exceeding 60 kilometers an hour. Novices can perfect their techniques on one of the many local lakes.

Mountain Biking in Squamish - Squamish has established itself as one of the premier mountain biking communities in British Columbia, if not the World, because of its abundant technical and fun mountain bike trails. A dedicated army of trail builders and mountain bike enthusiasts boosts the diversity of terrain. The community hosts the Canadian epic Squamish Test of Metal International Mountain Bike Race, which runs in June of each year and draws many of the world's top riders to the Squamish area.

Scuba Diving - Howe Sound, Porteau Cove, and the Pam Rocks all offer excellent scuba diving opportunities. Porteau Cove is a Provincial marine park, with man-made reefs and a wall dive, ideal for divers of all levels. Rental equipment is available from a local retailer.

Hiking - Hiking trails ranging from easy walks to strenuous backcountry adventures abound in the Squamish area. A great day hike is a three hour "Stairmaster" excursion up the backside of the Stawamus Chief. You can also hike in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Lake Lovely Water Provincial Park, Alice Lake Provincial Park, in the Squamish River Estuary, around Brohm Lake and Deeks Lake just to name a few.

Golf in Squamish - There is two golf courses in the Squamish area offering scenic rounds in a beautiful setting. The 18-hole Squamish Valley Public Golf Course is located at 2458 Mamquam Road in the Garibaldi Estates and the new 18 hole Garibaldi Springs course located just off Highway 99 north of Garibaldi Estates.

Fishing - Before Squamish was discovered as an outdoor recreational mecca, it was a world-renowned destination for anglers. The surrounding rivers, the Mamquam, Cheakamus, Squamish, and Elaho have been known to run thick with all five Pacific varieties of salmon as well as Dolly Varden char and cutthroat trout.  Visitors interested in fishing must have a license and a book of regulations for a list of restricted areas and waters.
 
Rock climbing - Squamish boasts some of the best rock climbing in North America. The granite cliffs surrounding Squamish (which includes the colossal Stawamus Chief, the world's second largest granite monolith) draw climbers from around the world. The Little Smoke Bluffs, Murrin Provincial Park, Comic Rocks and Cheakamus Canyon offer a multitude of one and two pitch climbs of all difficulties. Peak climbing months are between April and October but climbers can be seen year round whenever the weather permits.

Kayaking/Canoeing/Rafting - The wild rapids of the Squamish River watershed offer water sport possibilities for people with all levels of experience. The Lower Cheakamus River is a fabulous venue for the intermediate paddlers, while the Upper Elaho can challenge the best whitewater kayakers and rafters in the world. Squamish also boasts a kayak-training facility on the Mamquam River. Rentals are available from local retailers. There are also several rafting companies, which run commercial trips in the area.

Swimming - The many lakes near Squamish provide a welcome break from the summer's heat. They include: Brohm, Pilchuk, Butterfly, Lewis, Starvation, Alice, Stump, Edith, Fawn, Browning, Cat Lake and Garibaldi Lake. There is also a 25-metre indoor swimming pool at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre.

Snowmobiling - Brohm Ridge and the upper Squamish Valley are favorite areas for snowmobiling in the Squamish area.

Ski Touring - The mountain environment around Squamish offers several good ski touring adventures. A favorite destination is the Elfin Lakes hut or the Red Heather hut in the Diamond Head area of Garibaldi Provincial Park. A favorite backcountry challenge is the traverse of the Garibaldi Neve, which brings you from Diamond Head to Garibaldi Lake. There is also great backcountry skiing to be found on Mount Garibaldi's Brohm Ridge and in the Cloudburst Mountain and Tricouni areas of the Squamish/Cheakamus Divide.

Eagle Viewing - The Squamish area has the greatest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the world. Between November and March, literally thousands of eagles call the Brackendale area of Squamish home. Local companies offer walking and rafting tours along any of our many rivers from November through March to view these magnificent creatures.

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