Hiking Stawamus Chief in Squamish, BC

Stawamus Chief is an impressive piece of rock. It rises 541 m (1774 feet) above the Howe Sound Waters and stands like a sentinel above the town of Squamish. It is the second largest hunk of granite in the world. The largest is the Rock of Gibralter off the coast of Spain.

Access

To reach the trailhead take Highway 99 north from Vancouver. Signs point you to the turnoff which is 1.3 kms north of Shannon Falls and 1.5 kms south of Squamish. Turn right onto a smaller road and park in one of the parking lots – for free. Parking in the larger climbers parking lot is also possible if you make a left turn just as you come off the highway.

The Hike to Stawamus Chief

The ladder at about the three quarter mark.

Stairs on the upper section of Stawamus Chief

When you look up at the Chief it’s hard to imagine that it’s accessible to hikers…but it most definitely is via a trail that climbs the back side of the rock. There is a choice of three peaks to hike; the most popular and easiest is First Peak. It’s 1.5 kms one way with an elevation gain of 513 meters (1685 feet). The trail is VERY busy on weekends, especially in the summer. Avoid climbing the upper exposed granite rock under wet conditions. It can become slippery and treacherous. Dogs are allowed on a leash.

The view from the top of Stawmus Chief

At the top of First Peak on Stawamus Chief

The trail begins steeply by way of a series of wooden stairs. A lovely stream beckons alongside this section. After the stairs climb on an obvious trail over roots and rocks through what is called South Gully. Keep close to the steep granite wall as you make your way up. Stay left at all intersections to reach First Peak. The other trails lead to Second and Third Peak which are longer and harder hikes. At about the halfway point there is an obvious rock bluff which affords excellent views. Continue hiking. Climb one small ladder and five minutes later reach the open section of granite rock. There is scrambling to do – aided with chains and a small ladder. Some people have a tough time through this section but the rock has excellent traction under dry conditions. Follow red paint marks (hard to see at times) all the way to the top. It’s a rush up there looking down over the edge. Do be careful on top of the peak. It’s a very steep fall down. Don’t throw anything over the edge as climbers may be below.

The top of Stawamus Chief

Enjoy views of the Tantalus Range and the Sea to Sky Highway. The views are truly breathtaking. Going down is tough. Exercise caution especially around tree roots and boulders. You need 2-3 hours to hike up and down Stawamus Chief.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

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About Hike Bike Travel
Avid world traveler. Craves adventure - & the odd wildly epic day. Gardener. Reader. Wine lover. Next big project - a book on 100 Canadian outdoor adventures.
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