The Sea to Summit trail in Squamish BC is one of my favorite trails to hike, because it is not too long, not too short, moderately challenging, boasts a beautiful view at the top, but most importantly, the trail is equipped with gondolas that I can take to descend the mountain after reaching the peak, eliminating the need to hike back after reaching the top. I hiked this trail many times, but August 2020 was the first time I brought the whole family.

The trail is moderate to difficult in terms of difficulty, with a distance of about 6.5km one way and 920m elevation gain. Like I said earlier, you can choose to hike down or take the gondola down when you reach the top. The trail does close down if conditions are not safe in the winter, so be sure to check their official site if you choose to hike it in the winter. Much of the first quarter of the trail is shared with the popular Stawamus Chief trail, so there will be quite a bit of traffic on the trails, especially later in the day in late morning to early afternoon.

With my little one on my back, my wife and two older kids walking in front of me, we began our ascent. After a short section of gradual incline, the trail turned steep. Due to the high amount of traffic that goes through this trail each year, a lot of the natural stone stairs and steps had corroded and a lot of wooden stairs had to be built to keep the trail safe for hikers. Once we passed the junction point of the Chief trail and the Sea to Summit, which was marked by a sign post and also a large boulder, the trail quiets down and becomes much less "man made". The trail continued to weave through the forest, until a certain point we could start to hear the sound of a waterfall. At that point, I know we had reached Upper Shannon Falls. We took a break by the water, had some snacks, then continued our hike.

Trail Head

The trail turns steep early on

Man made wooden stairs to keep the trail safe

Upper Shannon Falls

We continued to follow the trail, gaining elevation within the forest. It was a sunny day, so we were grateful for the shade provided by the tall trees. At about the halfway point, we reached an open bluff where we could see the view of Howe Sound and where the Squamish River meets Howe Sound. We stopped and had lunch at the rocky bluff. We then continued our climb towards the top. Towards the end of the trail there were some steep sections where ropes were anchored to aid hikers on their ascent. When we reached the top, we were rewarded with the beautiful views of Howe Sound, Squamish River, District of Squamish, and the surrounding mountains. There was a chalet built at the top equipped with a gift shop and food vendors. Visitors can opt to take the gondola up instead of hiking up if they wanted to see the view. There are a lot of shorter trails without much elevation at the top for people who do not wish to hike challenging routes. After a well deserved break at the top, we took the gondola down to the parking lot.

Trail continues to climb within the forest

View from the rocky bluffs, about halfway through the trail. The discoloration in the water is where the Squamish River meets Howe Sound.

Towards the end, steep sections where ropes were anchored to aid hikers climb up.

Views at the top

Check out my previous adventures.