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History
About 10,000 years ago, Howe Sound was being scourged by the recession of the last ice
age and received its unique geologic character. Mount Garibaldi (one of many volcanic
centres in the Cascadia Mountain Range which includes Mount Cayley, 33 kilometers north
of Squamish, Mount Meager northwest of Pemberton, Mount St Helens, Mount Baker and Mount
Rainier in Washington) erupted, forming a volcanic cone over the glaciation ice. When the
ice receded, the cone collapsed, creating the craggy, and constantly eroding Garibaldi one
sees today. The Stawamus Chief, an old magma chamber of an ancient volcano and the world's
second largest granite monolith, was revealed as ice eroded the weaker rock. If one looks
closely, one can still see volcanic and glacial evidence in Squamish's dynamic surroundings.
There are lava flows, basalt deposits, glacial-polished rock forms like the one at the south
end of the Stawamus Chief parking lot, and the notorious Cheekye debris fan.
It wasn't long after the recession of ice that the human touch left its print on the
Squamish story. Descendants of the aboriginal people who made the epic journey from
Asia across a frozen Bering Strait and down the Alaskan Panhandle to Howe Sound,
possibly as long as 5,000 years ago, still live in the area today. For millennia, the
Sko-mish or Squamish people hunted, trapped, fished and raised their families in this
lush Valley.
Their adventure joins a European one on a rainy day in June, 1792 when British Explorer
Captain George Vancouver and his crew sailed their ship nto Howe Sound's Darrell Bay,
just south of Squamish. The Sko-mish people called the historic meeting place
Whul-Whul-LAY-Ton or White Man Place. Capt. Vancouver said this was "a most uninhabitable
place".
Traders, gold seekers and adventurers followed during the next century, but it
wasn't until Mr. and Mrs. Alec Robertson of Manitoba pre-empted land in 1889, then farmed
and settled at the head of Howe Sound, that non-natives found a permanent home in Squamish.
The Robertsons so loved their new home that their daughter Catherine and her husband Allan Rae
settled in Squamish later that same year. A month after the Rae's arrival in the area they had
the first non-native baby born in the valley: a son Edgar.
A year later, Harry Judd and his wife Annie arrived from London Ontario. Judd cleared his
land in Brackendale and built a dairy farm. With their two sons and eight daughters and
the eight sons and two daughters born to the Raes, their role in the Squamish story,
and in the development of the now 16,000 strong community, was forever etched.
Forestry quickly surpassed farming as the foundation for the economy in Squamish. The
Valley was a busy and prosperous place, connected with the growing city of Vancouver
only by the sea.
The next harbinger of change for Squamish was the completion of the railway from
Squamish to Vancouver in 1956 and the Sea-to-Sky Highway a few years later. Strangers
drove up the highway penetrating Squamish's familiar and insular world. Adventurers like
Jim Baldwin and Ed Cooper, who spent six weeks in 1961 scaling the Grand Wall of the
Chief, brought worldwide media attention to the Valley. The influx of outdoor revelers
grew when the resort of Whistler, formerly Alta Lake, first took baby steps in the late 60s.
Today, the Squamish story continues to unfold. Changes in the viability and longevity of
the province's forest industry and the increase in outdoor recreation and tourism related
economies are ringing in even more dramatic change. An all-season mountain resort development
is proposed for the Brohm Ridge area of Mount Garibaldi. Small high-tech companies are
coming to the area, as are commuting urbanites seeking Squamish's relaxing lifestyle. And
this beautiful Valley is slowly being discovered as North America's premiere outdoor Mecca
with unparalleled quality and quantity of outdoor activities to be explored.
Location
Squamish is located within an hour's drive of Vancouver on Highway 99 and is strategically
situated between two future 2010 Winter Olympic Villages.
Whether you are arriving by plane, bus, car or train, the journey to Squamish is scenic and
convenient. Highway 99 is well marked through the Vancouver area if you are driving, and
Greyhound Canada offers regular service up the Sea to Sky Corridor.
From Squamish to Vancouver:
Driving Distance: 64 kilometres (40 miles)
Driving time: 53 minutes
From Squamish to Whistler:
Driving Distance: 58 kilometres (36 miles)
Driving Time: 45 minutes
Places to See
- West Coast Railway Heritage Park
The West Coast Railway Heritage Park is the 'Home of the Royal Hudson' and Western
Canada's largest collection of heritage railway equipment dating back to 1890. Climb
aboard cabooses, snowplows and locomotives. Ride the 3 kilometre miniature railway
around the 12 acre site. See the new Squamish station designed in 1915, but not
built until 2000! Visit the Brightbill Heritage House. Enjoy some snacks while
visiting our new gift shop and picnic areas. Open year round, 10am to 5pm. A great
venue for special occasions, such as weddings and corporate functions. Hold special
events throughout the year!
- Britannia Beach
Site of one of the world's great mines, which closed in 1974 after producing more than
56 million tons of copper. Today, you can visit the B.C. Museum of Mining and walk the
Britannia mine's cavernous tunnels, which have also served as a location for X-Files
episodes.
- Murrin Lake Provincial Park
Just north of the mine site, an ideal picnic and climbing spot for novice and intermediate
climbers.
- Shannon Falls Provincial Park
From a viewing platform, photographers can get fabulous shots of the cascade, which drops
335 metres (1,099 feet) along Highway 99, just south of Squamish.
- Stawamus Chief
There are more than 200 climbing routes up this monstrous monolith, whose sheer face soars
more than 652 metres (2,139 feet) above sea level. The Chief, just north of Shannon Falls,
has been in several action-adventure films, with actors like Sylvester Stallone
shooting on location.
- Furry Creek
Furry Creek is home to one of BC's most scenic golf courses, with panoramic ocean views and
hills to challenge golfers of all stripes!
Things to Do
- Windsurfing!
The Squamish Spit, located at the mouth of the Squamish River, 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 allow surfers to reach speeds exceeding 60
kilometers an hour. Novices can perfect their techniques on one of the many local lakes.
- Mountain Biking!
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. The diversity of terrain is boosted by a dedicated army of trail builders
and mountain bike enthusiasts. 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,
and around Brohm Lake and Deeks Lake, just to name a few.
- Golf!
There are 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 is 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 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 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.
- Snowmobiling!
Brohm Ridge and the upper Squamish Valley are favourite 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 the many
rivers from November through March to view these magnificent creatures.
Events
- Ashlu River Festival
This is an event with something for every paddler or river enthusiast, and plenty for the
non-paddlers, family, and kids: creek boating clinics, play boating clinics, beginner
lessons, canyon hikes, float trips, guided beginner, intermediate, and expert paddling
runs, canoeing, and rafting! There are a variety of rivers and creeks nearby, and a
spectacular camping location at the foot of incredible glaciers, with hot showers, coffee,
and muffins in the morning, and a host of volunteers running the event.
- Carribean Summer Jam Festival
Dress colourfully, bring your appetite, wear your dancing shoes, and get ready to greet
the Caribbean at the Summer Jam Festival! There will be Caribbean calypso music for the
crowd, draw prizes, competitions in limbo dancing and hoola-hooping, and great food.
- Brackendale Fall Fair
The annual Brackendale Fall Fair offers fresh produce, natural products, and art from
over 50 local vendors. There will also be competitions, children's activities, and live
animals.
- Squamish Climbing Festival
Everyone is invited to a celebration of Squamish and of climbing! The event will feature
an Adopt-a-Crag, a big party and fundraiser, a fun competition, and, lots of climbing
and good times!
Notable Comments
- "I like Squamish!"
- Delores Clayburn, an enthusiastic seven-year old from Kamloops
Contact Information
Squamish Chamber of Commerce
Visitor Info Centre
Telephone: 604-815-4994
Toll-Free: 1-866-333-2010
Fax: 604-815-4998
E-mail: information@squamishchamber.com
Website: http://www.squamishchamber.com
District of Squamish
37955 Second Avenue
P.O. Box 310
Squamish, BC V8B 0A3
Telephone: 604-892-5217
Fax: 604-892-1083
Website: http://www.district.squamish.bc.ca
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