Squamish

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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, 64 km (40 mi) from Vancouver and 58 km (36 mi) from Whistler.

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.

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

• 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.  

Nearby Communities

Contact Information

Tourism Squamish
Visitor Information & Enquiries
102-38551 Loggers Lane
Squamish, BC, V8B 0H2
Tel: 604-815-4994
Toll Free: 1-866-333-2010  
Web: www.tourismsquamish.com

Squamish Chamber of Commerce
Visitor Info Centre
Tel: 604-815-4994
Toll-Free: 1-866-333-2010
Fax: 604-815-4998
E-mail: information@squamishchamber.com
Website: www.squamishchamber.com