Hike Details
- Difficulty: 4/6 (Difficult)
- Distance: 5.5km
- Duration: 5.5hrs
- Elevation: 720m
- Type: Loop
- Season: Apr - Oct
- Dogs: Yes (On Leash)
- Camping: No
- Wheelchairs: No
- Public Transport: Yes
- Strollers: No
Description
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The Chief is one of the iconic Vancouver hikes. The trail starts with an uncompromising climb up a series of man-made staircases, before splitting at a couple of well marked intersections that take you two one of the three peaks.
Peak 1 has the iconic view, though I prefer to walk to third peak first, and then descend over second peak and down to the first. The main advantage of hiking peak 3 first is that you’ll be facing the Howe Sound as you descend to the other two peaks. Peak three is the furthest from the trailhead so you’ll get the bulk of the effort out of the way, leaving you to enjoy the views as you descend. The second peak at the chief is probably the most interesting in terms of jaw-dropping heights and exposure. These dangers are easily avoided if you keep well back from the edge. If you’re lucky, you may catch a few adventurous souls slack-lining across this canyon.
If you only plan on doing one peak, choose peak 1. It’s the closest and easiest to reach. It’s the popular tourist route for a reason, and has great views. For less experienced hikers, even the walk to peak 1 is strenuous.
Navigation
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The trail: Some junctions or misleading side-trails. Check your map regularly. Phone signal in BC is not reliable when hiking. Always carry an OFFLINE map. I recommend and use AllTrails+ and Gaia Maps.
Highlights
Hike Difficulty And Conditions
The trail starts with an uncompromising climb up a series of man-made staircases, before splitting at a couple of well marked intersections that take you two one of the three peaks. Follow the route marked by signposts and markers on the trees. The trail maintains a reasonable gradient all the way up, so be ready for some calf burning pain! The final section of the trail is somewhat steep and involves scrambling over larger rocks. Chains have been installed to help hikers navigate these steeper sections, but none are particularly difficult.
Camping
- Camping Possible: No
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Stroller Accessible: No
- Dog Friendly: Yes (On Leash)
Location & Access
- Public Transport: Yes
- Public Transport By: Parkbus
- From Vancouver: 1.25hr(s)
- Park: Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
- Region: Squamish & Whistler
- Fire Region: Coastal Fire Centre Info
- Trailhead: 49.67897, -123.15437
- Vehicle Requirement: Any Vehicle
Getting There
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From Vancouver, drive north along the sea to sky highway. About 2km before you reach Squamish, you'll pass Shannon Falls on the right, followed by the Sea to Sky Gondola. The following exit is the parking lot for the Stawamus Chief. You can either park at the gondola, or take start from the main trailhead at the Stawamus Chief Parking Lot.
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Rent a car, or better still, reduce the demand for cars with Evo Car Share, Vancouver's car sharing network.
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