Conveniently located between the 2010 Olympic Winter Games host cities of Vancouver and Whistler, Squamish (pop. 16,000) justifiably bills itself as "The Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada."
Its active, nature-loving citizens invite visitors to join them in rock climbing, river rafting, bird watching, cross-country skiing, and other signature outdoor activities.
The breathtaking mountain and ocean views that visitors enjoy while driving along the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Highway 99) to Squamish whet an appetite for outdoor recreation. From Vancouver, Squamish is about an hour's drive, and from Whistler, it's approximately 45 minutes.
Check out the majestic Stawamus Chief mountain, North America's second-largest granite monolith, which towers over downtown Squamish. It's one of the premier local rock climbing venues, and there are some 1,500 routes overall in this area for climbing, mountaineering, and bouldering enthusiasts.
There are also about 150 mountain biking trails to ride in Squamish, and the annual Test of Metal race in June is among Canada's premier off-road cycling events.
Enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, and swimming in Squamish's eight area provincial parks, such as Garibaldi Provincial Park, Alice Lake Provincial Park, and Porteau Cove Provincial Park. Snap dramatic photos at Shannon Falls Provincial Park, where British Columbia's third-highest waterfall cascades thunderously.
For water sports fans, Squamish offers world-class wind-surfing and kite-boarding conditions at the Squamish Spit, where the Squamish River enters Howe Sound. Whitewater lovers can get their kayaking and river rafting kicks on the Elaho, Mamquam, and Cheakamus Rivers.
Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park is a magnet for bird watchers, attracting North America's highest concentration of bald eagles in the winter.
Winter also brings world-class cross-country skiing to the Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley, just 50km/30mi north of Squamish. For more Nordic adventures on skis or snowshoes, explore the trails and backcountry routes in Garibaldi Provincial Park or Brandywine Falls Provincial Park.
History and Industry
Squamish was originally inhabited by the Squamish Nation of the Coast Salish native people. The first contact with European seafaring explorers occurred in 1792.
Almost a century later, settlers began farming in the region, and forestry and mining followed as core industries. Establishing highway and railway links with Vancouver in the mid-20th century enabled Squamish residents to commute for work. Squamish was incorporated as a village in 1948 and as a district municipality in 1964.
Downtown and Heritage Sites
Today, Squamish is a spread-out, increasingly dynamic community (106sq km/41sq mi), which has downtown dining and shopping on Cleveland Avenue, the second-highest number of residents who are artists by trade in Canada, and two post-secondary campuses in Quest University and Capilano College. Throughout the year, festivals like the Wild at Art Festival (March) and Squamish Mountain Festival (August) celebrate the city's heritage.
To learn more about Squamish's intriguing past, visit historic and heritage sites like the Britannia Mine Museum, a spectacular former copper mine, and the West Coast Heritage Railway Park, home of the old Royal Hudson steam engine.
Famous Squamish Residents
Not surprisingly, many of Squamish's best-known residents made their mark in outdoor sports. They include three-time Ironman triathlon world champion Peter Reid, legendary ski-cross and mountain biking champ Aleisha Cline, and Sonnie Trotter, one of Canada's top rock-climbers.
Movies that have been filmed locally include Insomnia (Al Pacino, Robin Williams), Walking Tall (The Rock, Johnny Knoxville), and 3000 Miles to Graceland (Kurt Russell, Courtney Cox), to name a few. Andromeda, The Highlander, The Sentinel, Smallville, MacGyver, The Guard, and The X-Files are among the well-known TV series shot partially in Squamish.
For more information about activities, directions, and availability in Squamish, stop in at the Squamish Visitor Centre, found within Squamish’s Adventure Centre (38551 Loggers Lane) off Highway 99, or visit the Tourism Squamish web site.
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