Wooden stairs, roots and then ladders and chains take you up the granite of the Chief above Squamish. Each of the three peaks looks over Howe Sound and the town. Short in distance, steep the whole way.
Challenging · 3–3.6 km out-and-back · +540–630 m climb · 2–5 hours · Dogs: check local rules
Verified on October 24, 2026 against the official park page: distance, gain, passes, parking. Other figures are approximate. · Sources · Cite this page
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Sea-to-Sky · ~60 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check BC Parks before you go.
Schematic: an illustrative shape drawn from total distance and gain, not a GPS trace. Real ups and downs will differ.
| Region | Sea-to-Sky |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Season | Spring to fall |
| Trailhead | Stawamus Chief Park, Squamish |
| Parking & transit | Little or no transit; plan to drive. |
| Permits & passes | No BC Parks day-use pass (not on the 2026 pass list). Park only in designated lots; BC Parks tows illegally parked vehicles. |
| Dogs | Check local rules |
| Kid-friendly | Better for older, fit kids or adults |
| Highlights | Views |
| Crowds | Busy, especially weekends |
| Managed by | BC Parks |
BC Parks lists First Peak 1.5 km and 540 m gain, Second Peak 1.7 km and 590 m, Third Peak 1.8 km and 630 m, each one way. Ladders and chains near the top; slick when wet. BC Parks dog wording for the Chief Peaks Trail is unclear; check before bringing a dog.
Numbers are approximate. Check BC Parks for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 3–3.6 km (out-and-back) with roughly 540–630 m of elevation gain. Most people take 2–5 hours. Figures are approximate; check BC Parks before you go.
Rules vary or change here. Check the land manager before bringing a dog.
No BC Parks day-use pass (not on the 2026 pass list). Park only in designated lots; BC Parks tows illegally parked vehicles.
Not easily. Plan to drive or carpool.
See also: Hikes with the best views · Hikes for April · Hikes for May · Hikes for June · Hikes for July · Hikes for August · Hikes for September · Hikes for October · Sea-to-Sky hikes · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "Stawamus Chief." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/stawamus-chief/
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Hi, I'm Cam Appleton. I love Vancouver and I love getting out on its trails. When I went looking for a simple, easy hiking guide for around here, I couldn't find one I liked. I also really like helping people, so I built this one.
My day job is real estate. I help people buy, sell and lease. I hope you're enjoying the start of Hike Vancouver. If you're thinking about living closer to trails like this one, I'm happy to talk.
Cam Appleton