Scenic Views · Camping & Hiking · British Columbia
Sea to summit trail
A steep, 7 to 8 km climb from Shannon Falls to the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, with about 900 m of gain. Most hikers ride the gondola down.
What visitors say
The Sea to Summit Trail climbs from near sea level at the base of the Sea to Sky Gondola to the summit lodge, passing Shannon Falls on the way up. The reward at the top is the gondola's lookouts and suspension bridge, with views over Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains.
It's officially rated moderate, but reviewers say it feels harder. The trail gains roughly 900 m, much of it in the first couple of hours, over rocks and roots with some scrambling and a section where you pull yourself up a large boulder. Hikers report four to six hours to the top including breaks. There are two options at one point, a steep line and a more gradual one; one hiker who started on the steep route regretted it.
Most people hike up and buy a download ticket for the gondola, then walk back from the gondola parking lot to their car. Very fit hikers do the round trip on foot. Carry more water than you think; one group ran low and refilled from Shannon Falls. Start early, pace yourself, and check gondola hours so you don't miss the last ride down.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 96 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.