Vancouver Hiking Trails RatingThe wonderful Upper Shannon Falls trail is now also called the Sea to Summit trail, branches off from the chaotically popular Stawamus Chief trail.  About 15 minutes along the Stawamus Chief trail you will see a well marked trail branch off to the right into the forest.  This is the Upper Shannon Falls trail and is remarkably unused.  This is a wonderful fact though as hundreds hike The Chief on any given weekend day, though only a handful hike this trail.

  • Squamish Hiking Trails ProStart at beautiful Shannon Falls
  • Squamish Hiking Trails ProRelatively quiet trail
  • Squamish Hiking Trails ProSummit has amazing views
  • Squamish Hiking Trails ProTrail continues to Summit Lodge
  • Squamish Hiking Trails ProLikely have the place to yourself
  • Squamish Hiking Trails ProFree access for Sea2Sky Gondola
  • Squamish Hiking Trails ProSerene alternative to the Chief
  • Squamish Hiking Trails ConFalls not terribly impressive
  • Squamish Hiking Trails ConHike is long & monotonous
  • Squamish Hiking Trails ConPasses under Sea2Sky Gondola

Hike in Squamish

Easy Hiking Trail - Vancouver HikingAlice Lake  Hiking Trail ModerateBlack Tusk  Easy Hiking Trail - Vancouver HikingBrandywine Falls  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyBrew Lake  Hiking Trail HardCirque Lake  Hiking Trail ModerateElfin Lakes  Hiking Trail ModerateGaribaldi Lake  Hiking Trail HardHigh Falls  Easy Hiking Trail - Vancouver HikingLevette Lake  Hiking Trail ModeratePanorama Ridge  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyRing Lake  Pay Use Hiking TrailSea to Sky  Easy Hiking Trail - Vancouver HikingShannon Falls  Hiking Trail HardThe Chief  Hiking Trail ModerateTaylor Meadows  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyThe Lions  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyUpper Shannon

Hiking by Month

  Winter Hiking GuideJanuary  Winter Hiking GuideFebruary  Spring Hiking GuideMarch  Spring Hiking GuideApril  Spring Hiking GuideMay  Summer Hiking GuideJune  Summer Hiking GuideJuly  Summer Hiking GuideAugust  Fall Hiking GuideSeptember  Fall Hiking GuideOctober  Fall Hiking GuideNovember  Winter Hiking GuideDecember

The Upper Shannon Falls trail, the Stawamus Chief trail and Shannon Falls are all connected by trails.  In order to see all three you should park in the Shannon Falls parking lot and hike up to the Shannon Falls viewpoint just a short 5 minute walk from the parking lot, then proceed from there to connect with the Stawamus Chief trail, about 15 minutes further up the trail.  Once you connect with the Stawamus Chief trail you will see clear signs directing you to either the Upper Shannon Falls trail, or to continue on the main trail to one or all of the Chiefs 1st Peak trail, 2nd Peak trail, 3rd Peak trail.  If you plan on hiking both the Upper Shannon Falls trail and one or all of The Chief peaks, be prepared for an arduous day as the distance is not very much, but the continuous elevation gain will be hard.  But as long as you are in for a good workout.. as many do.. Doing both The Chief and the Upper Shannon Falls trails in the same day is amazing!  The views are not quite as dramatic at the top of the Upper Shannon Falls trail and the distance a bit farther than the Chiefs first peak, but the views are still amazing.  The hike through the forest is very beautiful as it winds through massive trees and over cute streams and at one point through a wonderful fissure in the mountain.

If you are looking to get away from the crowds Upper Shannon Falls is the place.  The beginning of the Upper Shannon Falls hike greets you with the breathtaking 335 metre Shannon Falls.  This crashing monster freezes you with spray as you pass close enough to feel its pounding force.  Starting at the Shannon Falls trailhead is almost always the better option than starting at the nearby Stawamus Chief trailhead.  The exception would be if you plan on camping at the large and well designed forest campsites at the start of the Stawamus Chief trailhead.  The two trailheads, Shannon Falls and Stawamus Chief are quite close, only about 1.5k apart.  The Stawamus Chief trailhead has the campsites (63 tent sites at $8/person, free in the winter) and the Shannon Falls trailhead has the washrooms and concession stand.  Both have large parking lots.

Upper Shannon Falls Hike in Squamish

The Upper Shannon Falls trail is generally easy and only 3.5k from the Shannon Falls trailhead to the end of the Upper Shannon Falls trail and plateau viewpoints.  It is however constantly uphill as you do gain 450 metres in that short distance.  There are a couple chain pulls along the trail, though they are only added as a convenience and added safety precaution on a couple narrow parts of the trail.  The real attraction of the Upper Shannon Falls trail is actually not the upper falls, but rather the beautiful hilltop and rock outcrops at the end of the trail.  They give you tremendous views all around.  From Squamish to distant mountains to Howe Sound.  There is a considerable forested area to explore and so large as to likely never bump into anyone if you plan on relaxing with a mountaintop picnic or glass of wine.

Best Squamish Trails Guides

Explore Squamish Hiking Trails!

Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Park is an absolutely phenomenal, though long, hiking, biking, snowshoeing and skiing trail that begins at the Diamond Head area in Squamish.  From Whistler Village, the trailhead is ...
Read more
Levette Lake is a nice mountain lake located in the enormous Squamish Valley that drains Squamish River into Howe Sound.  There are some nice views and minimal elevation gain along the trail.  The amazing ...
Read more

Camping Gear Rental Garibaldi Park

Explore Whistler Hiking Trails!

Madeley Lake is a gorgeous lake hidden high up in the wilderness of Callaghan Valley.  The Callaghan Valley runs somewhat parallel to Whistler Valley, with the two valleys separated by Mount Sproatt.  Sproatt is ...
Read more
Brew Lake is beautiful mountain lake just a short drive south of Whistler and is relatively unknown and seldom hiked. Laying at the base of Mount Brew, Brew Lake lays in a massive alpine valley of enormous erratics.  ...
Read more

Best Hiking Trails Garibaldi Park

Explore BC Hiking Trails!

Whistler Hiking Trails

Whistler is an amazing place to hike. Looking at a map of Whistler you see an extraordinary spider web of hiking trails. Easy trails, moderate trails and challenging hiking trails are all available. Another marvellous thing about Whistler is that Garibaldi Provincial ...
Read more

Victoria Hiking Trails

Victoria has a seemingly endless number of amazing hiking trails.  Most take you to wild and beautiful Pacific Ocean views and others take you to tranquil lakes in beautiful BC Coastal Rainforest wilderness.  Regional Parks and Provincial Parks are everywhere you turn ...
Read more

The West Coast Trail

The West Coast Trail was created after decades of brutal and costly shipwrecks occurred along the West Coast of Vancouver Island.  One shipwreck in particular was so horrific, tragic and unbelievable that it forced the creation of a trail along the coast, which ...
Read more