This week I would like share our hike at the Stawamus Chief trail. The Stawamus Chief Hiking Trail is a moderate to difficult loop trail that loops through 3 peaks, totaling about 7km and 650m elevation gain. When we visited the trail in June of 2022, we decided to only hike the First Peak due to time constraints. We also parked at the Sea to Summit Gondola parking lot and started our hike at the trailhead of the Sea to Summit Trail.
Trailhead of the Sea to Summit Trail
Like I mention back in my Sea to Summit Trail post, the first portion of the Chief Trail is shared with the Sea to Summit Trail. This first section is quite steep with lots of big stone stair steps or human built wooden stairs. As we continue to ascend, we reached a fork in the trail where one path takes you directly to the Third Peak, while the other path brings you to the First and Second Peaks. We took the trail to towards the First and Second Peaks.
Trail starts flat.
Trail quickly becomes steep.
Fork in the trail.
A few hundred meters further down the trail, we reached a lookout where there was a clearing and we saw some mountains behind the forest. Getting back on trail, we eventually reached some steep sections where we needed to climb ladders or pull on chains to ascend. With some additional light scrambling on a granite face, we finally reached the First Peak for some beautiful views of the town of Squamish, surrounding mountains, and where the Squamish River feeds into Howe Sound.
Lookout in the trail.
Ladder.
Big granite faces.
Final light scramble before reaching the First Peak.
Town of Squamish and surrounding mountains.
More of Squamish and more mountains.
Place where the Squamish River feeds into Howe Sound.
Check out my previous hikes:
- The Panoramic Views of Panorama Ridge
- The Golden Larches of Frosty Mountain
- The Winter Snow of Pump Peak at Mount Seymour
- Sapphire Waters and Azure Skies of Battle Bluff
- It Isn't Always Sunshine and Blue Skies
- The Frozen River and Waterfalls of Maligne Canyon
- The Amazing Arches of Arches National Park
- The Bizarre Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park
- The Magnificent Stones of Zion National Park
- The Flowing Walls of Lower Antelope Canyon
- A Glimpse of Hope at the Hope Lookout Trail
- Turquoise Waters viewed from Sea to Summit Trail
- The Three Peaks of Mount Seymour
- The Serene Winter Scene at Dog Mountain
- Murrin Loop and Jurassic Ridge
- Yosemite National Park
- The Bear's Hump at Waterton National Park
- Views of Okanagan from Pincushion Mountain Trail
- The Half Frozen Waterfalls at Franklin Falls
- Hole in the Wall of Vancouver Island
- Sometimes You Just Get Lucky
- Winter Wonderland at Alexander Falls
- Eagle Bluffs
- Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park
- Admiralty Point
- Myra Canyon Trail
- Garabaldi Lake
- Botanical Beach Loop
- Wild Pacific Trail Lighthouse Loop
- Whistler Train Wreck Trail
- Grouse Grind
- Crown Mountain
- Chance Cove Coastal Trail
- Big Four Ice Caves