Stawamus Chief Provincial Park — Attraction in Squamish

I love this place but I only go in the off-season now because it gets just crazy busy on nice days. It's a strenuous and steep hike with lots of stairs in the first half so be reasonably fit before attempting it. Pretty much always people on the trail now and often talking loudly as they hike so don't expect any wilderness peace and quiet. The top half of the first Peak, which I think has the best views, has two ladders to get up short cliffs and the very top section is up and down a granite slab so make sure you have good footwear. Running shoes are ok but don't be one of the bozos doing it in heels or dress shoes. The 2nd Peak is less of a summit and more of a plateau with trees so less viewing space. The 3rd Peak is basically all a treed plateau with no clear summit but some lookouts through the trees. Reasonably fit person can reach the top in about an hour, allow about an hour to get back down too, it gets very hard on the knees descending the steep and sometimes loose sections so be careful. Very fit athletes can ascend in about 30 mins if pushing a hard and fast pace and no delays at choke points from other hikers, but that is...

First Peak offers gorgeous views. If you want to take the challenge to the Second Peak, it is well worth it. The kids 9 and older can get there, but not a safe trail for those unfit for climbing; must be tall enough to pass certain spots without assistance. Must carry a flashlight and water. I would not hike during a rainy day unless well prepared physically and mentally. A small backpack containing a small first aid kit , a cellphone, water, food, a spare shirt (you will sweat a lot) and a camera, are the minimums. Many would agree that these are easy trails; I can say that it depends of what people you are surrounded with. It took me over two hours to get to the second peak, taking lots of picture-taking breaks. Possible that few thousands of people hike these trails every weekend. People speaking various languages can be noticed on the mountain. There is a large campground at the trail-head. Many rock climbers are taking the challenge. Sometimes Paragliders can be seen taking the plunge. Chipmunks and crows are frequent visitors of the Peaks, they don't mind to...

Beautiful natural area that offers a lot in terms of hiking, although there is also camping here - no campfires, though!

The main reason you'll come is the Stawamus Chief hike, which can take you to three different peaks overlooking Howe Sound and the surrounding mountains. The trail can take anywhere from 3-6 hours depending on your fitness level and how long you spend at the different viewpoints. The very beginning is particularly steep and involves lots of stairs.

I'd recommend alotting about 6 hours if you want to get to all three peaks and plan on going slow with breaks. Peaks 2 and 3 are very close to each other, so it's worth going to 3 if you got to 2. There is technically a back trail that takes you past 1 and 2 directly to 3, although it's super rocky and poorly maintained. There are also some minor scrambling sections right before peak 2 - there are chains nailed into the rocks to assist with...