I love hiking and have done a lot of hiking over the past couple of years (I started a hiking group…read moretwo years ago), improving my stamina and fitness level. I have been able to do increasingly harder hikes, although my level is solidly intermediate -- I can't do hikes that are 20km, 10 hours, extreme elevation, really rough terrain, etc. The Stawamus Chief, known as "The Chief", is a popular hike that is on many people's bucket list. I was never particularly interested in The Chief, as the description seemed too difficult and being in Squamish, it was not possible to get there as a non-driver. However, this summer, some friends who I met through my hiking group wanted to try The Chief. We went on a Wednesday, in order to avoid the weekend crowd. Seven of us went, and none of us being morning people, we arrived around 11:30am, which is considered late for hardcore hikers. Fortunately, we were able to find a parking spot, although there were very few available at that time. The Chief consists of three peaks, and we only did the first one, which was more than enough. We went quite slowly, taking breaks as needed, and excluding about an hour at the top, taking in the view and having lunch, it took us about 4.5 hours to complete (2.5 hours to the top, 2 hours back down). While I was obviously able to complete The Chief, I didn't particularly enjoy the hike (although I really liked the company and hanging out with my friends), and I have no desire to do it again -- I've done it once, I don't have anything to prove, and there are so many other hikes to do. The trail for the first peak, while relatively short (under 4km there and back) is quite steep, and there are a lot of stairs. The problem is that I am short, and the steps were quite high, so I was extra slow as it took me longer to step up or down each stair, and by the end of the hike, I was exhausted (as were my friends). I had heard that there were chains and a ladder on the rock face that you needed to scramble up in order to get to the top, and this is why I had no desire to try The Chief. While challenging, the chains and ladder weren't so bad, and easier than I had expected. But the scramble up the rock face after the chains and ladder was horrible. I hated the scramble up the rock face, and I was actually pretty terrified -- I almost fell backwards to my death, as with Tunnel Bluffs. Thankfully my friends helped me. In my opinion, there should have been some chains to hold on to. Anyway, I made it up without dying, but I am never doing that again. At the top we could see the second peak, and to me, it looked like a pure scramble up rock face, the part I hated about our hike. I'm definitely never going to attempt the other peaks. We spend about an hour at the top, having lunch and hanging out. There was a cute chipmunk who ate the trail mix that I "accidentally" dropped, and we saw a Peregrine falcon and a raven flying around for over five minutes -- it looked like the falcon was chasing the raven. Overall a great day with my friends, but I did not enjoy The Chief and have no desire to ever do it again. [Yelp collections: Hiking]

I had never been to Stawamus Chief before but I was super excited for it. I had heard that it was a…read morerather difficult hike (which it is) but it's totally doable! We had someone with us who had never done a hike before and she made it to the top so it's doable. Having said that, we only did peak 1 because it was raining that day and we didn't want to risk anything. Peak 1 have lots of rocks and the elevation gain is pretty big. It took us 4.5 hours in total for the hike but if you are someone who is a hiker, it's possible to do it in 3 hrs. I will say that if you decide to do this hike on a rainy day, be prepared to have proper shoes because it does get slippery! Regardless I would say having proper shoes for this hike is important. The top of the hike is mostly climbing with ropes and on flat elevated rocks so it's good to have shoes with good grip. The view from up there is definitely worth it though!

What a fantastic hike! It is decently signed although we did get lost at one point. But that…read morecould've just been us. The trees and moss are beautiful. We hiked up to the Lookout point and the view was stunning. Worth the uphill hike. It is rocky terrain and lots of stairs so if you were not good with those things I would not suggest this hike. I would highly suggest some snacks to sit at the top of lookout and enjoy while you look at the stunning view.

Murrin Park is a rock climber's paradise. The large collection of granite crags provides numerous…read moreclimbing opportunities for all skill levels.  During peak hours, finding parking will test your patience. Many tourists, families, and climbers crowd the park. We just took a quick, flat walk around Browning Lake. Other things to do at Murrin Park: - Swim in the lake - Picnic by the lake - Hike the Murrin Park Loop Trail - Go fishing Murrin Provincial Park was a quick stop along our Sea to Sky Highway road trip. The park was not our kind of paradise. (Part 3)

If you enjoy nature this place is worth visiting. It is calming and has great views and a few…read morelarger rocks to climb around. There are many areas to snap great touristy photos and nice for the sunset too. Park is well maintained and easily accessible with parking lots nearby.

Many people go to Horseshoe bay to take the ferry to Bowen island but a stop at Whytecliff Park on…read morethe way is clearly a nice Idea. Lovely views of the bay, lazy sea lions sunbathing on the rocks, easy trails to walk on and lots of benches to sit, relax and enjoy the view. There's even a cafe in the parking lot near the entrance. Hot food, snacks and drinks, if you forgot to bring food you won't starve there.

I've just had one of the best hiking days of my life…read more Reasons: ~A gorgeous drive up the Sea To Sky past Squamish to the Cheakamus trail head. ~The best group of hiking friends I could ever imagine. ~The trail has amazingly beautiful views of mountain peaks, Starvation Lake and the rushing river with a pebble beach where people fly-fish. I felt like I was watching a fishing show only it was live! I half expected to see bear hunting there. ~A gradual elevation with gravel and well compacted stone on some parts while other parts were carpeted in perfect Autumn coloured leaves. The hike is only a few hours long and about 9k, but you feel you want to stretch it out a bit and enjoying the real wilderness feeling to be had out there. Bring a snack, there's a couple of spots to sit on a Moss carpet with incredible views of snowy peaks. Not only does this easy hike have incredible views of the mountains, but also offers some real beauties for rail-fans. This trail is an in and out, not a loop, and includes a few surprises like the makeshift 'suspension bridge' above the train tracks where there the trail fell away. It's more like a fence laid flat and supported with chain link and re-bar. Safe but a bit freaky! I felt super brave and went first of the 7 of us. One of the best hikes I've had in BC. and anyone could do this one. This has got to be on the best of BC hikes list.

One of the most beautiful hikes I've been to. So worth the view. You can stop by bowen on the way,…read morebut it gets crowded and that's a very short hike. Hiking up and down St Marks Summit took us around 5.5 hours (with eating lunch and taking photos and lots of breaks!). We hiked around total of 10 km. The hike is definitely moderate-hard. It gets more difficult at the very top. It's muddy and slippery. Please be careful. The path at the end isn't as clear cut, a lot of climbing tree roots. There are plenty of parking :) the toilets were closed when we were there in October. There was only the portable toilets - kind of smelly. Make sure to bring your own tissue.

Omg! We were told this was going to be an easy hike with worth it view - WRONG!! This was a pretty…read moreintense hike for beginners, even intermediate hikers. It's mainly uphill and took us 2 hours to get up and around 1.5 hours to get back down. There are also a lot of tree roots/branches, I slightly sprained my ankle on the way back down. The viewpoint was stunning but very limited space to see it and it can easily get crowded up there. Two tips if you go: Bring bug spray, lots of mosquitoes! Bring lots and lots of water, we ran out going back but thankfully, there wasn't too many uphill. I highly suggest having GPS/maps on when you hike, signage isn't great. In my opinion, the view wasn't worth the difficult hike lol

The boardwalk boasts an impressive backdrop of the Howe Sound, snow-capped mountains, and clear…read moreblue sky. This is the most southerly fjord in North America. With the parking lot being near the highway and free, many visitors (both people and dogs) stroll the area.  Watch out for the webby tents of caterpillars in the trees. They're a bit unsightly. Other things to do at Porteau Cove: - Scuba dive among shipwrecks, artificial reefs, sunken sculptures, and diverse marine life - Explore tide pools - Camp along the waterfront Porteau Cove was a picturesque stop along our Sea to Sky Highway road trip. I wish I could come back here to watch sunset or the stars at night. (Part 2)

This place has been my escape and sanctuary for a few years now. Whenever I need to escape the city…read moreI usually drive up here. I have also used this place many times to capture pictures. I find this location great for night photography. Stars, Moon, Milky way and have even been able to capture Northern Lights. Not the best Northern Lights but considering it is close to home a score. Worth checking out.

One of the best views for intermediate hike! The beginning is very rocky and slippery when coming…read moredown but rest is beautiful forest trail. You can go via black mountain for view of the lions and stop by canine lake for a swim Value 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Service 4/5 Quality 4/5 18/29

Rated as a moderately challenging hike I'd say Eagle Bluffs is a great hike if you want to start…read moretraining your body for other hikes at Cypress like St. Marks Summit. At an estimated elevation gain of over 400m it has a great effort to reward ratio. The first 2kms are always talked about because it's switchbacks that are just dirt and loose rock. I've done this hike a handful of times and i'm always blown away by how many people I see wearing sandals and jeans. Good on them for being able to do it, but I don't recommend it, especially the sandals. The switchbacks on the way down will kill your feet and knees. Also, as much as I love dogs, I'm an owner myself, I wouldn't bring mine with me on this hike. It's just too taxing on their body, especially if it's a hot day. I saw a poor shitzhu yesterday panting like crazy on the way up. The trail can also get very busy and having a dog on a leash can cause a bit of a traffic and also make parts of the hike harder for you. Logistics: - Parking is at Cypress Bowl. - Bathrooms can be found at the lodge at the parking lot - You don't need a pass this year. - You want to take the Black Mountain Trail (aka The Baden Powell). Not the Howe Sound Crest Trail; this will take you to Bowen Lookout, St. Marks Summit, and beyond.

This is a great spot for an easy walk beside some lovely waterfalls. It is great for dogs to jump…read moreinto the water. There is ample parking at the top of the hill near the soccer field and the waterfall path is just about 20 steps away from the parking and a public washroom.

Like Roberts Creek isn't un-urban enough, you can truly escape away from it all with a little jaunt…read morethrough Cliff Gilker Park. Well marked trails, easy paths, a babbling creek, waterfalls, bridges and huge, red cedars make this a little sanctuary. And the canopied woods means even if it's raining, you're protected. There's a few "viewpoints" with benches and in the hour that I was "lost" in the woods, I didn't see a soul. Although I should warn, the bear sighting signs didn't sit well with me. I should have brought my dog spray and my whistle. Then I could show them who's boss! There's lots of parking, an outhouse (just jump over to the golf course) and a big map that tells you where you are. If you're staying in Roberts Creek, I'd suggest just walking. It's only another 10 minutes and the trails aren't that long.

The hike to Garibaldi Lake! This was a difficult one for me, maybe one of the tougher ones I've…read moreaccomplished and I'm saying that because I'm not the most patient of hikers. I'm more of a speed hiker that likes to get in and get out! But to access Garibaldi Lake, (the obvious main event to the park), you must take the Rubble Creek Trail. It's an 18 kilometer out and back hike (or as us Americans would say - "roundtrip")...that is a length of 11.5 miles long. And with that 11.5 miles, the path is all uphill! Everything about it is uphill until you eventually arrive at...Garibaldi Lake! So...for the folks out there who maybe don't hike often, I'd just suggest preparing for the long haul. The hike will be strenuous, but pace yourself, take breaks when necessary and before long...the reward will be worth the grind! And then, you'll be coming back for more! Another thing, I'm always motivated to capture undisturbed pictures in nature. And it's this inspiration that I use to discover what's out there. I want to reflect back on the experience and know I afforded myself ample time during the day to accomplish the sights and sceneries that make for memorable stories. Lol, it's this type of internal mentality that pushes me to strive for greater heights, so to speak, hehehe. Okay so this Rubble Creek Trail to Garibaldi Lake! You must make a reservation 2 days in advance prior to visiting. Just go to bcparks.ca and sign up for a pass. I also used this website for accessing Joffre Lakes Provincial Park situated in Mount Currie, BC. And btw, this Garibaldi Lake is located just north of Whistler, BC. One side note...the parks, lakes and hikes here in Lower British Columbia are simply fantastic! There's a laundry list of things to do. And especially when you speak to locals and they recommend hidden, under the radar places that the public eye doesn't know much about. I thought the Canadian Rockies in Alberta were stunning, but British Columbia nature is really, really scenic! Before arriving at Garibaldi Lake, I suggest taking a short side trek to Barrier Viewpoint for some quick panoramic looks. Also, along the trail you'll pass over a short bridge looking up at a waterfall. It's worthy of a photo. Finally arriving at Garibaldi Lake, at first it may not be so picturesque (even when the sun is out!) but give it a chance. Walk around and explore and you'll find colorful instances where you'll connect with those green and turquoise blue waters. Especially when you're looking back towards the entrance area of the lake, the return hike back down had some of my most fulfilling pictures of the day. It's weird, it's like the angle of the sun can play tricks on you. Be patient and hopefully magical moments will evolve! I tried to walk around the perimeter of Garibaldi Lake, but that wasn't possible. So...I had to relax a little and take my foot off the gas pedal, lol. In fact, some of my best views were simply looking out at the snowcapped mountain peaks. There's a glacier set in the distance as well. A lot of visitors brought their bathing suits with them. And although the lake is glacially fed and freezing, people were still swimming! I even joined in on the fun and took my clothes down to my underwear and hopped in the waters, lol. Granted, it was only briefly, but still, I wanted to leave no stone unturned while here! I'd also point out that since the lake is not navigable 360 degrees around, it sort of took the pressure off me to find the best picture angles. Instead, I really tried to embrace the setting and live in the moment! There's camping allowed here, but again you must make reservations for it. Btw, it's free to book your entry pass to the lake. Parking is free too. One last thing, remember...when you head back towards the entrance of Garibaldi Lake, you'll be pleasantly surprised with the lake colors illuminating from the tree line pathway. I left the lake around 3pm and suddenly, light greens and blues were evident! There are vault toilets at the lake. Interestingly, they ask you to bring your own toilet paper. Never seen that before. Overall, Garibaldi Lake was a wonderful way to enjoy a summer day in the great outdoors. I can't believe I hiked 18 kilometers. And the path through the forest makes for a quiet atmosphere in the woods. I would still rank Joffre Lakes as my favorite BC landmark, but this Garibaldi Lake has its value and major popularity among hikers. Thank you for taking time to read this.

All I have to say is be prepared.. As this is about an 18km hike, I recommend leaving early in the…read moremorning and staying over night in Whistler so you don't feel rushed. This time around when we went, due to the pandemic, we had to book a time slot the day of as they were limiting the amount of hikers. Driving there isn't the problem nor is the parking, it's the length of time but the reward at the end is worth it. I recommend bringing a small bag for liquids, snacks, bug spray, hat and towel as you could swim there but keep in mind you can't throw away your garbage at the site due to bears even though there's a camp site there. The hike isn't super steep and you won't have to climb anything (at least I didn't), you just have to be ready to walk a lot. The path is well marked so you can't get lost. I would say the average round trip if you aren't including staying at the destination to eat and take photos is roughly 4-5 hours round trip at a steady pace. Hike's are always calming and it helps clear your mind from stress and clutter. This is probably one of the best local hikes I've done so far and I would definitely recommend it to anything looking for a challenge and beautiful view. And if you want to be more adventurous, you can also extend your trip to panoramic ridge and black tusk!

Alexander Falls is an under the radar waterfall situated just off Sea to Sky Highway, located about…read more24 kilometers east of Whistler, British Columbia. I liked the view and perspective of Alexander Falls. In fact, this whole section within the great outdoors of BC, Canada boasts some frequent and picturesque looking waterfalls. I combined this Alexander Falls with a bunch of other waterfalls including... - Nairn Falls. - Rainbow falls. - Brandywine Falls. - Shannon Falls. As long as you're driving Sea to Sky Highway...you should bump into all these natural wonders without having to venture too far off the beaten path. At the most...you may have to hike 1 kilometer or so at a few of the waterfalls. For myself, I decided to make my journey along Sea to Sky Highway a "waterfall themed" adventure trying to capture as many falls as I could within my travels. In my opinion, it's just fun to view waterfall, after waterfall, after waterfall, lol. Even if they're not so spectacular or epic looking, I think getting out into nature and admiring them from afar puts people in a good mood, like for me, it felt like I was allocating my time appropriately during my explorations eventually down to Vancouver. But for this Alexander Falls, you make a turn onto Callaghan Road, just off Sea to Sky Highway and...before arriving, you make one last left hand turn into the Alexander Falls Parking Lot. This last bit of road was extremely bumpy, filled with massive potholes. I arrived in late September on a Saturday at about 9am and was the only person here. After exiting my car, Alexander Falls was already in full view. It was that easy. I did look for hiking trails to possibly get a closer angle of the waterfall but there were clear signs warning visitors that walking past the viewing platform could be unpredictable and unstable. It was highly suggested to hang out by the overlook. So...the vista point view you get of Alexander Falls is pretty much undisturbed. If I had to describe anything in the moment, I'd say I was standing a little too far away. It would have been nicer to be positioned closer. Regardless, I still had ample time to appreciate the setting without strangers getting in the way, lol. Some facts about Alexander Falls according to Wikipedia... "Alexander Falls is a waterfall in the Callaghan Valley area of the Sea to Sky Country of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The falls are located just below a bridge on the access road to Callaghan Lake Provincial Park, at the head of the valley, which lies to the west of the resort town of Whistler. The falls consist of three drops that total up to 141 feet (43 m) in total. The falls are about 40 feet (12 m) wide". I only needed about 20 minutes to get in some photos before feeling content and moving on. In total, I enjoyed Alexander Falls' appearance, especially since Nairn Falls and Rainbow Falls were relatively disappointing prior to stopping here. And after Alexander Falls, 13 kilometers south is the best of em all and that being...Brandywine Falls! So, for those trying to check off as many waterfalls as possible in this part of Sea to Sky Highway, I'd put Alexander Falls in the middle-to-upper echelon in terms of worthwhileness. I think you'll be pleasantly satisfied with your visit.

Bears are awake again! Why don't we sleep the entire winter like them? It's like hitting the fast…read moreforward button to summer. None of this snow nonsense! The drive from sea to sky on Callaghan Road is around 15 minutes however it is known as the best unofficial place to see bears in Whistler. The road was paved for the 2010 olympics and grass was planted on either side that apparently grows clover (which bears love). So be careful out there and whatever you do don't get out of the car if you see one. If you visit Alexander falls in spring there is still 3-4 feet of snow on the ground so snow boots or snowshoes will help you get to the lookout. But once you get there because you're standing on 3-4 feet of ice you're above the railing of the lookout so you'll get great shots! (Just be careful to not fall over) This is another example of why Whistler is one of the most beautiful places in BC to visit. Towards the end of spring the tap to the waterfall is turned on full blast because of melting ice and snow so it's a really pretty show and you'll also get to see the rainbow effect on clear days like at Brandywine falls. There really is no hike here only an easy five minute stroll from your car to the look out and picnic tables to munch on grub. There are bathrooms here but I'd hold it until you get to a real one because these are outhouse styled. This is definitely one of mother nature's creations that you shouldn't miss if you visit Whistler. #WhistlerWonderland