Stawamus Chief

49°41′ N 123°09′ W

The Stawamus Chief suits fit hikers who want a steep climb to granite summits above Howe Sound on the southern edge of Squamish, and BC Parks puts First Peak 1.5 km and 540 m up the trail. The trade-off is a climb BC Parks calls steep and difficult, with stair treads that turn slippery in winter and rockfall possible anywhere in the park.

Photo James Abbott · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery

Ink and wash painting of Stawamus Chief. — Painted after a photo by Trougnouf, CC BY 4.0.

Mount Garibaldi stands white above the Squamish valley in the view north from a granite ledge on the Stawamus Chief. — Veronica Dudarev

Pick a dry day, as the stair treads get slick in winter.

Is it for you?

The Chief gives fit hikers a short, steep climb to wide views over Howe Sound, right on the edge of Squamish.

You’ll love Stawamus Chief if

You want a hard half day with a summit at the end.
You're coming up without a car and can work around the Squamish Connector's afternoon pickups.

Think twice if

You don't like heights or steep, stepped trail.
Ice is in the forecast, when BC Parks warns of slippery treads and falling ice.

Pick the right months for this hike

BC Parks keeps the trails open through the winter. It warns that the trail and stair treads get slippery and that ice can fall, and the Chief Apron lot's gate stays open around the clock from 16 October to 14 March unless snow blocks the road.

Know what catches hikers out here

BC Parks calls the Chief Trail a steep and difficult climb for hikers in good physical condition.
Rockfall can happen at any time anywhere in the park, BC Parks warns, and debris lies on the upper sections of the Angel's Crest Trail.
The trail and stair treads get slippery in winter, and ice can fall from above.
BC Parks tows cars parked outside the designated lots and charges to unlock the gate for any car left in a closed day-use area.

Give the wildlife room

Peregrine falcons nest on the Chief, and BC Parks asks you to keep your distance and watch them through binoculars. A bear was visiting the campground regularly in May 2026, so stow food and anything scented in a bear-proof bin or your car. WildSafeBC says black bears usually den from December to April, and feeding or attracting one is an offence under section 33.1 of BC's Wildlife Act.

Follow North Shore Rescue's advice

Call 911 as soon as you're lost or hurt. North Shore Rescue asks every hiker to leave a trip plan with a turnaround time and to carry the 10 essentials, headlamp first, because lack of light is the main cause of its overdue-hiker callouts. Rescue costs nothing in British Columbia, so call early.

Stawamus Chief Park protects the 700-metre granite cliffs at the southern entrance to Squamish. The trails start at the day-use parking area near the campground and follow Oleson Creek before they split for each of the three summits. BC Parks gives First Peak as 1.5 km with 540 m of gain and Third Peak as 1.8 km with 630 m, with Second Peak between them at 1.7 km and 590 m. Every summit looks out over Howe Sound and the Squamish valley.

Peregrine falcons nest on the walls, and BC Parks closes some climbing routes from about 15 March to 31 July to leave them in peace; you can watch the birds from the highway pull-out day-use area. In May 2026 BC Parks reported a bear visiting the campground regularly and put a zero-tolerance rule on unattended food and attractants. The park lies in the traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), whose land page names the District of Squamish and the whole Squamish Valley.

Without a car, ride the Squamish Connector from Waterfront Station and reserve the drop-off at the Sea to Sky Gondola, whose parking lot sits at the foot of the lower Chief trail. On the schedule for 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 the shuttle picks up walk-ons in the gondola lot at 3 pm on weekdays, and at weekends and holidays it adds a 4:40 pm pickup. Drivers should use the marked lots, because BC Parks tows illegally parked cars here, including at the Apron lot.

Worth knowing

Go on a dry day if you can. BC Parks warns that the trail and its stair treads get slippery in winter and that ice can fall from above.
Bring food, water, sturdy shoes and a warm layer, which BC Parks expects on this climb.
Leave a trip plan with someone reliable and carry North Shore Rescue's 10 essentials, starting with a headlamp per person.
From July to September, check the BC Wildfire Service before you go, since wildfire smoke and closures shape Sea to Sky plans.

The essentials

Land manager: BC Parks
Distance and climb: First Peak 1.5 km; Second Peak 1.7 km; Third Peak 1.8 km, First Peak 540 m; Second Peak 590 m; Third Peak 630 m (BC Parks)
Trail status: Open when we checked on Oct 16, 2026. Closure page
Dogs: BC Parks says pets must be on a leash at all times except on the Chief Peaks Trail, that owners answer for their behaviour and clean up after them, and that backcountry areas don't suit dogs because of bears and other wildlife. BC Parks' park brochure calls the same summit trail the Peaks Backside Trail. (BC Parks, checked Oct 16, 2026)
Transit: The Squamish Connector stops at Sea to Sky Gondola parking lot, Highway 99 (Squamish Connector). Timetable
Website: Official site
Season: BC Parks keeps the trails open through the winter.
Toilets: BC Parks has pit toilets in the day-use area and the campground and no flush toilets anywhere in the park.

Stawamus ChiefSquamish

Howe Sound stretches south between snow-dusted ridges in the view from the top of the Stawamus Chief.Photo Trougnouf · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Quick answers about Stawamus Chief

How long is the Stawamus Chief hike?

BC Parks puts First Peak 1.5 km up the trail with 540 m of gain and Third Peak 1.8 km up with 630 m, with Second Peak in between at 1.7 km and 590 m. BC Parks publishes no hiking time.

Can you hike the Stawamus Chief in winter?

Yes. BC Parks keeps the trails open in winter and warns that the trail and stair treads get slippery and that ice can fall from the cliffs. The Chief Apron lot's gate stays open around the clock from 16 October to 14 March unless snow blocks the way.

Are dogs allowed on the Stawamus Chief?

Yes. BC Parks says pets must be on a leash at all times except on the Chief Peaks Trail, and it calls the backcountry unsuitable for dogs because of bears and other wildlife.