Squamish

Squamish sits on the land of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), where the Squamish River meets the top of Howe Sound. The Nation points to an archaeological site 8,600 years old in its territory. Most of its members live on Vancouver's North Shore, and a smaller community lives in Squamish along the river, where the Nation's Totem Hall stands on Stawamus Road. The District of Squamish has delivered a formal apology to the Nation for harms its own actions caused across generations. It marked the apology in public at O'Siyam Pavilion on 30 September 2026, which was the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Downtown Squamish runs along Cleveland and Second avenues, and that's where you eat. Howe Sound Brewing pours its own beer in a brewpub at 37801 Cleveland Avenue with 20 hotel rooms upstairs. Salted Vine Kitchen & Bar on Second Avenue cooks from local farms and shucks oysters from Wednesday to Sunday, so book it before a weekend. Out on Commercial Way, Backcountry Brewing bakes thin-crust pizza to go with its beer.

Bald eagles gather on the Squamish River in winter, and BC Parks puts the peak in November and December. Watch from the Eagle Run viewing area on the dyke across from 41015 Government Road in Brackendale, because BC Parks closes Brackendale Eagles Park itself while the eagles are there. The District of Squamish says the gathering is the largest in North America and counts the birds every January.