The Sea to Summit trail, sometimes called the Sea to Sky trail, is a rewarding hike in Squamish BC that offers a gondola ride down.
Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than skipping the (sometimes boring) return hiking journey and resting your legs by getting a gondola down the mountain.
The Sea to Summit uses the same trail as The Chief Squamish to begin with before splitting off, passing Upper Shannon Falls, and then climbing up to the top Sea to Sky gondola station.
Up here you can enjoy a refreshing cold drink from the cafe or explore some of the other trails. In the summer you can sometimes enjoy a yoga class up the top, extend your hike by exploring further, or even stay up until evening to catch some live music!
Having lived in Vancouver for 6 years, this was one of my favorite hikes in Squamish as you avoid the downhill which is often the hardest part!
Be sure to check out the suspension bridges for awesome views of Howe Sound and the surrounding Coast Mountains!
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Sea to Summit Trail, Squamish, BC
The Sea to Summit Trail climbs twice as high as the nearby and popular Chief hiking trails in Squamish, BC.
Starting off on the same trail as The Chief, it soon gets quieter as you branch off and begin climbing up to the top of Shannon Falls and the Sea to Sky Gondola.
Perhaps one of the biggest attractions of this trail (besides the views!) is that you can get the gondola down from the top!
The gondola costs $19 for a download ticket on the Sea to Summit gondola.
Sea to Summit hike basics
Know the essential hike details for hiking the Sea to Summit trail near The Chief hike in Squamish
- Sea-to-sky hike difficulty: Moderate-Hard (some trickier areas involving chains/rope)
- Distance: 7.5 km (one way)
- Elevation: 918 m
- Duration: 3 hours
- Sea to Summit Trail AllTrails Map
The Sea to Summit hike
Walk to the far end of the Shannon Falls Parking lot (the end closest to downtown Squamish) and find the Connector Trail as it goes into the trees.
This trail takes you towards the parking lot for the gondola without having to walk along the busy highway.
When you come out at the parking lot, turn right and look for another sign for the Sea to Summit Trail. Follow this trail, heading right at a junction, and joins up with The Chief trail.
There’s a series of steep wooden stairs here which you’ll be familiar with if you’ve already hiked to the Stawamus Chief. It’s usually a pretty busy section but it’ll soon get quieter.
Continue hiking uphill and watch for a sign marking the split between the trail to the Chief and the trail for the Sea to Summit hike. You’ll have to go right when you get to this junction.
After making a right turn the elevation dies down a little and you can enjoy a flatter section to a wooden bridge. This bridge takes you across Olesen Creek and then continues on more relatively flat terrain.
Just after you’ve spotted the 1/4 marker for the trail it gets steeper again. You’ll veer left and up some more wooden steps before continuing your hike uphill through the forest.
Soon you’ll come out to a clearing where you can see the gondola passing above.
From here, head back into the forest with some downhill before turning left again and making up for that lost elevation with some steep hiking.
The first part of the hill on the Sea to Sky Gondola hike isn’t too bad but it does get progressively steeper and there’s one section where you’ll have to pull yourself over a large rock. A little further on and you can take a break with some views of Howe Sound behind you.
Sticking to the Sea to Summit trail, the path becomes a bit more rolling in terms of elevation and you can make some great progress here. You’ll be able to hear the waterfalls getting louder and louder and there’s a chain installed to help pull yourself up some of the rocks.
Do not go too close to the water at the top of Shannon Falls, it’s VERY dangerous and really not worth the risk.
At the halfway mark, you’ll come out to another rocky clearing with very impressive views of Howe Sound. Take in the views and, when you’re done, follow the markers up more rocks and onto the dirt trail through the forest. You’ll still be going uphill but not quite as strenuously as before.
The last section of the Sea to Summit brings you out onto an old path that looks like a forestry road. Make a left run, cross a small creek and head uphill. When you come out at a junction there’s a signpost on your left.
Take this trail to the left and hike for just over 2km, enjoying this rather easy section.
Again, you’ll pass under the gondola, using a rope to pull yourself up the rock. When we hiked the trail it started snowing on us at this point!
Following the markers, go through the forest until you come out at the lodge and gondola station.
Grab a cool drink, explore the viewpoints and relax before getting the gondola down.
How to get to the Sea to Sky Summit Trail Head in Squamish
Getting to the Sea to Summit trail in Squamish from Vancouver is easy. Simply take the Sea to Sky highway northbound towards Squamish.
You can park at either the Shannon Falls parking lot or the overflow which is across the road.
Parking gets busy at the weekends in summer but don’t park in the parking lot for the Squamish Chief gondola as you may get a parking fine.
Depending on where you’ve parked, you’ll either begin hiking from underneath the Gondola at the far end of the parking lot or by walking along the Connector Trail towards the trailhead for The Chief and The Sea to Summit hike.
My top tips for hiking the Sea to Summit Trail Squamish BC
Here are some things to bear in mind before hiking the Sea to Sky gondola trail.
- Always practice leave no trace ethics. Not sure what those are? Get a refresher here.
- Refresh your memory about hiking safety with BC Adventure Smart.
- Dogs are allowed on leash but the trail is very steep in sections so plan accordingly.
- Sea to Summit trail vs Chief: The Sea to Summit trail is often way less busy than the Chief and you get similar views. However, you have the option of three peaks by hiking the Chief so can make the hike longer or shorter depending on what you want. Whereas the Sea to Summit trail is longer and steeper overall.
What to pack for the Sea to Sky hike Squamish
You’ll need money for a download ticket unless you plan to hike down the Squamish Gondola hike, as well as the following.
What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.
- Check out my day hike packing list here.
- If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
- Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
- Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
- If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
- You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
- You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
- Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.
Other things to do in Squamish + Squamish hikes I recommend
There are so many awesome Squamish hikes I would recommend if you enjoy hiking.
Besides the Stawamus Chief, which I’ve already mentioned and which starts from the same trailhead, there’s also Slhanay Peak and Mount Crumpit, both of which give you amazing views of Squamish and the Chief.
Further north of the town, there’s the Brohm Lake and Tantalus Lookout hike which is beautiful. You’ve also got the Alice Lake trails too.
Or, head into Garibaldi Provincial Park and enjoy beautiful trails like the Elfin Lakes hike and the trail out to Opal Cone and Mamquam Lake.
And, if you’re all hiked out, check out this guide to the best things to do in Squamish which I love to do post hike such as grabbing an ice cream, or checking out one of the local breweries.
Last Updated on October 29, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.