Hiking for The Scaredy Cat: Hikes in and around Vancouver, B.C. Canada
  • Trail Information
    • The Hiking Trails & Safety Information >
      • Abby Grind: Abbotsford
      • Alder Flats: Golden Ears
      • Alouette Mtn: Golden Ears Provincial Park
      • Ancient Cedars Trail
      • Al's Habrich Ridge Trail: Sea to Sky Gondola
      • B.C.M.C. Grouse Mountain
      • Bear Mtn: Mission, BC
      • Big Cedar & Kennedy Falls: Mount Fromme
      • Blue Mountain:Coquitlam
      • Bosumarne Falls: Chilliwack, BC
      • Bowen Lookout:Cypress Mountain
      • Bridal Falls Lookout: Chilliwack-Agassiz
      • Brother's Creek: North Vancouver
      • Community Forest: Chilliwack
      • Community Forest-Gloria Lookout-Mt. Thurston-Elk Mtn-Chilliwack
      • Coquitlam Crunch: Coquitlam
      • Cheakamus Lake: Whistler
      • Crystal Falls: Coquitlam, BC
      • Dewdney Grind: Mission
      • Diez Vistas: Buntzen Lake
      • Dragon's Back: Hope, BC
      • East-West Connector Bridge Trail~Golden Ears Provincial Park
      • Eaton Lake: Hope
      • Elfin Lakes: Squamish
      • Elk Mountain: Chilliwack
      • Evan's Creek: Golden Ears Provincial Park
      • First Peak: Seymour Mountain
      • Ford Mtn: Chilliwack
      • Grouse Grind: West Vancouver
      • Garibaldi Lake: Squamish
      • Harrison Grind/Campbell Lake: Fraser Valley
      • Harrison Lookout/Fire Tower
      • Heather Trail: Manning Park
      • High Note Trail: Whistler
      • Hillkeep: Chilliwack
      • Hope Lookout Trail
      • Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park: Vancouver Island
      • Jacobson's Lake to Palmer Pond
      • Joffre Lakes: Pemberton
      • Jug Island: Belcarra Regional Park
      • Ladner Creek Train Trestle: Coquihalla Hwy
      • Killarney Lake: Bowen Island
      • Lake Lovely-Squamish
      • Larch Meadows: Manning Park
      • Levette Lake Loop: Squamish
      • Lewx Qwo:m (luhw KWOM): Chilliwack
      • Lindeman & Greendrop Lakes: Chilliwack
      • Lightning Lakes: Manning Park
      • Lindsay Lake Loop: Buntzen Lake
      • Little Douglas Lake: Coquihalla Summit
      • Lower Falls-East Canyon Parking Lot: Golden Ears
      • Lynn Loop: Lynn Headwaters Regiona Park
      • Lower Hollyburn: Cypress Mtn
      • Lynn Peak: Lynn Headwaters Regional Park
      • McKee Peak-Cliffside Caves
      • Mehatl Falls
      • Menzies: Golden Ears Provincial Park
      • Minnekhada Park: Coquitlam
      • Mount Cheam: Chilliwack
      • Mount Fromme: North Van
      • Mount Sleese to Memorial Plaque: Chiliwack
      • Mount St. Benedict: Mission
      • Mount Strachan: Mount Seymour
      • Mt. Thom: Chilliwack
      • Mt. Gardner: Bowen Island
      • Mt. Woodslide
      • Munro & Denette Lakes: Coquitlam
      • Mystery Lake: Mount Seymour
      • Needle Peak/Flatiron: Coquihalla Highway
      • Norvan Falls: Lynn Headwaters Regional Park
      • Othello Tunnels-Nicola Valley Loop
      • Parkhurst Ghost Town: Whistler
      • Panorama Ridge: Squamish
      • Petgill Lake: Howe Sound
      • Poland Lake-EC Manning Park
      • Quarry Rock: Deep Cove
      • Ravens Bluff-Mission
      • Red Mountain: Mission
      • Salmon Ridge Trail: Chilliwack, BC
      • Sandy Cove Trail: Harrison Hot Springs
      • Sasquatch Caves: Hope
      • Sea to Summit: Sea to Sky Gondola
      • Skyline: Grouse Mountain
      • Skyline 1: Manning Park
      • Spirit Caves-Yale, BC
      • St. Mark's: Cypress Mountain
      • Statlu Lake
      • The Stawamus Chief: Squamish
      • Tikwalus Trail: Spuzzum
      • Trickle Creek Treehouse
      • Thacker Mountain Trail: Hope
      • Tunnel Bluffs: Howe Sound
      • Vedder: Chilliwack
      • Watersprite Lake: Squamish
      • Wedgemont Lake: Whislter
      • Wells Peak
      • Widgeon Falls
      • Williams Peak
      • Windy Joe: Manning Park
      • Woodland Walk to Sawblade Falls
      • Zoa Peak: Coquihallia Hwy
    • The Snowshoe Trails & Safety Info >
      • Artist Point
      • Bowen Lookout
      • Dog Mountain: Day
      • Callaghan Valley
      • Dog Mountain: Night
      • Eagle Bluffs
      • Elfin Lakes to Red Heather Hut >
        • Fat Dog
        • First Pump
        • Hollyburn
        • Lightning Lakes Loop
        • Rainbow Lake
        • Sasquatch Mountain Snowshoe: Hemlock Valley
        • SS Grind
        • Stawberry Flats
        • Zoa
    • The U.S.A. Hikes >
      • Blue Lake: Northern Cascades
      • Chain Lakes
      • Damfino Lakes
      • Deception Pass State Park: Washington, USA
      • Oyster Dome
      • Yellow Aster Butte
    • The Trail Walks >
      • Aldergrove Regional Park: Aldergrove
      • Blue Heron Reserve: Chilliwack
      • Brae Island: Fort Langley
      • Burn's Bog: Delta
      • Burnaby Lake Loop: Burnaby
      • Campbell Valley: Langley
      • Cathederal Grove: MacMillian Provincial Park:
      • Delta Watershed
      • East Sector Lands: Harrison Hot Springs
      • Elgin Park: Surrey, BC
      • Green Timbers: Surrey
      • High Knoll Park: Surrey
      • Houston Trail: Fort Langley
      • Katzie Marsh Loop: Pitt Meadows
      • Lower Falls: Golden Ears: Maple Ridge
      • Lower Seymour Conservation: North Vancouver
      • Lighthouse Park: West Vancouver
      • Mud Bay: Surrey
      • Redwood Park: Surrey
      • Reifel Bird Santuary: Delta
      • Rice Lake: North Vancouver
      • Richmond Nature Park: Richmond
      • Rolley Lake: Mission
      • Ruth Johnson Park: White Rock
      • Sasamat Lake: Port Moody
      • Spirea Trail: Golden Ears
      • Sunnyside Urban Forest: Surrey
      • Serpentine Bird Santuary
      • Shoesmith East Trail Loop: Maple Ridge
      • Spirit Trail: Ladner
      • Stanley Park Seawall: Vancouver
      • Sye'xw Cho'teqw Adventure Park
      • The Jetti: Iona Beach, Richmond
      • Tynehead
      • Yew Lake
  • My Blogging
  • Jorullo Bridge Hiking Tour Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
  • Mt. Kilimanjaro
  • In the River Valley Hikes
  • West Coast Trail
  • Peru
  • Hiking Snapshots
    • Thru Hikes
    • Bears & Cougars +
    • Proper Hiking Footwear
    • Trail Etiquette
  • Blog

The Stawamus Chief: Squamish

Picture
The Stawamus Chief/First Peak: Squamish

Difficult, hills, steep, view, chains, ladders, roots, rocks, steep staircases, slippery granite
Elevation: 626 meters
​Length: 7 km's return 
Dogs: Yes; leashed *Keep in mind there are two ladders and may be difficult for dogs to ascend & descend*
Pit Toilet: Yes, trail beginning only
Hiking Checklist: 
Backpack, poles (fold-able), 10-essentials, tell someone

Directions: Drive to Squamish and past the Sea to Sky Gondola. There is parking for The Chief Hike.


Trail: At the start of the trail you will see the Sea to Sky trail markers. You follow these in the beginning. Start the trail past the sign post. Walk a long the only flat part as you come to some big rock steps. Then right after a long set of stairs. The next part of the trail is a series of stairs, rocks, stairs, rocks, stairs and rocks. These steps are big and deep making it tiring. Then a shorter part of rocks & stairs. On the side of the trail Shannon Falls roars and you'll get a glimpse here and there of the powerful falls. The next part of the trail are rock steps and this part of the trail goes on for quite some time. The trail is not as steep but still quite a grunt up. Soon you arrive at the Sea to Sky veers to the right. Keep going straight. Not long after you will see a sign for third peak. You can go to Third Peak from here however, it's said it is not well marked. We kept following the First Peak trail. The next part of the trail is wooden stairs, rocks and roots. Then two sets of staircases back to back with rocky stairs in between. It is at this point you are about 1/2 way. Keep going as you carry on up some wood steps and more rocks. It’s not as steep. Another short staircase. After the staircase it's more rocks and a lookout. Then up some trail, roots and rocks to another staircase.
Then a sign post. You are about 1 km away. Follow the steep snaky trail to a small ladder and more stairs. Then make your way along granite slabs. You'll come to a crevasse with a chain and trees to help you toward a ladder. Once at the top there are two chains to help pull you up. Climb up the granite slab and then through some trees to a large granite slab. Make your way to the top. There’s little crevices and foot holes to help you up and down. Once at the top there are many places to sit and have lunch. The views are stunning. When your camera is full make your way down the granite slab the way you came. Give yourself time to get down; it is steep and the steps are big. Once past the ladders I used my poles on some sections to get me down carefully and to ease the pain on my knees. It's handy to have the ones that fold up and fit in your pack so they don't be bothersome when on the ladders and using the chains. I wouldn’t do this in the rain, snow or ice. Happy & safe hiking.
Picture
To my dad. You taught me to love the mountains & respect nature. Wherever you are there's not a second, minute, or a day that I don't think of you. This hike is dedicated to you...Miss you-Love you, dad! xoxo Lori
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  • Trail Information
    • The Hiking Trails & Safety Information >
      • Abby Grind: Abbotsford
      • Alder Flats: Golden Ears
      • Alouette Mtn: Golden Ears Provincial Park
      • Ancient Cedars Trail
      • Al's Habrich Ridge Trail: Sea to Sky Gondola
      • B.C.M.C. Grouse Mountain
      • Bear Mtn: Mission, BC
      • Big Cedar & Kennedy Falls: Mount Fromme
      • Blue Mountain:Coquitlam
      • Bosumarne Falls: Chilliwack, BC
      • Bowen Lookout:Cypress Mountain
      • Bridal Falls Lookout: Chilliwack-Agassiz
      • Brother's Creek: North Vancouver
      • Community Forest: Chilliwack
      • Community Forest-Gloria Lookout-Mt. Thurston-Elk Mtn-Chilliwack
      • Coquitlam Crunch: Coquitlam
      • Cheakamus Lake: Whistler
      • Crystal Falls: Coquitlam, BC
      • Dewdney Grind: Mission
      • Diez Vistas: Buntzen Lake
      • Dragon's Back: Hope, BC
      • East-West Connector Bridge Trail~Golden Ears Provincial Park
      • Eaton Lake: Hope
      • Elfin Lakes: Squamish
      • Elk Mountain: Chilliwack
      • Evan's Creek: Golden Ears Provincial Park
      • First Peak: Seymour Mountain
      • Ford Mtn: Chilliwack
      • Grouse Grind: West Vancouver
      • Garibaldi Lake: Squamish
      • Harrison Grind/Campbell Lake: Fraser Valley
      • Harrison Lookout/Fire Tower
      • Heather Trail: Manning Park
      • High Note Trail: Whistler
      • Hillkeep: Chilliwack
      • Hope Lookout Trail
      • Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park: Vancouver Island
      • Jacobson's Lake to Palmer Pond
      • Joffre Lakes: Pemberton
      • Jug Island: Belcarra Regional Park
      • Ladner Creek Train Trestle: Coquihalla Hwy
      • Killarney Lake: Bowen Island
      • Lake Lovely-Squamish
      • Larch Meadows: Manning Park
      • Levette Lake Loop: Squamish
      • Lewx Qwo:m (luhw KWOM): Chilliwack
      • Lindeman & Greendrop Lakes: Chilliwack
      • Lightning Lakes: Manning Park
      • Lindsay Lake Loop: Buntzen Lake
      • Little Douglas Lake: Coquihalla Summit
      • Lower Falls-East Canyon Parking Lot: Golden Ears
      • Lynn Loop: Lynn Headwaters Regiona Park
      • Lower Hollyburn: Cypress Mtn
      • Lynn Peak: Lynn Headwaters Regional Park
      • McKee Peak-Cliffside Caves
      • Mehatl Falls
      • Menzies: Golden Ears Provincial Park
      • Minnekhada Park: Coquitlam
      • Mount Cheam: Chilliwack
      • Mount Fromme: North Van
      • Mount Sleese to Memorial Plaque: Chiliwack
      • Mount St. Benedict: Mission
      • Mount Strachan: Mount Seymour
      • Mt. Thom: Chilliwack
      • Mt. Gardner: Bowen Island
      • Mt. Woodslide
      • Munro & Denette Lakes: Coquitlam
      • Mystery Lake: Mount Seymour
      • Needle Peak/Flatiron: Coquihalla Highway
      • Norvan Falls: Lynn Headwaters Regional Park
      • Othello Tunnels-Nicola Valley Loop
      • Parkhurst Ghost Town: Whistler
      • Panorama Ridge: Squamish
      • Petgill Lake: Howe Sound
      • Poland Lake-EC Manning Park
      • Quarry Rock: Deep Cove
      • Ravens Bluff-Mission
      • Red Mountain: Mission
      • Salmon Ridge Trail: Chilliwack, BC
      • Sandy Cove Trail: Harrison Hot Springs
      • Sasquatch Caves: Hope
      • Sea to Summit: Sea to Sky Gondola
      • Skyline: Grouse Mountain
      • Skyline 1: Manning Park
      • Spirit Caves-Yale, BC
      • St. Mark's: Cypress Mountain
      • Statlu Lake
      • The Stawamus Chief: Squamish
      • Tikwalus Trail: Spuzzum
      • Trickle Creek Treehouse
      • Thacker Mountain Trail: Hope
      • Tunnel Bluffs: Howe Sound
      • Vedder: Chilliwack
      • Watersprite Lake: Squamish
      • Wedgemont Lake: Whislter
      • Wells Peak
      • Widgeon Falls
      • Williams Peak
      • Windy Joe: Manning Park
      • Woodland Walk to Sawblade Falls
      • Zoa Peak: Coquihallia Hwy
    • The Snowshoe Trails & Safety Info >
      • Artist Point
      • Bowen Lookout
      • Dog Mountain: Day
      • Callaghan Valley
      • Dog Mountain: Night
      • Eagle Bluffs
      • Elfin Lakes to Red Heather Hut >
        • Fat Dog
        • First Pump
        • Hollyburn
        • Lightning Lakes Loop
        • Rainbow Lake
        • Sasquatch Mountain Snowshoe: Hemlock Valley
        • SS Grind
        • Stawberry Flats
        • Zoa
    • The U.S.A. Hikes >
      • Blue Lake: Northern Cascades
      • Chain Lakes
      • Damfino Lakes
      • Deception Pass State Park: Washington, USA
      • Oyster Dome
      • Yellow Aster Butte
    • The Trail Walks >
      • Aldergrove Regional Park: Aldergrove
      • Blue Heron Reserve: Chilliwack
      • Brae Island: Fort Langley
      • Burn's Bog: Delta
      • Burnaby Lake Loop: Burnaby
      • Campbell Valley: Langley
      • Cathederal Grove: MacMillian Provincial Park:
      • Delta Watershed
      • East Sector Lands: Harrison Hot Springs
      • Elgin Park: Surrey, BC
      • Green Timbers: Surrey
      • High Knoll Park: Surrey
      • Houston Trail: Fort Langley
      • Katzie Marsh Loop: Pitt Meadows
      • Lower Falls: Golden Ears: Maple Ridge
      • Lower Seymour Conservation: North Vancouver
      • Lighthouse Park: West Vancouver
      • Mud Bay: Surrey
      • Redwood Park: Surrey
      • Reifel Bird Santuary: Delta
      • Rice Lake: North Vancouver
      • Richmond Nature Park: Richmond
      • Rolley Lake: Mission
      • Ruth Johnson Park: White Rock
      • Sasamat Lake: Port Moody
      • Spirea Trail: Golden Ears
      • Sunnyside Urban Forest: Surrey
      • Serpentine Bird Santuary
      • Shoesmith East Trail Loop: Maple Ridge
      • Spirit Trail: Ladner
      • Stanley Park Seawall: Vancouver
      • Sye'xw Cho'teqw Adventure Park
      • The Jetti: Iona Beach, Richmond
      • Tynehead
      • Yew Lake
  • My Blogging
  • Jorullo Bridge Hiking Tour Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
  • Mt. Kilimanjaro
  • In the River Valley Hikes
  • West Coast Trail
  • Peru
  • Hiking Snapshots
    • Thru Hikes
    • Bears & Cougars +
    • Proper Hiking Footwear
    • Trail Etiquette
  • Blog