Take it easy out there, when the roads are snowy that also means there’s gonna be plenty of pow for everyone. Granted, it’s not the most spectacular waterfall in British Columbia, but it makes for a nice afternoon stroll. Weekends are especially prone to traffic volume heading up and down the highway so consider planning your trip to the mountains on a weekday, if possible. Shannon Falls is located just south of Squamish and about a 60km drive from Vancouver. The distance from Vancouver to Whistler is only 120 kilometers, however, it’s one of the most scenic routes in British Columbia and I don’t say that lightly. You can find more information about this campsite here. It’s tiny. “People driving the Sea to Sky Highway are required, at the very minimum, to have all-season tires that are mud and snow rated with 3.5mm of tread depth (legal requirements are in effect from October 1 to March 31, see the BC Government guidelines here). The Sea to Sky highway starts in Vancouver and ends in Whistler. We started our Canada road trip in Vancouver, bought a van, and explored Vancouver Island before arriving at the start of the much anticipated Highway 99, aka the Sea to Sky highway, from Vancouver to Whistler.
This is another no-brainer. highways. Staff Sergeant LeClair already mentioned it but this one is worth driving home twice.
In Squamish, we visited the Squamish Adventure Centre and in Whistler, we stopped by the Whistler Visitor Center. This isn’t an easy trail, be sure to wear proper hiking boots and bring along plenty of drinking water, food, and snacks.
Sit back and enjoy the ride by carpooling, using a shuttle to get up to Whistler, or taking the local bus (here is Whistler Transit’s schedule). Also read my other Canada post for more Canada travel inspiration!
Where does the Sea to Sky Highway start and end? Below you can find a list of all the places we visited on our Vancouver to Whistler drive. I hope this post will help you plan an unforgettable road trip on Highway 99. Der Sea to Sky Highway nach Whistler führt weiter durch die Natur. The busiest months are July and August; hiking trails, campsites and parking lots can get really crowded during this time.
There are peak times on the highway just as there on in any city during “rush hour”. As is displayed on every license plate ‘BC is Beautiful‘ and the Sea to Sky highway is no exception… Though actually, the entire west coast of Canada is utterly perfect for road trips! Especially during summer/sunny weekends lots of Canadian families spend their days here. If you are looking for a fully equipped campsite, there are several along the Sea to Sky highway but keep in mind they can be rather pricey (and busy), especially during summer. I agree, it’s such an amazing part of the world!
The Sea to Sky roads are generally very well-maintained but Mother Nature doesn’t always play by the rules and when she unleashes a big storm it’s important to be as safe as possible. Snow on the roads usually means even more snow on the ski hills so let’s make sure everyone makes it up here safely. Usually, people in Canada are pretty relaxed about wild/unofficial camping.