Sea to Sky

Iconic Road, Breathtaking Views

Driving along the edge of Western Canada.

The Sea to Sky Highway stretches 101.36 miles along Canada’s west coast. Also known as Highway 99, the journey begins in Vancouver, British Columbia and ends in Pemberton, British Columbia. A drive along this route provides stunning views of Howe Sound (the sea) and of the snow capped peaks of Canada’s Coast Mountain Range (sky).

Fall colors and beautiful weather enhanced the scenery.

Sea to Sky Gondola

Visitor Center and cafe at the base of the gondola.

There are so many gorgeous and historically interesting places to visit while driving the sea to sky. One stop that should be on everyone’s must see list is the Sea to Sky Gondola. This chairlift, 47 miles north of Vancouver, takes visitors from sea level to 2903 feet in 10 minutes.

Looking up the mountain.

Each gondola can carry up to eight passengers.

The cost of a round trip ride is $43.95 CAD per adult. Discounted tickets are available online and lower prices apply for seniors, youth and children (5 and under are free). For those ambitious (and fit) enough to hike to the top, tickets for the ride down hill only cost $15.

Afraid of heights? Best to close your eyes for the ride! 😄

Rock visible on the gondola ride is an exposed magma chamber leftover from an ancient volcano that eroded away.

Looking down into Howe Sound, North America’s southernmost fjord.

An extensive trail system exists at the top of the gondola. Some are short (.4km, 1.6km) others take hikers well into Canada’s backcountry.

At the top, the gondola ride ends at the entrance to a gift shop and cafe. The cafe is situated so guests may enjoy the breathtaking views from every angle. Nearby there is a massive suspension bridge and a playground for the kiddos. Different hikes from the gondola lead to nearby viewing platforms or deep into the wilderness.

Outdoor seating on a stunning autumn day.

Poutine (a classic Canadian dish made of fries, gravy and cheese curds) with a view.

After enjoying the views and a snack it was time to explore. We headed towards the slightly intimidating Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge. The bridge is 100 meters long and hangs hundreds of feet above a cliff face.

Happy but nervous before the crossing!

This photo, from the half way point, does not capture how breathtaking the views were.

Looking back towards the cafe after a successful bridge crossing.

The trail over Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge circled back to the gondola after only .4km. At that point we decided to take the Panorma Trail for another little (1.6km) jaunt. The walk had a slight elevation gain and loss, but it was very easy. There were a few “interpretive” signs along the walk with information on local wildlife (birds, big horn sheep, cougars, bears).

Panorama Trail is 1.6km and gives hikers views of the mountains, the town of Squamish and Howe Sound.

Beware the wildlife.

”Sky”

A hint of autumn color along the alpine trails.

Viewing platform looking towards Squamish.

Even though we didn’t embark on any difficult trails, we easily spent three hours at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola. This is an incredibly beautiful corner of the world. The elevation gain provided by the gondola makes the journey north of Vancouver even more memorable.

Happy campers headed back to sea level after a day of alpine adventuring.

Gorgeous weather, deep blue skies, warm autumn light.... our visit to the Sea to Sky Gondola was perfect. I would definitely go back. If you find yourself in Southwest Canada, make sure to add this to your itinerary.

Happy travels!

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All photos taken by @dfinney on an iPhone 7. October 20, 2018.

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