Sea To Sky Highway Self-guided Driving Audio Tour

We’re about to cross over the Burrard Inlet on the Lions Gate Bridge. Do you see the two leftmost peak directly ahead of us? That’s where the bridge gets its name! Some say they look a bit like the twin lions of Trafalgar Square if you squint.

Ahead, you’ll have the option of taking a detour to see Cypress Provincial Park or hiking to Saint Marks Summit from breathtaking mountaintop views. The detour is about ten miles one way, but well worth it if you’d like to see some spectacular sights.

We’re still a few miles from St. Mark’s Summit, but the road we’re on now is going to end in about a mile. How does one get the rest of the way there? On foot! The trail begins at the Cypress Creek Lodge and is about seven miles round trip. It’s considered an intermediate hike that takes most people around four to five hours.

We’re driving along the Sea to Sky Highway, perhaps Canada’s most famous scenic roadway. But did you know this highway is hundreds of years old? Okay, maybe all the pavement and paint and guardrails are a bit newer than that, but the original path really is that old! See, beneath much of this highway was an ancient footpath used by the Squamish and Stó:lō Nations. It connected the two tribes and allowed for easy trading between them.

Just ahead is Crystal Falls, a lovely roadside waterfall many visitors miss! Take the next exit if you’d like to see it, or drive straight to continue the main tour.

To the Squamish, Anvil Island was once home to a great serpent known as Sínulhkay̓. Sínulhkay̓ lived on the island’s highest peak and watched the people far below. Some said he had created the land all around them, but to others he was simply a terrifying monster who menaced their villages. Sínulhkay̓ would lie in wait in the water, hypnotize villagers, then devour them.

Tucked away within those mountains directly ahead of us is the Watts Point Volcanic Centre. Remember how these mountains are largely composed of volcanic rocks? Watts Point marks the spot where much of that volcanic material erupted from! But don’t worry about another burst of magma! It hasn’t erupted for 90,000 years and isn’t likely to do so anytime soon.

Sporting a lovely, placid lake and a couple of great hiking trails, this is a splendid stop if you’re looking to stretch your legs for a second. In the park, you can embark on an easy 1.5-mile stroll around the lake, or opt for the slightly more challenging Jurassic Ridge Trail. This 2-mile loop climbs almost 700 feet in elevation and offers incredible panoramic views from the top.

Coming up is the Sea to Sky Gondola, one of the coolest stops on this route. The Gondola takes passengers nearly 1,000 meters above sea level, to a lodge with an amazing viewing platform.

Shannon Falls Provincial Park is just ahead, home to an astonishing 1,000-foot waterfall! Shannon Falls is the third tallest waterfall in British Columbia. And this park features a boardwalk around its base! It only takes about 20 minutes to hike to the falls.

Expert hikers can turn right to access the Stawamus Chief Trail, which climbs 2,300 feet to the top of The Chief. That’s quite a trek! Ordinary folks like us can continue driving straight.

Continue straight. That mountain we’re passing is the Stawamus Chief, and stands at over 2,300 feet above the Sound. The first man to ever summit it was Ed Cooper. And it took him four weeks!

This bridge ahead offers some great views, so slow down a bit to enjoy them! Just ahead is the famous Eagle Run Vista Point, featuring panoramic views and a great chance at spotting an eagle. Getting there requires a quick 5-10 minute detour if you’re interested.

This park is dominated by four lakes: Alice, Edith, Fawn, and Stump. The origin of most of these names has been lost to time, but Edith Lake is an exception. And its story is a bit of a peculiar one

If you’re looking to stretch your legs, this picturesque, watery park is a great place for it. The most popular attraction is the Four Lake Trail, an easy 4-mile loop that weaves past all four of the park’s lakes in under three hours.

The most dominant peak of these mountains is, of course, Mount Tantalus, standing at 2,608 meters from base to summit. It gets its name from the Greek mythological figure of Tantalus. Tantalus was one of Zeus’s many sons, though his mother was mortal. Still, despite being half mortal, Tantalus was welcomed at the table of Olympus all the same.

We’re driving alongside the Cheakamus River. In a few minutes, we’ll be able to glimpse the Cheakamus Hydroelectric Dam. It’s been around since 1957, but has recently been the source of much controversy.

An optional detour to Rubble Creek Trail is coming up soon. This brutally challenging 15-mile trail climbs to the top of Black Tusk Mountain. It’s an all-day affair, however, so I wouldn’t recommend trying it on a whim.

Turn right if you’d like to visit the Cheakamus Hydroelectric Dam or Rubble Creek Trail. Otherwise, continue straight.

The lake we’re driving past now is Daisy Lake, named by Joseph William Mckay. Mckay was of Metis descent. Metis is a somewhat complicated term, as it can either refer to people from the historic Metis community of Manitoba or it might be used as a general term to describe a person of mixed European and Indigenous heritage.