Stawamus Chief - Squamish Hiking Trails

Stawamus Chief Trail Rating Stawamus Chief is the mammoth rock face that towers over Squamish. Though hardly believable from looking at, the summit is an easy two hour hike. In fact there are three peaks, South (First), Centre (Second), and North (Third). Each accessible from the single trailhead. Growing in popularity as the newest brother to the Grouse Grind in Vancouver because there are quite a few stairs and considerable elevation gain.

Incredible views from the top
Enjoyable, but very steep hike
Famous rock climbing destination
Lots of terrain to wander at the top
Convenient trailhead on Hwy 99
Busy, but organized trails
Dog friendly hiking trails
Free access & free parking
Nice campsites at the trailhead
No camping at the top

Squamish & Whistler Trails

Alexander Falls Alice Lake Ancient Cedars Black Tusk Blackcomb Mountain Brandywine Falls Brandywine Meadows Brew Lake Callaghan Lake Cheakamus Lake Cheakamus River Cirque Lake Elfin Lakes Flank Trail Garibaldi Lake Garibaldi Park Helm Creek High Falls Creek Jane Lakes Joffre Lakes Keyhole Hot Springs Levette Lake Logger’s Lake Madeley Lake Meager Hot Springs Nairn Falls Newt Lake Panorama Ridge Parkhurst Ghost Town Rainbow Falls Rainbow Lake Ring Lake Russet Lake Sea to Sky Gondola Sea to Sky Trail Shannon Falls Skookumchuck Hot Springs Sloquet Hot Springs Sproatt East Sproatt West Stawamus Chief Taylor Meadows Train Wreck Upper Shannon Falls Wedgemount Lake Whistler Mountain

Stawamus Chief, more often referred to as The Chief, is well know as one of the largest granite monoliths in the world. The Chief attracts rock climbers from around the world to its many incredible climbing routes up this granite dome that towers over 700 metres(2297 feet) above Howe Sound. The Chief covers an area roughly three square kilometres and the original granite dome is fractured into several separate summits. The three main summits are the First Peak, Second Peak and Third Peak. All are accessible by the park's maintained hiking trail network. First Peak is 1.5 kilometres long, with an elevation gain of 540 metres. Second Peak is 1.7 kilometres from the trailhead and with an elevation gain of 590 metres. Third Peak is 1.8 kilometres from the trailhead and has an elevation gain of 630 metres. Another notable summit, just north of Third Peak is the Zodiac Summit. No maintained trail leads to the Zodiac Summit, though finding the route to it is not too difficult. The Zodiac Summit is a quiet oasis in this often bustling park. Most hikers head straight to First Peak, though all three summits get a considerable amount of hiker traffic on an average summer day. Zodiac Summit remains off the radar for almost all visitors to the park.

The Chief from the Squamish Marina

The Shannon Falls Trail Connects to the Stawamus Chief Trail

Amazing Views from the First Peak

The Chief in The Alpinist

The Chief is featured a bunch of times in the amazing movie The Alpinist. This incredible movie follows Marc-André Leclerc from his home in Squamish, then around the world as he climbs mountain routes previously considered impossible.