In this post, I’ll talk about a perfect itinerary for a day driving up the Sea to Sky Highway outside of Vancouver towards Squamish and Whistler. This itinerary allows you to maximize amazing views, incredible nature, some hiking, and some delicious food and drink without spending much money. This itinerary is perfect for locals trying to get out into nature, or tourists visiting with a few extra days in the Vancouver area. In suggestions that require hiking, I offer ADA and child friendly alternatives.

All the locations I mention in this post can be found on this convenient Google Map.

This itinerary assumes you have access to a car. You can rent a car using a service like Hopper.

If you don’t, there are a number of day excursions that you can book that leave from Vancouver, like this tour that visits Whistler, Shannon Falls and the Sea to Sky Gondola, or this one.

1. Views of Vancouver and English Bay from Cypress

On your way out of metro Vancouver, consider a stop up Cypress Bowl Road. This road, is continued all the way to the top, finishes at Cypress Mountain Ski Resort – great skiing and nordic activities in the winter, and amazing access to hikes in Cypress Provincial Park in the summer.

Consider a stop at The Shed, which has coffee, pizzas, beer, bathrooms, and amazing views of the entire Vancouver metro area. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Baker in Washington State, Vancouver Island, and the Gulf Islands.

You can continue up the road a little further to Cypress Lookout, which is a similar view though faces more Northeast with clearer views towards Burnaby and Surrey. There is a pit toilet at this stop as well.

For another day, I recommend in the winter doing an easy snowshoe hike with drinks up to Hollyburn Lodge. In the summer, consider hiking to St. Mark’s Summit, a popular local destination with insane views of the Howe Sound. If hiking on your own, please be prepared with the 10 essentials. If you are new to hiking, consider going with a guide.

2. Hike Jurassic Ridge in Murrin Provincial Park

Once you’re nice and caffeinated, head back on the road towards Squamish. Your next stop is about 45 minutes away in Murrin Provincial Park. The parking lot is on the left side of the road, so make sure not to miss the turn off the highway! It’s best to get here as early in the day as possible, especially in the summer, as the parking lot fills up with hiker, kayakers, and primarily, rock climbers.

Start out on the Jurassic Ridge and Murrin Loop – the highlight of this hike is it’s relatively short (2 hours, 2.4km/1.5miles) and offers incredible views of the Howe Sound. Plus, as you meander through the forest, you might catch sight of some amazing rock climbing. Both sport climbing (using bolts) and traditional climbing (using cams and nuts) are found here, and range from easy intro routes to challenging!

This hike is great all year, though may be slick after rain, so be careful. It’s also at low elevation so is not a risk for snow or avalanche.

If you aren’t up for the hike but want a view of the surrounding areas, consider driving a bit further down the road and taking the Sea to Sky Gondola. Open year-round, tickets range in price from $25.95 for children to $65.95 for adults. There’s a cafe at the top, which could be a good breakfast or lunch spot depending on your timing.

3. Shannon Falls

If you decide to visit the Sea to Sky Gondola, then you’ll want to visit Shannon Falls first as you’ll approach it first. If doing Murrin instead, then Shannon Falls is your next stop on the tour.

Shannon Falls is the third highest waterfall in British Columbia. It’s impressive all year, but especially in early summer when the glacier melt is at it’s strongest. Occasionally the waterfall freezes over and people climb it!

There is a quick loop you can take to the falls, and is less than 1 miles (approximately 15 minutes return).

Most people miss it, but beyond the primary viewpoint, if you go up the stairs to the right (looking down the trail), there is a short but steep extension to the trail, which gets you even closer to the falls (and you might get a little soaked!).

4. Beer and Pizza at Backcountry Brewing

Hopefully you’ve worked up an appetite by now! Stop by Backcountry Brewing, a Squamish institution. This brewery offers a constantly rotating tap of cleverly named beers, most IPAs in the West Coast Style. They also serve up delicious pizzas and salad, and have both indoor and outdoor seating.

5. Go Eagle spotting in Brackendale

After lunch and dessert, head over to Brackendale Provincial Park, the Eagle capitol of the world! There is a flat walk along the river you can enjoy – but keep your eyes open for eagles. Especially in the winter months, this park is home to over 10,000 eagles. Binoculars help, as many of the birds nest across the river. I think this spot is one of the most scenic and easily accessible areas in the entire Sea to Sky region.

6. Take a hike at Brohm Lake

A popular kayaking and paddleboarding area for locals, Brohm Lake offers some very moderate hiking options with rewarding views. There are a few loop options you can take, so decide based on how much energy you have left!

Alternatively, if more hiking is too much, consider driving to Tantalus Lookout – you’ll get an amazing view of the same mountains, but without the effort.

7. Enjoy the spectacular Brandywine Falls

This activity is for the summer only, as often the gates in front of the park are closed in the winter. The hike to the waterfall is only 1km (0.6miles), and is spectacular. If you continue a little further on the trail, there’s a nice viewpoint that looks southwest into the beautiful valley.

8. Explore downtown Squamish for dinner

There are a number of great restaurants along Squamish’s main drag on Cleveland Avenue. You can take in the surrounding mountain views, especially of the dominating Chief or even Garibaldi Glacier in the distance. There are a number of cute cafes, thrift stores, and beautiful murals on this short, 3-4 block center of downtown Squamish.

9. Catch sunset at Porteau Cove

As you head back to Vancouver to the night, time your drive with sunset, and pull off the highway at Porteau Cove. Situated in the fjord, you’ll get magestic views of the Sunshine Coast and the islands that dot the sound, including Anvil and Bowen Islands.