Stawamus Chief
A huge granite monolith towering over Squamish
Statistics
to Centre and North Peaks
| Total Distance: |
11.0 km (return) |
| Estimated Time: |
3 - 5 hours |
| Average Grade: |
11.4% |
| Structure: |
Loop - Partial |
|
|
Elevation Gain:
|
627 m |
| Start Elevation: |
75 m |
| Max Elevation: |
702 m |
|
to South Peak
| Total Distance: |
6.0 km (return) |
| Estimated Time: |
2.5 - 3 hours |
| Average Grade: |
17.8% |
| Structure: |
Linear - Return |
|
|
Elevation Gain:
|
535 m |
| Start Elevation: |
75 m |
| Max Elevation: |
610 m |
|
Directions
From Vancouver, drive North on Highway 99 toward Squamish. Turn right into the Stawamus Chief parking lot 1 km North of Shannon Falls.
Details
The Stawamus Chief consists of 3 peaks: the South Peak, Centre Peak and North Peak.
* From parking lot, head down the wide gravel path through the walk-in campsite
* Trail reaches the side of a creek. Here, there are warnings signs about the hike. Hikers must scramble up a short bit of rock as a "test" before beginning the hike. Likely to keep the ill-prepared people away.
* Initially, heads steeply up stairs alongside the creek.
* Climbs over a variety of rocks and roots steeply - near the junction for Upper Shannon Falls the grade becomes a bit more merciful.
* First main junction - Left (the main route) continues towards South and Center Peaks, Right continues up a less-developed trail towards Squaw and North peak.
* Taking the left junction, another junction is reached - Left going "one way" to South Peak - the main hike most people do. You can continue past this junction, leading up Center Peak. From here, continue over Center peak following the "Silver with Red Reflector" tags as it leads down through a gully and up towards North Peak. A loop hike can be performed by turning right at the junction immediately before North Peak's summit, which connects down with the "North Peak" trail that leads towards the Squaw.
Straight continues towards CEnter and North peaks.
(note: 15 minutes is "hardcore" times, be advised!)
Follow the main trail steeply up stairs for around 15 minutes, past a side trail to Shannon Falls, and another side trail to Upper Shannon Falls. The first junction reached is left for South and Centre Peaks, and right for the lower loop to North Peak as well as to the Squaw. Continue up another 15 minutes to the final junction, where left takes you to the South Peak, and right takes you to the Centre Peak.
To make the loop, continue over Centre Peak to North Peak, then return back to the col between them and take the trail down from there, which brings you down to the Squaw Trail. Follow this back to the first junction.
It is not possible to continue directly from South Peak to Centre Peak. To hit all three summits in a day, climb South Peak first, drop back down to the trail fork and then hike up Centre and North Peaks.
Photographs
GPS Waypoints
| Trailhead |
N49.67855 W123.15457 |
10U 488849 5502903 |
| Warning Sign / Beginning of Stairs |
N49.67600 W123.15313 |
10U 488952 5502619 |
| Lower Shannon Falls Trail Junction |
N49.67586 W123.15229 |
10U 489013 5502603 |
| Lower Trail Junction (Chief North Peak and Squaw) |
N49.67727 W123.14745 |
10U 489362 5502760 |
| First Chain to South Peak |
N49.68122 W123.14635 |
10U 489442 5503199 |
| Second Metal Ladder and Chains to South Peak |
N49.68132 W123.14612 |
10U 489459 5503210 |
| South Peak |
N49.68278 W123.14412 |
10U 489604 5503372 |