Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 75 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Two hiking choices. (A) 2-3 miles, 3 hours; starting at the summit elevation of approximately 3,000 feet with slight elevation gain and loss; groomed trails and boardwalks. (B) 5-6 miles, 3 hours; starting at the summit elevation of approximately 3,000 feet with net gain of approximately 1,500 feet and loss of 950 feet; groomed trails.
At the hotel.
We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach, and ride along the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway to Squamish, a railway and First Nations community at the northern tip of Howe Sound. There, we’ll get into a gondola and climb to the summit of Stawamus Chief, the second-largest granite monolith in the world. With a local expert, we’ll learn about the region’s ecology, geology, and human history. We’ll walk along nearby trails and rest at several breathtaking Howe Sound look-out points. Hiking through alpine meadows and stands of Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Sitka Spruce, and Alder trees, we’ll listen to experts who will enrich our day’s experience.
At a scenic trailside spot, we’ll have boxed lunches.
Riding on, we’ll reach the Whistler Museum, where we’ll learn about the history of settlement and development in the region. We’ll hear about the trappers, pioneers, and Indigenous peoples who shaped Whistler.
At the hotel featuring locally sourced seasonal ingredients.
At leisure.