Stawamus Chief Provincial Park is a massive granite monolith and protected natural area located at the southern entrance of Squamish, British Columbia. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport or parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
The information in this guide was updated in May 2026, confirming that the main backside hiking trails to all three peaks are open and clear of rockfall debris.
Quick facts
| Feature | Details |
| Opening hours | Apron parking gate open daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM (May to September). |
| Ticket prices | Free entry for day use. |
| Address | Sea to Sky Highway (BC-99), Squamish, BC V8B 0A1, Canada. |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Free on-site parking lot or the seasonal BC Transit South Parks bus route. |
| Typical time needed to visit | 3 to 6 hours for hiking the peaks. |
Stawamus Chief Provincial Park opening hours
The Stawamus Chief Provincial Park opening hours ensure the day-use areas and base trails are open to the public year-round. The main Apron parking lot vehicle gate operates on a seasonal schedule. From the 8th of May to the 15th of September, the gate is open from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
From the 16th of September to the 15th of October, the gate closes earlier at 9:00 PM. During the winter months between October and March, the gates remain open constantly unless heavy snowfall prevents safe vehicle access. Vehicles left inside the parking lot after closing hours will be locked in overnight.
Stawamus Chief Provincial Park ticket prices
There is no cost to enter the park for the day, as Stawamus Chief Provincial Park is free for all day-use visitors. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
Overnight camping requires a separate fee paid at the self-registration kiosk.
5 great Vancouver experiences worth booking
- 🐋 See whales, seals and eagles from a heated catamaran on a whale-watching cruise.
- 🍴 On a Gastown food and history walking tour, combine tastings and stories.
- 🏔️ Combine Whistler and the Sea to Sky Gondola on a mountain day tour.
- ✈️ Take a Vancouver seaplane tour, and fly above the surrounding coastline.
- 🌉 See the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Vancouver Lookout on a Vancouver highlights tour.
How to get to Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
The most reliable way to reach the site is by driving a private vehicle or booking a guided coach tour from Vancouver. How to get to Stawamus Chief Provincial Park involves driving along the Sea to Sky Highway, designated as Highway 99. The turnoff sits roughly fifty-eight kilometres north of Vancouver and two kilometres south of the downtown Squamish municipality.
During the summer months, visitors without a vehicle can use public transport via the BC Transit South Parks bus route. This seasonal service picks up passengers in downtown Squamish and drops them near the park entrance. It then continues to the adjacent Sea to Sky Gondola and Shannon Falls. Cyclists can reach the park via a paved path that parallels the main highway.
Why book the Stawamus Chief Hiking Tour?
- 🏔️ Iconic Granite Monolith: Challenge yourself on one of the largest granite monoliths in the world, a towering landmark that defines the skyline of Squamish and the Sea-to-Sky corridor.
- 🌊 Spectacular Howe Sound Views: Reach the summit to be rewarded with 360-degree panoramic vistas of the turquoise waters of North America’s southernmost fjord and the snow-capped peaks of the Coast Mountains.
- 🧗 Ladders, Chains & Adventure: Experience a thrilling ascent that goes beyond standard hiking, utilizing fixed chains and ladders to navigate the steep, rugged terrain of the “Chief’s” first peak.
- 🚿 Shannon Falls Visit: Complement your hike with a stop at British Columbia’s third-tallest waterfall, where you can feel the mist from the 335-meter drop cascading down the ancient rock face.
- 🚐 Seamless Vancouver Transport: Eliminate the need for a rental car with round-trip transportation from downtown Vancouver, led by an expert guide who ensures your safety and shares insights into the local ecology.
Parking at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
Parking at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park is concentrated in the main Apron lot located immediately off the highway. This lot is free of charge and provides space for standard passenger cars. The lot frequently reaches maximum capacity on sunny weekends.
Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors must park only in designated bays, as vehicles parked illegally along the highway shoulder or in closed areas will be towed at the owner’s expense. The park authorities advise that the parking area is vulnerable to break-ins, so valuable items should never be left visible inside unattended vehicles.
How long to spend at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
A typical visit to view the mountain from the base and explore the lower day-use areas lasts between one and two hours. This timeframe provides enough opportunity to walk the flat connector paths, watch the rock climbers on the lower walls, and read the interpretive signage.
Hiking to the summits requires significantly more time. Completing the hike to the First Peak takes roughly three hours. Traversing all three peaks requires a full five to six hours. Visitors planning to rock climb or stay in the campground frequently spend several consecutive days within the park boundaries.
Accessibility at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
The lower base areas provide basic access for wheelchair users and visitors with mobility requirements. Accessibility at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park includes flat, packed-dirt paths around the campground and the day-use picnic areas. Accessible pit toilets are available near the main parking lot for visitor convenience.
The hiking trails leading up the mountain offer no accessibility for those with restricted mobility. The routes feature steep inclines, uneven rocky terrain, exposed tree roots, and metal ladders or chains bolted into the rock face. Visitors with mobility requirements are advised to view the massive granite cliffs from the flat pathways near the parking lot.
What to see at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
The primary attraction within the park is the Stawamus Chief itself, a massive granite monolith towering 700 metres above the waters of Howe Sound. It is one of the largest granite domes in the world, formed by cooling magma deep underground millions of years ago. Glacial activity later exposed and carved the rock into its sheer, imposing shape.
The mountain is divided into three distinct summits, simply named First Peak, Second Peak, and Third Peak. Hikers navigate a challenging, near-vertical route through the coastal rainforest to reach these summits. The higher sections of the trail require hikers to pull themselves up steep, smooth rock faces using permanently installed metal chains and wooden ladders.
The sheer western face of the mountain is known as the Grand Wall. This massive expanse of exposed granite draws rock climbers from around the world. From the base trails, visitors can frequently spot climbers scaling the vertical cracks and sheer faces high above the forest canopy. The park features hundreds of established climbing routes of varying difficulty levels.
During the spring and early summer, the cliff faces are home to nesting peregrine falcons. Park rangers and local climbing groups monitor these protected birds of prey carefully. Specific climbing routes are often closed temporarily to ensure the falcons can raise their chicks without human disturbance. Visitors at the base can sometimes spot the birds diving at high speeds near the rock walls.
The lower sections of the park feature a dense, damp coastal rainforest ecosystem dominated by Western hemlock, Douglas fir, and Western red cedar trees. A relatively flat connector trail links the base of the Chief to the adjacent Shannon Falls Provincial Park. This allows visitors to walk easily between the massive granite monolith and the towering waterfall within a few minutes.
Practical visitor tips
| Category | Practical visitor tip |
| Timing | Arrive before 8:00 AM during the summer to secure a parking space before the lot reaches full capacity with climbers and hikers. |
| Crowds | Expect heavy foot traffic and competition for picnic tables in the lower day-use areas during warm weekends and public holidays. |
| Layout | Check the BC Parks official website for the latest trail closure maps before attempting to hike beyond the base of the mountain. |
| Entry process | Ensure you submit payment at the self-registration information kiosk if you intend to use the frontcountry campground overnight. |
| On-site logistics | Bring your own drinking water or use the cold-water taps located at the campground entrance, as the day-use pullouts lack water facilities. |
Frequently asked questions about Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
| Question | Answer |
| Is Stawamus Chief Provincial Park suitable for children? | Yes, the lower base trails are suitable for children, but the main peak trails are extremely steep and physically demanding for younger hikers. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Stawamus Chief Provincial Park? | No, advance booking is not required for day use because the provincial park is a free public area. |
| Is Stawamus Chief Provincial Park open on Sundays? | Yes, the park is open seven days a week year-round, operating within the stated daily parking gate hours. |
| Are bags allowed at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park? | Yes, visitors can bring backpacks and climbing gear into the park without any restrictions or security checks. |
| Are dogs allowed at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park? | Yes, pet dogs are permitted but they must remain on a leash at all times to protect local wildlife and other visitors. |
Things to do near Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
- Shannon Falls Provincial Park: A popular roadside park located just south, featuring a towering cascade of water accessible via a short paved trail.
- Sea to Sky Gondola: A commercial attraction next door featuring a scenic cable car ride, a suspension bridge, and sweeping views of Howe Sound.
- Britannia Mine Museum: A historic copper mine offering guided underground tours and interactive industrial exhibits located south of Squamish.
- Squamish Estuary: A protected wetland area offering flat walking trails and excellent birdwatching opportunities near the downtown core.
- Alice Lake Provincial Park: A popular nearby park featuring a sandy beach, calm swimming areas, and a vast network of forested hiking trails.
What to visit tomorrow
- Garibaldi Provincial Park: A vast wilderness area featuring turquoise lakes, massive glaciers, and highly challenging alpine hiking routes.
- Brandywine Falls Provincial Park: A protected area south of Whistler featuring a 70-metre waterfall viewed from an accessible platform above a volcanic canyon.
- Nairn Falls Provincial Park: A natural attraction north of Whistler featuring a fast-flowing river that crashes through a narrow, carved rock gorge.
- Murrin Provincial Park: A small, forested park featuring a freshwater lake popular for swimming and steep granite rock faces used by experienced climbers.
- Porteau Cove Provincial Park: A coastal park situated south of Squamish offering pebble beaches, an artificial reef for scuba diving, and sweeping ocean views.
