Stawamus Chief Park
Stawamus Chief Park
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Kiki
Vancouver, Canada283 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We walked for a long time up steep wooden stairs and uneven stone paths, but the hardest part was just beginning. There is a section where you have to climb while holding on to chains, then you have to climb a 90-degree iron ladder, and then you have to climb a huge rock without any handholds and can only rely on the grip of your shoes.
But when we finally reached the top, the view was breathtaking and every step ahead was worth it. The light green sea and the snow-capped mountains in the distance are extremely beautiful. We sat on the top of the mountain, rested for a while, took some photos, and then headed back.
It is best to bring enough water (1 liter per person) and wear hiking shoes.
But when we finally reached the top, the view was breathtaking and every step ahead was worth it. The light green sea and the snow-capped mountains in the distance are extremely beautiful. We sat on the top of the mountain, rested for a while, took some photos, and then headed back.
It is best to bring enough water (1 liter per person) and wear hiking shoes.
Written September 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CCLoop
Lehi, UT410 contributions
Jul 2022
We just hiked to the top of the first Peak and that was plenty for us. It was a tough hike and lots of sweat and stops on the way up. Very pretty though and you are in shade most of the time until you get to the very top; which was nice. The view was outstanding and worth the effort for sure - but it is a lot of effort.
Going down was tough on the knees and quads, but we learned if you go down the stairs backwards (looks stupid but it is easier and not as sore the next day) it really does help.
Definitely do this hike. You will be glad you did
Going down was tough on the knees and quads, but we learned if you go down the stairs backwards (looks stupid but it is easier and not as sore the next day) it really does help.
Definitely do this hike. You will be glad you did
Written August 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
must_travel_soon_10
Mississauga, Canada1,801 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
The whole point of coming to this park is to ascend to one or more of the 3 peaks. No easy feat and it’s quite steep all the way up and back. A few challenging pitches with chains, so one needs some agility and stamina. As the base sign stated, not a walk in the park. We only went to peak 2 and it was awesome. Such majestic views, just breathtaking.
Written April 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SundanceKid01
Atlanta, GA143 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
This was a highly enjoyable hike my wife and I took in August 2019. We started early (before 9am) and we’re lucky to snag a parking spot. A lot of climbers were gearing up for their day.
You have a 2-3 minute warm up walk and then boom! Straight up hill. People in decent shape will be just fine. If you haven’t exercised in a while - I’d be cautious. It literally is straight up hill. Also, proper footwear would be helpful. I saw several people in flip flops that were struggling (+ one person barefoot and one on crutches!).
My wife is nearly five months pregnant but we took our time and enjoyed the scenery. Bring water and snacks and enjoy the trip to the top (FYI we did peak #1 - I thought the views were great)
You have a 2-3 minute warm up walk and then boom! Straight up hill. People in decent shape will be just fine. If you haven’t exercised in a while - I’d be cautious. It literally is straight up hill. Also, proper footwear would be helpful. I saw several people in flip flops that were struggling (+ one person barefoot and one on crutches!).
My wife is nearly five months pregnant but we took our time and enjoyed the scenery. Bring water and snacks and enjoy the trip to the top (FYI we did peak #1 - I thought the views were great)
Written August 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Virginia Ramunda
Surrey, Canada1 contribution
Aug 2019 • Family
We were told by an knowledgeable “friend" that this was a good "hike" for beginners. We are not fit people but not overweight either and have a 14 and 8 year old boys.
We decided to do it with no much information besides what our friend gave us: there are chains or stairs to help you up and friendly chipmunks near the top: "Take peanuts", our darling friend said.
Off we went in a sunny day. We all took backpacks with a little something and a big bottle of water (2 liters) to share.
The parking lot was filed with professional climbers and that was a bit unsettling as I was confused about the term my friend used: "hike".
We started okay and were presented with wooden stairs... They seemed to never end... By the step #50, my legs were weak and I started feeling as if my body weight had increased. I was expecting something different than just stairs or steps so, not finding any walkable portion or section, made us all confused and frustrated. By the step #100, I was totally out of breath and I was using all I could (read CRAWLING) to push myself up and to help my knees. While I don't have issues with my knees, I do feel this was an EXTREME WAY to strengthen them, as if, one would be trapped in an escalator at the gym...
We DID take breaks (not because we wanted but because we couldn't continue) and many other people did too. Many others gave up and turned around.
After the wooden step #150, which vary in height, there were rock steps for the most part. So many that I lost count.
We found that, instead of CRAWLING, we could find some sticks to help us push ourselves upwards so we went to the first woody area we found and didn't leave until the four of us had a suitable pair... They helped all of us IMMENSELY so,
ADVISE #1: Take walking or hiking sticks for all the family members.
NOTE: There are some BRIGHT ORANGE DIAMOND SHAPE MARKERS along the way. Some are really visible, some are not. They signal the FIRST PEAK road. Make sure you follow them and if you get lost, go back to the previous marker. Don't follow ahead trying to find it as they are only visible in a certain angle. Also, I would not do this alone or when it gets darker.
By mid traject, about 1 1/2 hours with all our breaks, we started to ran out of water so we had to RATION IT...
ADVISE #2: Take at least 1 liter of water per person.
The terrain continued to be very inclined and we were desperately looking to avoid ANY STEP if possible to preserve some of our knees for our way back.
We were told that many people do it with regular sneakers.... BAD IDEA. Runners don't provide the grip that's needed for this terrain and I was sorry I had just regular runners...
ADVISE #3: Take hiking shoes with ankle support and a very good sole. Not a worn one. Breathable ones if in summer.
The chipmunks were cute and friendly. So, yes, do take some peanuts. And that's about the only thing my "friend" was right about. One day in the future... I will forgive him... :-)
We were SO thirsty that we were hoping that, at the top, it would be a water container... I know, very naïve of us but, as I said, I felt there was nowhere the right information for newbies... And that's why I'm writing this...
The view at the top was reamly pretty, as you read everywhere, so yes:
ADVISE #4: DO TAKE your GOOD CAMERA as a cellphone lens cannot really capture the wide field of VIEW or has the zoom to handle some views.
ADVISE #5: There's a huge sharp cliff at the top so it's NOT OK for children to walk it unsupervised. DON'T LET YOUR FUN DAY TO END IN A DISGRACE AND KEEP THE LITTLE ONES IN A HARNESS with a leash if they are not the obedient type or if they are fast toddlers.
On our way down, our knees and ankles felt REALLY BAD and even our boys were complaining about pain but, alas, we could not piggy back them...
ADVISE #6: Be very careful coming down as all the articulations tend to be shaky and wobbly.
The sticks helped us SO MUCH in this section too... that we were not able to give them to people going up that would ask for them... Because they were supporting us so much that we didn't feel we would EVER reach the parking lot with daylight without them or without getting injured!
On our way down, we refilled twice our empty water bottle in a natural mountain spring that, BY THE WAY, is the drinking water for the campground people so PLEASE, don't bath there or wash your things there or in any other spot you might find along that spring. While it's is signaled at some points to keep out, it's not everywhere and some people DO BATH in the lowest pool of water so, refill your bottles at the second pool, near 2/3 from the bottom.
It took us about 3 hours to go up and about 2 hours to come down, including 7 washroom breaks (finding a 'sort of hidden' spot in the brush) 3 chipmunks breaks and one lunch break of half an hour in our way up.
Bottom line is: This is NOT a begginers hike. This is for people who normally walk or run often enough and is used to be using lots of steps, up and down (meaning, used to LOTS OF KNEE WORK!!!) then yes, it's a begginers hike... "A walk in the park"... ;-)
FOR THE REST OF US, if you know what to expect, and you take walking sticks and plenty of water AND take your time (there's very little to see until you are almost at the top), then there's no reason why you couldn't do it.
Remember : this is not a "hike" but a facilitated "climb".
AND IF *WE* DID IT, YOU CAN TOO!!! :)
We decided to do it with no much information besides what our friend gave us: there are chains or stairs to help you up and friendly chipmunks near the top: "Take peanuts", our darling friend said.
Off we went in a sunny day. We all took backpacks with a little something and a big bottle of water (2 liters) to share.
The parking lot was filed with professional climbers and that was a bit unsettling as I was confused about the term my friend used: "hike".
We started okay and were presented with wooden stairs... They seemed to never end... By the step #50, my legs were weak and I started feeling as if my body weight had increased. I was expecting something different than just stairs or steps so, not finding any walkable portion or section, made us all confused and frustrated. By the step #100, I was totally out of breath and I was using all I could (read CRAWLING) to push myself up and to help my knees. While I don't have issues with my knees, I do feel this was an EXTREME WAY to strengthen them, as if, one would be trapped in an escalator at the gym...
We DID take breaks (not because we wanted but because we couldn't continue) and many other people did too. Many others gave up and turned around.
After the wooden step #150, which vary in height, there were rock steps for the most part. So many that I lost count.
We found that, instead of CRAWLING, we could find some sticks to help us push ourselves upwards so we went to the first woody area we found and didn't leave until the four of us had a suitable pair... They helped all of us IMMENSELY so,
ADVISE #1: Take walking or hiking sticks for all the family members.
NOTE: There are some BRIGHT ORANGE DIAMOND SHAPE MARKERS along the way. Some are really visible, some are not. They signal the FIRST PEAK road. Make sure you follow them and if you get lost, go back to the previous marker. Don't follow ahead trying to find it as they are only visible in a certain angle. Also, I would not do this alone or when it gets darker.
By mid traject, about 1 1/2 hours with all our breaks, we started to ran out of water so we had to RATION IT...
ADVISE #2: Take at least 1 liter of water per person.
The terrain continued to be very inclined and we were desperately looking to avoid ANY STEP if possible to preserve some of our knees for our way back.
We were told that many people do it with regular sneakers.... BAD IDEA. Runners don't provide the grip that's needed for this terrain and I was sorry I had just regular runners...
ADVISE #3: Take hiking shoes with ankle support and a very good sole. Not a worn one. Breathable ones if in summer.
The chipmunks were cute and friendly. So, yes, do take some peanuts. And that's about the only thing my "friend" was right about. One day in the future... I will forgive him... :-)
We were SO thirsty that we were hoping that, at the top, it would be a water container... I know, very naïve of us but, as I said, I felt there was nowhere the right information for newbies... And that's why I'm writing this...
The view at the top was reamly pretty, as you read everywhere, so yes:
ADVISE #4: DO TAKE your GOOD CAMERA as a cellphone lens cannot really capture the wide field of VIEW or has the zoom to handle some views.
ADVISE #5: There's a huge sharp cliff at the top so it's NOT OK for children to walk it unsupervised. DON'T LET YOUR FUN DAY TO END IN A DISGRACE AND KEEP THE LITTLE ONES IN A HARNESS with a leash if they are not the obedient type or if they are fast toddlers.
On our way down, our knees and ankles felt REALLY BAD and even our boys were complaining about pain but, alas, we could not piggy back them...
ADVISE #6: Be very careful coming down as all the articulations tend to be shaky and wobbly.
The sticks helped us SO MUCH in this section too... that we were not able to give them to people going up that would ask for them... Because they were supporting us so much that we didn't feel we would EVER reach the parking lot with daylight without them or without getting injured!
On our way down, we refilled twice our empty water bottle in a natural mountain spring that, BY THE WAY, is the drinking water for the campground people so PLEASE, don't bath there or wash your things there or in any other spot you might find along that spring. While it's is signaled at some points to keep out, it's not everywhere and some people DO BATH in the lowest pool of water so, refill your bottles at the second pool, near 2/3 from the bottom.
It took us about 3 hours to go up and about 2 hours to come down, including 7 washroom breaks (finding a 'sort of hidden' spot in the brush) 3 chipmunks breaks and one lunch break of half an hour in our way up.
Bottom line is: This is NOT a begginers hike. This is for people who normally walk or run often enough and is used to be using lots of steps, up and down (meaning, used to LOTS OF KNEE WORK!!!) then yes, it's a begginers hike... "A walk in the park"... ;-)
FOR THE REST OF US, if you know what to expect, and you take walking sticks and plenty of water AND take your time (there's very little to see until you are almost at the top), then there's no reason why you couldn't do it.
Remember : this is not a "hike" but a facilitated "climb".
AND IF *WE* DID IT, YOU CAN TOO!!! :)
Written August 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew K
Vancouver, Canada185 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
This hike is absolutely worth it for the view at the top. It is a shorter hike (though it doesn't feel it) but it is very steep, especially at the beginning. Even inexperienced hikers can complete this hike, they will just be a lot slower than most.
However, we completed this hike on a busy Saturday afternoon. I was amazed at how many ill prepared hikers there were and I feel compelled to write about it. This is not an easy hike, you should not be doing it in anything other than hiking boots or at the very least study walking shoes. The majority of the hike is on loose rocks and tree roots, with some stairs thrown in.
Many people we saw appeared to be tourists thinking this was a walk in the park after visiting the nearby Shannon Falls. It is not! They were wearing inappropriate footwear and frankly it was dangerous. I saw numerous people slipping very close to steep drop offs. When we reached the peak, it began raining, and let me tell you, it is very slippery when wet at the top (it's a smooth rock face!), without proper footwear you will slip and could hurt yourself and other people. Wear correct footwear, please!
Other things I noticed that made it look like people weren't considering this a difficult hike was bringing small dogs. Don't get me wrong many dogs can do this hike, but we saw people with pugs for heavens sake. Let me tell you, some of the steps on this hike are difficult for a 6ft man to get up, a pug has absolutely no chance. The poor pugs were completely exhausted when we passed them (nowhere near the top) and I felt very sorry for their owners putting them through this. There were other small dogs too, but this was the most inappropriate we saw.
Overall the hike is tiring and your legs will be sore for days afterwards. The view at the top is exceptional and absolutely worth it. However, if you are ill prepared or simply not fit enough to do a serious hike like this, the Squamish gondola is just down the road and the view is just as good at the top. Please, for your safety and others, take the gondola.
However, we completed this hike on a busy Saturday afternoon. I was amazed at how many ill prepared hikers there were and I feel compelled to write about it. This is not an easy hike, you should not be doing it in anything other than hiking boots or at the very least study walking shoes. The majority of the hike is on loose rocks and tree roots, with some stairs thrown in.
Many people we saw appeared to be tourists thinking this was a walk in the park after visiting the nearby Shannon Falls. It is not! They were wearing inappropriate footwear and frankly it was dangerous. I saw numerous people slipping very close to steep drop offs. When we reached the peak, it began raining, and let me tell you, it is very slippery when wet at the top (it's a smooth rock face!), without proper footwear you will slip and could hurt yourself and other people. Wear correct footwear, please!
Other things I noticed that made it look like people weren't considering this a difficult hike was bringing small dogs. Don't get me wrong many dogs can do this hike, but we saw people with pugs for heavens sake. Let me tell you, some of the steps on this hike are difficult for a 6ft man to get up, a pug has absolutely no chance. The poor pugs were completely exhausted when we passed them (nowhere near the top) and I felt very sorry for their owners putting them through this. There were other small dogs too, but this was the most inappropriate we saw.
Overall the hike is tiring and your legs will be sore for days afterwards. The view at the top is exceptional and absolutely worth it. However, if you are ill prepared or simply not fit enough to do a serious hike like this, the Squamish gondola is just down the road and the view is just as good at the top. Please, for your safety and others, take the gondola.
Written June 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bigredTed
Vancouver, Canada32 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
if you had one hike to do that would encapsulate the scenery of BC it would be 'the Chief". it is about and hour to hour 20 min. hike that has a bit of everything. strenuous stairs at the start, cool rock faces and terrain, then ladders and cable ropes for the end. But what a view! there are 3 choices and both 1 and 2 are equally as good. Do NOT do it in the rain as even the best grips will not hold to the steep granite in places. pack a light snack and camera for the top and just enjoy.
Written November 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wolfcruise
Tofino, Canada295 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
Great hike ! Bring your endurance factor, snacks, water, wear your hiking boots and a smile and off you go ! we hiked to the 1st peak and had the classic lookout. Beauty of a view ! Hold onto your gear on the top ! we saw a woman chase after her water bottle which was rolling down the face away from her. That could have been a projectile for a climber down below ! Not cool !
Then we headed to the 2nd peak which towards the final section of the climb is a bit technical. there are ladders and chains to hold onto, but the rock is very slippy (even on a dry day) and is a narrow canyon in places too. Super fun, but watch your stepping and take it slow.
Then we headed to the 2nd peak which towards the final section of the climb is a bit technical. there are ladders and chains to hold onto, but the rock is very slippy (even on a dry day) and is a narrow canyon in places too. Super fun, but watch your stepping and take it slow.
Written May 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicola B
Penryn, UK44 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
I decided on a day out while visiting Vancouver with my 10 year old son. The drive up to Squamish and beyond came recommended and I fancied a good hike. We parked at the Shannon Falls car park and started the walk there, all trails are connected and the first section joining the Stawamus trail is short and easy. The hike to the top was challenging and due to the clouds, humidity was very high, but my son stepped up to the occasion. The last section to the south peak has a couple of ladders and chains, and gets very slippery when wet, so not for the faint hearted. Our view was partially ruined by the low cloud base, but it was still a good feeling when we finally reached the top.
Written April 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol W
Courtenay, Canada56 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
We visited in the summer after it opened. I highly recommend it, especially if you want to see the beautiful mountains and Howe Sound... and after 20+ years of people telling me they could see the Chief from the highway (when I couldn't), I now know they were creatively seeing things that you can only see after you go up the lift :)
Written March 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How steep is it to come down from the first peak?
Is there anything to hold on to?
Is it slippery?
Written July 27, 2018
Is it possible to walk to the bottom of the Great Wall and look up or is the view obstructed by the trees? Is the view from the northern car park the best option? Maybe the Apron Trail?
Written November 5, 2017
This was my first time doing the chief but I now know that you have to do the hike in order to take in the view. There is no view from the parking lot area. Pack a lunch and hydration and plan to spend a couple hours to hike up , enjoy the view and hike down. Definitely you should be in decent shape as you hiking up a steep cliff!
Written November 21, 2017
How do I get there from Vancouver using public transportation?
Written June 17, 2015
What type of condition are the trails in right now? Is there any snow? Is it icy? Wet?
Written March 16, 2015
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