Sea to Summit Trail

Sea to Summit Trail is a point-to-point day hike in the Squamish area that climbs from the Sea to Sky Gondola base parking area to the Summit Lodge. It’s mapped as a day hike and is explicitly run as an “up” route to the top lodge.

The route is short but steep: typical one-way distance is about 6.5 km to 7.5 km with about 918 m elevation gain (the trail’s own numbers describe ~918 m gain and a finishing elevation around 885 m). Expect a 3 to 5 hour climb depending on pace and how often you stop.

The trail starts by going up the lower Stawamus Chief trail and then leaving it at marker 20, where you go right to continue toward the gondola corridor. From there the route works its way through forest and along the Shannon Creek/Shannon Falls corridor (the falls themselves are not described as directly visible from the Sea to Summit tread).

Terrain gets technical as you gain: it’s described as an advanced single-track route with steep, challenging sections, including fixed lines in parts. The end of the climb follows the marker system under/around the gondola structure to reach the Summit Lodge.

Along the way there’s at least one major break where you reach a viewpoint over Howe Sound before continuing up toward the upper connections. Near the top, you arrive at the lodge area where you can use summit facilities and then reverse the trip logic with a gondola download option rather than hiking down.

For navigation, the trail is described as clearly signed with green, diamond markers labeled “Sea to Summit,” with numbered markers progressing up the route. The climb is designed so you follow the Sea to Summit markers after the Chief/marker-20 junction, rather than continuing on the Chief line.

Seasonally, it’s run in summer and winter (with the main season commonly given as roughly April to October), but the steep/technical tread and fixed lines mean conditions can matter. Plan on bringing enough water because there are no potable water stations on the trail as mapped.

Dogs: the trail’s own guidance indicates dogs are welcome on the route, with restrictions at the summit—use the designated dog parking zone at the top and expect ticketing rules if you download by gondola.

More information: Sea to Summit Trail - Squamish - A walk and a lark, Sea To Summit Trail | Sea to Sky Gondola, Sea To Summit Trail in Squamish - Vancouver Trails