Summary:

Length: 7.1km
Elevation gain: 756m
Time: 3h 54 mins moving time, 4h 44 mins total
Starting point: Stawamus Chief parking lot

I had been looking forward to this hike for a while after getting good reviews from friends. I’d heard stories of ladders, chains, and 360-degree views, and I was excited! We did this hike the traditional way: peak 1, then peak 2, and finally peak 3. 

Peak 1 was very fun to get to, but also tiring; almost 600m of elevation happens in the part of the hike. The trail was a bit crowded, it being an unheard-of 24-degree Celsius sunny October Saturday. The trail started off with stairs (both the rock kind and the wooden kind). Then we came up to the chains, which are used to pull yourself up through crevices in the rocks of the mountain. It required good arm strength, secure shoes, and faith in yourself. There were also two metal ladders on the way to peak 1. Overall, I was wary of some parts but I never felt unsafe. The last 100 meters before the first peak is a scramble up the side of a rock, which we climbed up with the motto of “think like a mountain goat”. The view from peak 1 is beautiful, although a little more industrial than I was used to. You can see a lot of the Squamish river, the town, and the train terminals. This peak, being the closest to the parking lot, was also the busiest (easier to find someone to take your picture though!).

Despite what AllTrails might tell you, do not go straight across from peak 1 to peak 2. We doubled back 500 meters to get on the trail for the 2nd peak after seeing the precarious iron rungs stuck into the side of the mountain. We later saw some people coming down those rungs on a vertical rock face and agreed we’d made the right choice to take the more popular trail. It looked scary! Peak 2 was even more beautiful than peak 1, despite only being about 60m higher. It was less busy, less city, more nature, and you could see further mountains. If you only have time for one peak, this is the one I’d recommend. 

It was less than a kilometre to peak 3 from there! This one was lovely because we had it all to ourselves for a short while. The view isn’t too much different than peak 2, but the stillness and quiet of peak 3 made it worth it. 

The descent back to the parking lot was one of my favourite parts. Don’t get me wrong, it was STEEP. The trail down seemed to follow a dried-up creek path, between two tall rock faces on either side. This meant descending rock steps, root systems, and even crossing planks of wood. The sun was shining through the tall trees that surrounded us. Descending was like a game: picking the best footholds, figuring out which rocks were stable, and using the roots as handles or railings. We were back at the car after 4 hours of moving time (not included is our 20 min sun nap at the 2nd peak). 

When I do this trail again, I will do it in reverse and skip peak 1 altogether. Start by going up the peak 3 trail, then head over to peak 2, before going back to the parking lot from the peak 2 trail. This will avoid the crowds and the doubling back between peaks 1 and 2. All-in-all, the Stawamus Chief hike did not disappoint and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a challenge with a great view.