Exploring the Top Things to Do in Squamish: It’s All About Howe Sound!
Squamish, BC, packs more adventure into 40 square kilometres than most places manage in 400. The short answer: hike the Chief, get on the water, repeat. But if you only have one day and one call to make, book time with us!
Quick Takeaways
- Howe Sound offers some of the most unique ocean-based recreation in British Columbia
- We provide direct ocean access from our private dock
- Activities include kiteboarding, wing foiling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and boat rentals
- Our waterfront location includes a hot tub, showers, and an accessible dock lift
- Beyond the water: incredible hiking, biking, and sightseeing beyond the water
Why Squamish Belongs on Your Radar
Halfway between Vancouver and Whistler on the Sea to Sky corridor, Squamish sits at the edge of Howe Sound — one of the most dramatic fjords in North America. The wind, the mountains, the tidal channels: it’s a playground built for people who don’t sit still.
Drive up on a Wednesday in late summer, you might expect a quiet town. What you’ll often find is a place running at full throttle: climbers chalking up at the base of the Chief, paddleboarders dotting the inlet, kiteboarders threading the gusts off Squamish Spit. That energy is real, ingrained in the town. It’s not just for tourists.
Why Howe Sound Is the Real Secret of Squamish
Most first-time visitors arrive expecting mountains. They don’t expect the ocean.
Howe Sound creates a rare combination of coastal and alpine recreation that’s difficult to find anywhere else in Canada. On a single summer day, you can paddle beneath granite cliffs in the morning, hike alpine trails in the afternoon, and soak in a hot tub beside the ocean before dinner.
We’ve watched visitors show up planning a “quick kayak rental” and end up rearranging their entire weekend around the water.
There’s a reason for that. The perspective shifts completely once you leave shore.
Where Squamish Watersports Changes the Game
Here’s the angle most “things to do in Squamish” lists quietly miss: the water itself.
We operate off our own private dock directly on the ocean, Howe Sound, specifically, with the peaks of the Tantalus Range as your backdrop. That’s not a ramp into a lake. That’s tidal saltwater access with fjord scenery on three sides.
Our lineup covers nearly every way you can move across water:
- Kayaking – single and tandem, guided tours, beginner-friendly
- Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) – rentals, lessons, and tours
- Canoe rentals – easy-paced, great for families
- Jet ski and boat rentals – self-guided exploration of Howe Sound
- Wingfoiling – lessons available!
- Wake foiling/boarding – lessons available at all skill levels
- Kiteboarding and kitesurfing – Squamish is one of the best kite spots in BC
- Sailing – Relaxing, breathtaking, an unparalleled way to experience Howe Sound!
Our expert instructors know these conditions. Squamish wind behaves differently from what you’d encounter on a flat inland lake. That local knowledge matters more than it sounds.
The Accessibility Factor Nobody Talks About
We have the only fully accessible dock in Squamish. Our facility features a ramp leading directly to the water, two kayak assist devices, and a crane lift specifically designed to transfer wheelchair users safely in and out of watercraft. The Assisted Paddle Rental Package was built with this in mind.
For a lot of people, “adventure travel” quietly excludes them at the logistics stage. This place doesn’t do that. It’s worth saying plainly.
After the Water: The Part Nobody Mentions
The post-session setup here is legitimately better than most hotels.
Hot tub. Showers. Lockers. Change rooms. A BBQ and relax deck you can use before or after your time on the water.
Coming off two hours in a kayak, paddling against a light chop, sinking into a hot tub while the mountains catch the afternoon light — that’s not a minor amenity. That’s the difference between a good trip and one you tell people about for years.
Hike The Chief? A Signature Squamish Hike
You can’t write about Squamish without the Stawamus Chief. A granite monolith rising 700+ metres above the highway — and yes, you can hike to the top.
Three peaks, three commitment levels:
First Peak – 4 km round trip, 3–4 hours. Views of Howe Sound that’ll stop you mid-sentence.
Second Peak – 5 km, 4–5 hours. Most visitors skip this one. Don’t.
Third Peak – 7 km, 5–7 hours. Full ridge traverse. Bring layers and start early.
The trail uses fixed ropes and metal rungs on the steeper sections. It’s exposed and rocky. Trekking poles help. Sandals don’t.
Shannon Falls is a 10-minute walk from the Chief trailhead — the third-tallest waterfall in BC. Stack them both into a morning and you’ve earned the afternoon.
A Squamish Activity Checklist
Whether you’re here for a weekend or a full week:
- Book a morning or afternoon slot at Squamish Watersports — browse all activities
- Try SUP if you’ve never done it — Howe Sound on a calm morning is the ideal learning ground
- Rent a jet ski if your group is ready for it — the sound opens up fast once you clear the inlet
- Use the hot tub after. Non-negotiable.
Beyond watersports and hiking, Squamish also offers:
- Hike at least two peaks of the Chief (First + Second is the sweet spot)
- Walk to Shannon Falls: takes 20 minutes and earns you bragging rights
- Mountain biking
- Rock climbing
- Scenic gondola rides
- Trail running
- Wildlife viewing
- Camping
- Brewery tours
- Scenic photography
It’s one of the few places where a rainy forecast rarely ruins the trip. You just adapt. That flexibility is part of why people keep coming back.
What to Book First
If you’re trying to decide between activities, lead with the water. The Chief will be there in the afternoon. The light on Howe Sound at 10 am hits differently, and the wind often picks up by midday.
We offer our bookings online. Check out our activities for booking options. Multi-day and overnight rates are customized — worth a call if you’re staying longer.
The dock is ocean-side. The views are unobstructed. And the hot tub is waiting!
Welcome to Squamish!