With spring in full swing in Squamish and the clocks turned forward to give us more light in the evenings, our thoughts begin to wander toward getting the hiking boots out of storage and heading out onto the trails to explore.
Spring, like the other shoulder season Fall, is always an interesting time of year for weather. Fall is the trailing edge of summer leading into winter, and spring is the trailing edge of winter as we begin the warmer months. Spring is a period of transition and flux before the relatively stable conditions of summer settle back in.
At this time of year, if you want to experience hiking on the trails, you have to be flexible about it. You have to be mentally prepared for the fact that even if the forecast is for sunshine, it may, in fact, start snowing. Take what you can get and remember that this is also a great time of year to start building a good base of fitness for bigger summer adventures. If you don’t fulfill your objective, like making it all the way to the lake or summit, due to mud, ice or snow, don’t sweat it. You gained experience, knowledge and exercise, all of which will benefit you in the year to come.
Keep the following in mind before heading out on local trails this spring.
Daylight hours:
It’s still early enough in the year that you should plan for objectives that give you a good buffer of daylight to complete. Avoid starting too late in the day.
Snow line:
On days when the clouds clear in Squamish, take note of the snow line on the hills around us. Better yet, a ride up the gondola will give you a good idea of how much snow there still is at that elevation so you can plan hikes to a similar or lower elevation nearby.
Weather:
The weather is fairly unpredictable at this time of year. Sunny days that quickly turn to hail storms and thunder and lighting are not uncommon. Check the forecast the morning of a hike and even then take it with a pinch of salt. Plan for cold and wet weather, always.
Have a Backup Plan:
Make a Plan B or Plan C. Usually in the spring I will have backup plans for hikes further afield to make use of where the weather is best. Plan for a hike in Squamish, but research some hikes nearer to Vancouver or Whistler as well.
If the weather looks more favourable a little further away, then go there to avoid a wet, cold and potentially cut short outing in Squamish.
Navigation:
Stop into a local outdoor retailer in Squamish to pick up a hiking map and guidebook and start exploring. Be sure to ask for advice on current trail conditions that they might be aware of. In the spring, sections of the trail might still have snow and ice on it so following tree markers or being able to navigate between sections of obscured trail is definitely a must.
Here are a few good spring hikes that will get your legs pumping and your heart racing as our bodies come out of hibernation.
Sea-to-Summit Trail:
A walk up to the top of the gondola is my favourite hike to get a hassle-free workout. Around eight kilometres long and gaining 918 metres in elevation, it can be physically challenging. But, I firmly believe that if you can walk to the shops, then you are capable of it. Start early, either from the Stawamus Chief parking lot or one of the Gondola Parking lots and let the thoughts of a hot coffee or cold beer at the top pull you up through the granite bluffs and lush rainforest. Once at the top you have the option of the gondola to ride down.
Note that in the spring you may encounter snow, so bring traction devices for your boots and hiking poles just in case.
Alice Lake and beyond:
A hike around the four lakes trail is popular in Squamish, and if you’ve completed it, then you have likely noticed branches to the trails heading off in different directions.
Don’t be afraid to follow these trails and explore. Give yourself a turn around time that will get you back to your car before dark.
I like to take the entrance to Coho Park in Garibaldi Highlands and follow the trail through the forest to Jack’s Trail and then on to Alice Lake. You can do a loop of Alice Lake and return the way you came. This hike stays low in the forest so will likely avoid snow and is about 11 kilometres in length.
High Falls Creek:
This is a strenuous hike which can offer some amazing views of high waterfalls, as the name denotes, and views over the Tantalus Range beside Squamish. The trailhead is reached some 26kms up the Squamish Valley Road after you pass a hydro-power station on your right and a bridge. Before you pass the second bridge, the one that crosses High Falls Creek, you can park at a pullout. The trail is just over the second bridge on your right.
This trail is challenging and in the early spring can offer variable conditions including ice and snow. It is steep also, gaining about 630 metres over 4kms. In sections, there are chains to assist walking up the steep rock, which can be slippery when wet.
Once at a high viewpoint over the Tantalus Range, you have the option of returning the way you came or continuing higher through an indistinct section to reach a forestry road which you can then descend back to your vehicle.
If it is safe to do so, I would recommend descending the way you came as you get to view the waterfalls a second time on the way down. It is also two km shorter than taking the road back. Even though the total distance covered is only eight kms I recommend starting early and allowing for at least four to five hours to factor in the steepness and stops at the falls and viewpoints.
There are many more nearby trails than we can list here. We are fortunate to have an abundance of trails in and around Squamish to explore and visit through all four seasons so get out there and experience them for yourself.
***Editor’s note: hiking can be a dangerous activity that should be undertaken with caution and with proper preparation.***
