14 Sea to Sky Highway Stops You Don’t Want To Miss

The Sea to Sky Highway is one of the most beautiful road trips in the world that you can ever take! Located in British Columbia, this road takes you through landscapes whose beauty is hard to replicate in photo! From stunning mountain views and exciting activities, here are 14 unmissable stops between Vancouver and Whistler.

1. Capilano Suspension Bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is located in Capilano in the park of the same name. It is one of the best bridges in Vancouver and is the paying alternative to Lynn Canyon suspension bridge. It is 140 metres long and stands 70 metres above the Capilano River. The park also features a number of smaller suspension bridges in the trees. It is quite the experience and is worth doing at least once!

2. Dundarave Beach

Dundarave and Ambleside beaches are two of our favourite beaches in Vancouver and in West Vancouver. They are quiet and offer views on the coast that will just make you be grateful for being in Vancouver! It’s a great nature stop to add to your drive to Whistler.

3. West Vancouver Trestle Bridge

The new Cypress Trestle Bridge in West Vancouver is just a few minutes off the Sea To Sky Highway. This was one of our favourite visits in our last trip to Vancouver. Between the beautiful trestle bridge itself and the amazing views on Vancouver’s Stanley Park and Skyline, it’s the perfect place to stop by in the morning!

4. Horseshoe Bay Lookout

Horseshoe Bay is a beautiful place and is especially known for being the Ferry Terminal in Vancouver. From the beach and the pier, you have sweeping views on the mountains and the Howe Sound. However, since you will probably be limited in the number of stops you want to do on your Vancouver to Whistler drive, we suggest that you stop at the Horseshoe Bay lookout instead. This Horseshoe Bay platform guide explains in detail how to get there and where to park on the Sea To Sky Highway.

5. Porteau Cove Provincial Park

On our last visit to Vancouver, we spent about 2 hours in Porteau Cove, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Porteau Cove will make you feel all the feeling. It is located right off the Whistler drive and is very easily accessible.

6. Shannon Falls

Shannon Falls is another must-see Sea To Sky Highway stop on your way to Whistler. With a height of 330 meters, Shannon Falls are the highest waterfalls in British Columbia. There is a car park off the highway and the trail to get to the falls is quite easy. We have done it in flip flops before so it’s easily manageable! You’ll reach the falls after walking for a few minutes along the river.

7. Sea To Sky Gondola And Suspension Bridge

The Sea To Sky Gondola is probably one of the best things you can do on your Vancouver to Whistler drive! Although not cheap, we do recommend that you do this Sea To Sky Highway attraction at least once as the views and experience are incredible!

The Gondola takes you to the summit (880 meters high) where you’ll find a platform with an incredible view over Howe Sound and the Stawamus Chief Mountain. One highlight is the 100 meter long Sky Pilot suspension bridge which you can cross for a beautiful experience and some fun!

8. Squamish

Whether you want to stop in Squamish to grab a snack or get gas, you might want to consider taking a walk on the street for a few minutes. The docks have amazing views and you’ll be surrounded by mountains and the Howe Sound…Pretty cool!

9. Eagle Run Viewing Shelter

The Eagle Run Viewing Shelter is located on the Squamish River next to Brackendale. The shelter is named after the bald eagles who come here to feed. The best time to view the eagles is from mid-November to mid-December. However, depending on the number of salmons and the weather conditions, it is possible to see them all year long. You can also spot salmon there so keep your eyes open!

10. Brohm Lake

Brohm Lake is another lake on your way to Whistler. It is a popular swimming location among the locals and is great for kayaking, paddling or canoeing. It also has a rope swing which is so fun! This is a great stop for the summer to freshen up!

11. Tantalus Lookout

The Tantalus Lookout is another spot to add to your Whistler drive. It gives out views on the mountains and the valleys below. Technically the Tantalus Lookout is on the other side of Highway 99, but there is also a small pullout on the northbound side.

12. Whistler Train Wreck

If you are looking for a unique and “kinda bizarre but cool” spot to take photos, the Whistler Train Wreck might be your pick! It consists in a collection of graffiti on old railroad box cars located in the forest off the highway.

It is accessible through an easy 2km walk round trip. The walk is moderate with a short steep section on your way. To get to the train wreck, you’ll also have to cross a suspension bridge.

13. Virgin River Filming Locations

If you’re into the Netflix TV Show Virgin River, you won’t be disappointed by your road trip to Whistler! Many scenes of the show were filmed on the road from Vancouver to Whistler including Shannon Falls and Eagle Run.

14. Garibaldi Provincial Park

Next to the Blackcomb Glacier Provincial Park, you’ll find Garibaldi Provincial Park on the northbound side of the Sea To Sky Highway. The Park is home to Mount Garibaldi, a 2678 metres peak. One of the highlights of the park is hiking to Garibaldi Lake, a large turquoise water lake surrounded by mountains and scenic views.

To access the hike, you’ll need to drive to the Rubble Creek parking lot and then take the wooden stairs to start your journey. The Rubble Creek parking lot is about 37km after Squamish.

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Mary and Eric

We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home.

We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home. With over 10 years of experience in dating and traveling to romantic places, we share our favorite date ideas and romantic destinations to help couples level up their relationships. Having lived in and traveled through the USA, we also share our favourite things to do in the States.

With 70,000 monthly readers and 16,000 followers on social media, Be Right Back is your go-to resource for romantic trip ideas and couple activities at home and abroad.

14 Sea to Sky Highway Stops You Don’t Want To Miss