Canada #11 Sea to Sky Gondola
We were amazed by the statistics connected to the Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish on the Sea to Sky Highway.
For a start, it’s located between the third highest waterfall in British Columbia and the second largest granite monolith in the world. At Shannon Falls, water tumbling over the cliff edge drops 335 metres to the ground while, on the Stawamus Chief, rock climbers aiming to reach the 700 metre high summit resemble ants as they cling to the sheer granite wall.
Then there’s the gondola. As its name implies, the ride begins just 35 metres above sea level, at the northern end of Howe Sound. After a ten minute journey covering 1920 metres from Basecamp to the Summit Lodge, the gondola ride ends high on a rocky outcrop in the mountains, 885 metres above sea level.
From our shiny, green gondola we could see right around – up the mountains of the Coast Range and down to the blue waters of Howe Sound.
At the Summit Lodge, the sight from the viewing deck of the snow-capped Tantalus Mountain Range across the water was magnificent.
The Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, named after one of two nearby peaks, stretches for 100 metres over one of many narrow gorges between the ridges.
We stopped several times on the way across to the Spirit Viewing Platform as the scenery demanded our attention. Perched on the edge of the granite ridge, the platform offers grand views of both Sky Pilot and Co-Pilot Mountains. The rugged peaks were white with snow and dense forests of maples, cedars and Douglas firs covered the steep slopes.
The Spirit Trail, one of many walks in the mountains, begins at this platform.
The 400 metre circuit took us on a journey back to the days of the Squamish First Nation. From the information boards along the track we learned about the first people’s connection to the land and their use of the abundant natural resources in the forests. For them, the trees were the source of many household items. To us, they were simply beautiful.
With another glorious view at every turn, birdsong filling the air and the lush green of the forest surrounding us, we forgot about statistics.
The wonders of nature had taken their place in our thoughts.
Visit Jo for more Monday Walks.
Carol, you do such a good job of including statistics and related information – I confess that I never think to include those things when I’m enjoying a trip out somewhere – very often I forget to photograph, I am so busy soaking it all in through my senses. Clearly that is why you are a travel writer and I am not 🙂 What a beautiful spot – and an amazing ride, did your ears pop?
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My ears did pop a little, as it was a quick ride up the mountain. It was so pretty and we couldn’t get enough of the snow on the mountains.
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Beautiful. Great post. I want to visit there. Thanks for sharing.
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You could easily do a holiday to the west coast of Canada! It’s worth it.
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It is possible. I’m seriously considering it. Thanks for the inspiration.
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Just beautiful Carol. Postcard images.
That gondola trip looks amazing. X
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The gondola was so much fun and the views were amazing. We loved seeing the snow.
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Really magnificent views, Carol. Gondola rides are good but looking at those climbers gives me the heebie jeebies. 😳
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Me too! They were so small I couldn’t even see them until I spotted the tiny specks of colour which were their clothes. I could never do that sort of climb.
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Glad to hear it. 👏🏻
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Beautiful photographs and fabulous post. Far far too long since I visited Canada, almost tempted to book a flight today having read this.
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By the time I’ve finished with our five weeks in Canada, you’ll be packing your bags. 🙂
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Working on MrB as I type!
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Good luck!
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Thanks, will need it!! 😉
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Such grandeur in the scenery. I am not one for heights but I would have enjoyed the trail.
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You don’t have to go on the suspension bridge to get to the Spirit Platform. There is a trail from the Summit Lodge around. I love these bridges so I was happy to go back and forth.
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Wow! What a trip you had, Carol! I think this is my favourite bit so far. The views are fabulous 🙂 🙂 Thanks so much for linking to me. No walk tomorrow as I shall be Internetless (again! 😦 ) We had to give our UK provider a month’s notice and Mick chose a random date – 19th. I need to sort out a new email address today or my world will go silent. 🙂 🙂 At this time next week I’ll be in Leeds, playing with a small person, and getting ready to head for the airport.
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I wasn’t sure when your next walk would be but decided to link anyway. How exciting that your long held dream is finally coming to fruition.
There is so much more of our Canada trip still to come and I have so many more wonderful stories to share.
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Glad you did 😃😃
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So gorgeous. I’m fairly sure this must also have been built since our visit in the 90s or we’d have gone on it too!
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I think it is quite new. It was great.
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Time for a new visit perhaps!
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Good idea. 🙂
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Your photographs are all so beautiful. I especially appreciate the close ups. The gondola, haha definitely not for me Yikes. But overall very impressive landscape, forest, waterfall all of it.. gorgeous.
Peta
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The landscape is amazing. You can actually walk up the Sea to Summit Ascent Trail, which is 7.5km and takes 3 to 5 hours. I’d rather take the gondola so I’ll meet you at the top! 🙂
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The forest photos are beautiful. I’m always amazed by incredible engineering work like the suspension bridge.
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The engineering and cables were so unobtrusive too. It’s very clever work.
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What an amazing adventure because I would have loved the gondola ride and the suspension bridge walk. And, the views are spectacular. 🙂
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You’re a kindred spirit, Judy. I love doing this type of thing. It’s so much fun.
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Beautiful!
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It really is a spectacular landscape.
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Wow – you certainly made the most of your time in BC. And you write so well about your adventures. Great photos – gorgeous, gorgeous scenery. Especially love the steller’s jay – lovely bird.
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Thank you Susi for identifying the beautiful bird. Mr ET took that photo. There’s more of BC still to come.
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I’m afraid I just don’t like heights any more, which is something that didn’t bother me when I was younger, so it’s nice to be able to look at your post from the comfort of my firmly anchored chair!
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Perhaps you’d better stay put then because there are plenty more high up posts to come. 🙂
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Excellent batch of photos! Thank you for sharing!
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Glad you enjoyed them.
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Wow, what absolutely awe inspiring scenery. And that gondola trip looked amazing. Definitely one place for the bucket list.
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For sure, Miriam. You could easily spend a whole day here.
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I’d feel much better watching the view from the gondola than the suspension bridge!! 😉
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And the good news is that you don’t have to use the suspension bridge to do all the walks. There is also a trail around to the next ridge.
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Wow. I am speechless! Fantastic Place and stunning photos. Thank You sharing them.
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Thank you, Matti. The mountains were wonderful.
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Absolutely stunning photographs! I’ll have to add Canada to my list!
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Oh yes! It’s a wonderful destination with so much to see. 🙂
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This is one of Canada’s gems to be sure. You have done a great job featuring not only the beauty but the information and history of the area too! I’ve not been on the bridge which looks like a grand walk.
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Thank you Sue. The bridge was fun and not too wobbly.
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You got some amazing views here – and look at the colour of the waters of Howe Sound! Such a beautiful place to visit.
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All the blues are fantastic, even on an overcast day. We could easily return to this area.
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I can see why – it is so beautiful.
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Cool nature! So wide views & you are so high in the sky too! That The Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge is something phenomenal. Where you not scared at all?
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No, I don’t mind heights as long as I know I’m safe. It was so much fun to be up there.
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