Less than an hour’s drive north of Vancouver, Squamish has long been seen as Whistler’s distant cousin; a little pit-stop town where one might grab a cup of java before heading to their final destination. That all began to change when the Sea to Sky Gondola opened its doors in May 2014.
The scenic 10-minute gondola ride brings visitors from the base at Highway 99 up to the summit, 850 metres above sea level. At the top, guests are greeted with breathtaking views of Howe Sound, the Pacific Ocean, Squamish Valley and Atwell Peak.
It took 18 months and $23 million to build the gondola, with helicopters used to install all of the towers. Within weeks, the internationally-acclaimed outdoor attraction put Squamish on the map. So much so that the Sea to Sky Gondola made the New York Times’ list of 52 Places to Go in 2015.
