Category: Parks

  • Shannon Falls: The Family Guide to This Sea To Sky Staple

    Shannon Falls: The Family Guide to This Sea To Sky Staple

    Shannon Falls is an easy stopover while going up the Sea to Sky Highway. The massive falls are just minutes from the parking lot, and will give you a glimpse of the massive scale of the Coast Mountains up close.

    Why Stop at Shannon Falls

    The park sits right on the Sea to Sky Highway between Murrin Park and the Sea to Sky Gondola . It’s an easy pit-stop on your way north, as long as it’s not busy. The sound hits you right when you open the car door, and will only get louder as you creep up to it. The best part is that they’re different every time you view them. At 335 metres, it’s the third-highest waterfall in British Columbia, and from the base it’s hard to even see the top.

    In the spring snowmelt or the fall and winter rains, it’s a beautiful sight of nature’s power. In the summer it’s a bit more palpable, and the mist can be cooling on a hot day. The walk from the parking lot to the viewpoints is short and mostly flat. It offers a big reward for very little effort, which is exactly the kind of stop this highway is made for.

    Especially with little kids, this makes for an easy “hike” on a paved, stroller-friendly path. It’s just enough to offer a bit of challenge, but not too much that the whining starts before they get to see what all the fuss is about.

    Getting There & Parking

    Shannon Falls Provincial Park is roughly 2 km south of Squamish on Highway 99, on the east side of the road. The parking lot hasn’t been expanded in line with the popularity, so it fills up extremely quickly in the summer months. The lineups to wait for a spot can get a bit rediculous.

    There’s overflow parking across the street at Darrell Bay if things are too crazy. Totem Hall is also nearby, where local Squamish Nation cultural events often occur. If anything is going on that is open to the public, it’s well worth a visit.

    💲
    Free

    ⏱️
    30 min–1 hr

    👶
    All ages

    🚻
    Flush toilets

    🅿️
    Free lot (fills fast)

    🐕
    On-leash

    looking upward at shannon falls from the upper viewpoint
    The view from the upper viewpoint

    The Falls Through the Seasons

    The falls are never quite the same twice. In spring, snowmelt turns Shannon Creek into a roar and the whole cliff seems to move. In the fall and winter rains it’s nature’s power on full display. Come summer the flow eases off, the falls get more palpable, and on a hot day the mist drifting off the base is the best free air-conditioning on the corridor.

    Hiking to the Top: Read This First

    You can also hike up toward the top of the falls, but be forewarned. No matter how cool it looks on social media, do not swim in the pool up top — even if you think it’s safe. People have died there, and they will continue to die as long as people keep posting about it. It’s no joke.

    This isn’t hypothetical. In 2018, three young travellers slipped at a pool above the falls and drowned. One fell, and the two who tried to help fell after. The granite is slick, the current is stronger than it looks, and there’s no getting back out once the water has you. A photo is not worth it.

    The trail itself is tough for little legs, but a good challenge for kids around 8 and up. It’s easily accessible from the parking lot, just look for signs.

    Good to Know

    • Cost: Free. Day-use only. No camping.
    • Washrooms: Flush toilets on site.
    • Facilities: Picnic areas and a small seasonal concession/info kiosk.
    • Dogs: On-leash at all times; not permitted in park buildings.
    • Stroller call: The base path to the lower viewpoint is mostly flat and manageable; the upper viewpoint has stairs. A carrier is the safer bet if you’re going past the first viewpoint.
    • Cell service: Reliable
    • Best time to visit: Early morning or a weekday. On a summer weekend the lot fills and you’ll be waiting a while to snag a spot.

    Make a Day of It

    Shannon Falls is best strung together with its neighbours. Combine it with a stop at Murrin Park just to the south, or ride up the Sea to Sky Gondola right next door for the big-picture view of Howe Sound.

    a view looking northward of the stawamus chief and mount garibaldi

    Planning a Sea to Sky family day?

    Grab the free Sea to Sky Family Navigator app we built for families both local and visiting, who want to get the most out of the corridor. It’s packed with honest, kid-tested stops from Horseshoe Bay to Pemberton. You can browse by activity or map, and save your trip plan for a sweet little trip up the Sea-to-Sky.

    Get the free guide

    Come Back with the Seasons

    This is the type of stop you want to make more than once, especially with little ones. We love being able to show our kids how one spot can change drastically with the seasons. No matter what time of year there is something unique. It’s also one of the few places where it pays to go in the offseason, since the water is usually raging more and the crowds have gone away.

    a view of shannon falls, british columbia in the winter
    It looks pretty cool in the winter, too!

    Shannon Falls FAQ

    How tall is Shannon Falls?

    Shannon Falls drops 335 metres (1,099 feet), making it the third-highest waterfall in British Columbia.

    Is Shannon Falls free to visit?

    Yes. Shannon Falls Provincial Park is free to enter, with free parking and flush toilets. It’s a day-use park. There is no overnight camping, but a campground sits a few hundred meters down the road at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park.

    How long is the walk to Shannon Falls?

    The walk from the parking lot to the viewpoints is short. You can budget about 30 minutes round-trip, which includes some time for pics and some peaceful moments taking it in.

    Can you swim at Shannon Falls?

    No. Swimming in the pools above the falls is extremely dangerous and has killed several people. The rock is slippery and the current is far stronger than it appears. Enjoy the falls from the viewpoints and stay out of the water.

    Is Shannon Falls good for kids?

    The base trail is easy and suitable for all ages, including little ones. The steeper hike toward the top of the falls is a good challenge for kids around 8 and up, but keep everyone well back from the water.

  • The Family Guide to Whytecliff Park

    The Family Guide to Whytecliff Park

    We have a blessing in life to live near one of the great parks in Metro Vancouver: Whytecliff. At the very edge of the continent, where the mainland of BC separates Howe Sound from the Salish Sea. There sits a small peninsula surrounded by multimilllion dollar estates, but with a significant portion of it made public for all to enjoy.

    Of all the parks to encapsulate coastal British Columbia, Whytecliff may be it. There are other marquee parks throughout Metro Vancouver, but nowhere else can you get a beach, rocky cliffs, a renowned scuba-diving site, and forested hikes all in one area. It’s marks the beginning of the Sea to Sky region, and is well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

    Whytecliff Park At a Glance

    Location: End of 7000 block Marine Drive, West Vancouver (just west of Horseshoe Bay)
    Park Size: 15+ hectares
    Cost: Free entry / Pay parking year-round (West Van residents can get annual pass)
    Washrooms: Yes — main building 7am–9pm, portable toilets at south lot
    Concession: Open daily 11am–7pm (burgers, smoked meat, ice cream, housemade snacks)
    Dogs: Not permitted on trails
    Transit: Bus 257 Horseshoe Bay Express or 250 from downtown Vancouver (with 1-2k walking after the stop)

    Why Families Love This Park

    • Swimming beach that gets fun wave action from passing BC Ferries
    • One of Canada’s first Marine Protected Areas, home to over 200 marine animal species — real wildlife, not a zoo!
    • Playground, tennis courts, playing field, and heated washrooms
    • Harbour seals are commonly spotted in the water; orcas have made rare appearances
    • Café on site means you don’t need to pack everything
    a telephoto view of the beach at Whytecliff park with bowen island in the background

    Whyte Islet: A Tidal Island To Get In Sync With Nature

    Out in the bay from the beach at Whytecliff is Whyte Islet. This rocky outcropping is a tiny mountain that starts deep below the surface, revealing the peak of it at water’s edge. Hiking out here provides those who get there with a remarkable view across the Salish Sea toward Vancouver Island.

    A view looking southward from Whyte Islet toward the Salish Sea and Vancovuer Island on a clear sunny day
    The view from atop Whyte Islet looking across the Salish Sea to Vancouver Island

    The cool thing about Whyte Islet is that it’s a tidal island—meaning at high tide it’s an island, and at low tide it’s a peninsula. This is important in that it makes you have to plan your trip out there, especially if walking out during an incoming tide. There have been many people needing to get help coming back because the path they took ended up underwater.

    But fear not, as the tide table is easy enough to read. You can get a fresh tide table on the Candian Government’s DFO website, or check out what it’s doing right now:

    The whole exercise of planning for the tides becomes a great lesson to kids to help them (and even us parents) understand the Earth’s natural rhythms a bit better. Knowing the tides is a part of many seafarer’s lives, but something the land lubber in us loses sight of. Flexing that muscle is good for both the brain and the wild heart.

    The Playground at Whytecliff

    The park has a moderately sized playground which is spread out for different ages to have their own space. Big kids will like the large swing set, but the rest of the equipment is meant for the younger (under 10) set. A small dinosaur-shaped apparatus welcomes the tots, while a larger structure with two slides and a few ways to climb up give our toddlers plenty to be entertained by.

    There are also nearby tennis/pickleball courts, and a large field for games—although nothing is level and it all slopes down toward the ocean.

    Hiking/Walking Trails

    Whytecliff has an impressive array of different trails that have been carved out over time. Depending on how old your kids are you might want to keep them on a short leash; as the trails can get dangerously close to a cliff’s edge. But there are plenty of trails—both near the water and in the forest—that will be both entertaining and challenging for kids and adults alike.

    The coastal trails are best explored with grippy soles that can grip to the granite rocks, allowing you to get a little bit further out. But if there are small kids or people with difficulty balancing, you can take a nice paved path down to the waterline, and it just so happens to go past the concession stand. The concession isn’t anything to write home about, but can ease a tantrum if emotions get hot.

    a father and daughter explore the coastline of british columbia at whytecliff park
    The shoreline is full of tidal pools and all kinds of treasures.

    For those who crave a bit more exercise, It’s well worth a jaunt across Marine Drive where the park continues up the same ridgeline that juts into the ocean forming Whyte Islet. From there you can easily spend an hour or so getting the heart rate up while at the same time getting immersed in the Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, and Coastal Hemlock forest that makes British Columbia stand out. While sweeping vistas may be limited, the forest is the draw, and there’s a reason why the Japanese practice forest bathing: it calms the nervous system and grounds us in our surroundings better than almost anything.

    It’s a favorite spot for locals to take their dogs, so just be careful if you have curious little ones that they don’t end up with some discarded dog poo. I always thought it was strange that people bag up their dog poo and leave it on the ground, but maybe in this situation it’s the better option…

    The Best Lunch Spot Around

    Toward the western edge of the park are a few parking spots if you’re lucky enough to get them, but is a bit like winning the lottery on a hot summer’s day. But right above that is a public area with a picnic table that could be one of the most beautiful lunch spots on earth, and certainly one of Vancouver’s best. There you can whale watch right from the point and see a multitude of birds and seals passing through the channel.

    Parking at Whytecliff

    Because it’s such an amazing spot, it gets busy, and there are far too few parking spots to meet the demand. The park itself has a few dozen spots with a few more across Marine Drive in the woods.

    But none of that matters on a weekend where it can get so busy that they will close down the road at Marine Drive and Nelson Ave in an attempt to curb the congestion. Because of this, we highly recommend getting to the park before 9AM (9:45 at the latest) on weekends in the summer, lest you get turned away.

    Come Back Often

    Some people may be here for a short time, visting once—and that’s great. I hope this small guide entices you to visit. But the magic comes when you visit Whytecliff across the seasons. There is something unique about each phase of the year: Herring spawn in the spring, Humpback Migrations, Summer beachcoming, and winter storms. The moods of the park will entice you to visit again and see what each season is all about.

    a father and two children look out at the sunset from the edge of whytecliff park while seated on a cargo e-bike
    Don’t forget to catch the sunset!

    Want to Find More Great Spots in the Sea to Sky? Check Out Our Free App

    a screenshot of the sea to sky navigator trip planner app

    We made an app to help families navigate the Sea to Sky corridor a bit better. Check out the Sea to Sky Family Navigator app to plan your trip and find spots based on map, activity, location, and more! The best part, it’s free!

    Sea To Sky Navigator App

    And if you would like to see other great beaches near Vancouver, check out our guide to the Best Family-Friendly Beaches In and Around Vancouver, BC.