Squamish

Squamish is a municipality at the northern end of Howe Sound, where mountains meet the fjord and dense forests cover the slopes. The settlement sits at about 16 feet (5 meters) above sea level and extends between the mouths of several rivers and the shore of the sound.

The area became a railway terminus starting in the 1910s and later grew into a center for the timber industry. Western Forest Products operated a large pulp mill here until 2006, shaping the local economy for many decades.

The name comes from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh language of the Salish people who have lived here for millennia and whose presence remains visible in daily life. Traditional carvings and weavings by First Nations artists appear in public buildings and galleries, showing the ongoing connection to this culture.

The town is easy to reach via the Sea to Sky Highway, which connects to Vancouver in under an hour. Brennan Park Recreation Centre offers swimming pools and sports facilities that are open year-round and sit centrally within the community.

The Railway Heritage Museum displays collections from different periods of railway history, including old photographs and tools from the time of track construction. Some of the objects on show come directly from the line that ended here and connected the town to southern regions for many decades.

Location: Squamish-Lillooet Regional District

Elevation above the sea: 5 m

Website: https://squamish.ca

GPS coordinates: 49.70172,-123.15875

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:00