Shannon Falls

To call Shannon Falls spectacular is an understatement. The falls plunge 1,100 feet (335 meters), making it the third tallest in British Columbia, and it’s right on the edge of the Sea to Sky Highway. It’s also just a stone’s throw from Howe Sound, too, making this small Provincial Park one of the most popular stops along the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler.
Cover those camera lenses while exploring the base of the waterfalls, especially in the spring and fall when water levels are at their highest, as mist from the waterfalls almost always soaks the boardwalk trail that winds through old growth forest beneath the falls.
The newest attraction at Shannon Falls is the Sea to Sky Gondola, which carries visitors high above the valley floor for stunning views. For more adventurous visitors, Shannon Falls is also the trailhead for a challenging 6.2-mile (10-km round-trip hike to the top of the Stawamus Chief. Expect to see plenty of avid climbers, too, as the Chief (as it’s known locally) is one of Canada’s premier rock climbing areas. From the summit, the views of Squamish, Howe Sounds and the surrounding coastal mountains are absolutely stunning, and it's also possible to see the summits of Mt Habrich and Mt Sky Pilot, which are the sources of Shannon Falls.

Practical Info

Shannon Falls Provincial Park is located on the east side of the Sea to Sky Highway, 44 miles (70 km) north of Vancouver.