
moderate
8 hours
Expect several short hikes and some uneven trail; be in good cardiovascular shape and comfortable with uphill walks.
Drive the Sea-to-Sky, hike short forest trails and learn landscape photography from a pro. Over eight hours you’ll frame waterfalls, coastal fjords, and granite cliffs between Squamish and Whistler.
The road opens like a photograph—flat band of asphalt, mountains rising on one side, the ocean a constant silver thread on the other. You leave Vancouver before the city fully wakes, and the Sea-to-Sky Highway begins to sculpt the day: craggy granite faces, fir forests that smell like sap and rain, and waterfalls that insist you pull over. Over eight hours, that ribbon of road becomes an exercise in framing: waterfalls frozen in long exposure, ridgelines staggered into layers, and close-ups of cedar bark and moss that reveal the landscape’s textures.

Many waterfall and low-light shots require steady long exposures — a lightweight tripod is essential for sharp images.
Weather changes quickly on the corridor; breathable waterproof outerwear keeps you shooting comfortably.
Cold and repeated camera use drain batteries fast — carry at least one spare and keep them warm in an inner pocket.
Trails and viewpoints can be wet and rooted; shoes with good traction reduce slips when framing a shot.
The Sea-to-Sky corridor traces ancient travel routes of the Squamish Nation; modern highway improvements in the 20th century connected coastal communities to inland resorts like Whistler.
Stick to trails and pack out waste — high visitation stresses fragile alpine and coastal ecosystems; local operators support Leave No Trace principles.
Stabilizes your camera for waterfall long exposures and low-light shots.
Keeps you dry and comfortable during sudden coastal showers.
spring specific
Provide traction on wet, rooty trails and rocky viewpoints.
Reduces glare on water and deepens sky contrast for landscape shots.
summer specific