Sea to Sky and Tofino loop from Vancouver road trip

Sea to Sky and Tofino loop from Vancouver

A summer loop from Vancouver up the Sea to Sky to Squamish and Whistler, then by ferry to Vancouver Island and across to Tofino. For climbers, riders, hikers and surfers.

Fly into Vancouver (YVR)Best Jul-Aug3 stops576 mi / 927 km17.7 h driving10 days suggestedLoop, back to the startCanada

ClimbingMountain BikingHikingSurfingKayakingRunningSkiing

When: Squamish peaks Jun-Sep, Whistler and Tofino Jul-Aug; Tofino is storm season Nov-Mar. [1]

Getting there: Fly into YVR; major rental companies at the airport.

Day by day · 9 nights, 10 days

Start in Vancouver (YVR): pick up the carDrive to Squamish: 49 mi / 79 km · 1 h 30 min

Squamish

BC, Canada

3 nights

World-class granite walls, endless singletrack, and coastal wilderness where the Sea to Sky corridor meets Howe Sound.

Biggest draw

Stawamus Chief · 4.9/5 · ClimbingMassive 700 m granite monolith with world-class multi-pitch climbing (Grand Wall, University Wall) and a hiking trail to three summits.

Also here

Squamish Chief · 4.9/5 · Climbing
Half Nelson / Full Nelson · 4.8/5 · Mountain Biking
Squamish Boulders (Grand Wall Boulders) · 4.7/5 · Climbing

Full Squamish guide →

Drive to Whistler: 37 mi / 60 km · 0 h 54 min

Whistler

BC, Canada

3 nights

Whistler-Blackcomb is North America's largest ski resort, but this Coast Mountains town is a true four-season adventure destination.

Biggest draw

Whistler Blackcomb Skiing · 4.8/5 · SkiingNorth America's largest resort with 3,307m vertical. 200+ runs and extensive backcountry access.

Also here

Peak-to-Peak Gondola · 4.6/5 · Hiking
Whistler Mountain Biking · 4.8/5 · Mountain Biking
Joffre Lakes Trail · 4.7/5 · Hiking

Full Whistler guide →

Drive to Tofino: 285 mi / 459 km · 8 h 42 minLong driving day

Tofino

BC, Canada

3 nights

Tofino sits on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island, where ancient temperate rainforest meets the open Pacific.

Biggest draw

Tofino Beach Surfing · 4.7/5 · SurfingConsistent Pacific swells year-round. Multiple breaks with varied difficulty.

Also here

Cox Bay Beach · 4.7/5 · Surfing
Clayoquot Sound Kayaking · 4.7/5 · Kayaking
Pacific Rim Trail · 4.6/5 · Hiking

Full Tofino guide →

Drive back to Vancouver: 206 mi / 332 km · 6 h 36 minLong driving day

Back in Vancouver: drop the car and fly home.

WHEN, HOW FAR, WHAT TO BRING

When to go

Best: Jul-Aug. Squamish peaks Jun-Sep, Whistler and Tofino Jul-Aug; Tofino is storm season Nov-Mar.

All 3 stops are in peak or shoulder season in May, Jul-Aug, Oct.

Jan0/3

Feb0/3

Mar0/3

Apr2/3

May3/3

Jun2/3

Jul3/3

Aug3/3

Sep2/3

Oct3/3

Nov1/3

Dec0/3

Number = stops in peak or shoulder season that month. Darker = more stops at peak.

Squamish: peak Jun-Sep, avoid Jan-Feb, Nov-Dec
Whistler: peak Jul-Aug, avoid Jan-Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec
Tofino: peak Jul-Aug, avoid Jan-Mar, Nov-Dec

Driving split

17.7 h on the road over 4 drives: about 4.4 h per drive on average, 576 mi (927 km) in total.

Longest day: Whistler to Tofino, 8 h 42 min.

2 drives are over 6 hours; plan them as travel days.

Drive times are free-flow estimates from OpenStreetMap roads, without stops, traffic or border queues.

Sports and gear

Hiking · every stopBring: boots, layers, map or offline maps, water.
Kayaking · every stopBring: PFD, helmet, dry layers; many rivers need a guide or permit.
Mountain Biking · Squamish, WhistlerBring: helmet, gloves, pads; check the bike-park pass and bike rental.
Running · Squamish, WhistlerBring: trail shoes, hydration vest, headlamp for long days.
Climbing · SquamishBring: harness, shoes, helmet, rope and quickdraws (or rent locally).
Surfing · TofinoBring: board (or rent), wetsuit for the water temperature, leash.
Skiing · WhistlerBring: skis or rental, avalanche kit for backcountry, goggles, layers.

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