Stawamus Chief Park
On this page
About the Park
Stawamus Chief Provincial Park protects the 700m massive granite cliffs that stand at the southern entrance to Squamish on the scenic Sea to Sky Highway.
The park provides rock climbing opportunities of international significance. Hiking trails to The Chief’s three summits offer rewarding views of Howe Sound, the Squamish town site, and surrounding mountains. This park has opportunities for camping, hiking, rock climbing, and scenic viewing atop the Chief.
The Stawamus Chief campsites are not reservable and are operated on a first come first serve basis. More info on first come first serve sites.
For information on Stawamus Chief Provincial Park please visit the BC Parks website.
Facilities
Activities
Know Before You Go
Campfires: Campfires are not permitted in this park at any time.
Parking: Visitors must park in designated parking lots and observe the “no parking” signs posted. Vehicles parked illegally will be subject to towing at the owner’s expense. Vehicles parked illegally in closed day-use areas will be charged a fee for gate unlocking. Provincial parks along the Sea-to-Sky corridor have experienced exceptional growth in visitor numbers, leading to parking congestion and illegally parked vehicles. Public safety is paramount for BC Parks, and new parking policies are in place to ensure safe access for all. Thank you for your compliance.
Fees: Fees are per person per night for anyone 6 years of age and older. Fees for this park are cash only paid by the self-registration system, please see the information at the campground Entrance.
Camping: Camping is allowed on designated sites only and all equipment, tents, etc., must be on the designated site. Campsites are very shaded with large mature coniferous trees. Please store and lock all food in the storage lockers located throughout the campground and in the cooking shelter.
Hiking: The Chief Trail is a steep and difficult climb, requiring hikers to be in good physical condition. Hikers should be prepared with sturdy footwear, clothing, food, and water.
Climbing: Obey posted closures of climbing routes on the Chief during the critical nesting season of the peregrine falcon.
Visitor Services
Advisories
Illegally parked vehicles.
Vehicles parked illegally at Stawamus Chief including the Apron parking lot will be subject to towing at the owner’s expense. Visitors must park in designated parking lots and observe the “no parking” signs posted. Vehicles parked illegally in closed day-use areas will be charged a fee for gate unlocking. Thank you for your compliance.
Camping reminders and regulations.
Attention Campers! BC Parks is reminding vehicle and tent campers at Stawamus Chief Park to adhere to BC Parks camping regulations:
Each tent site and drive-in site are available on a first come, first served, basis.
Campers are required to submit their payment at the self-registration info kiosk and display their registration tags at their campsite for their entire stay.
Maximum length of stay is limited to 14 days. This is to ensure that all visitors to the park have equal and fair access to the campground.
Park operators will be checking camping registration daily.
Designated bear caches will be inspected and cleaned regularly by park operator staff.
Please do not store food items in caches beyond the 14-day stay limit.
To ensure there is room in the bear caches, place all belongings in a self-contained bag. To assist the park operator staff, please label your bag with your campsite number.
Thank you for helping keep the Stawamus Chief campground clean, safe, and accessible for all park visitors. – Posted April 19, 2024
Stawamus Chief main hiking trail closed due to rockfall event.
BC Parks has closed the Stawamus Chief main hiking trail due to a rockfall event. The hiking trail below the Sea to Summit junction has been significantly impacted by rockfall debris.
Closure signage and barricades have been installed at the trailhead kiosk. Please do not enter the area. There is no estimated reopening timeframe for the trail.
Closures are also in place for trails connecting to the main chief trail, including The Sea to Summit Trail from the Sea to Sky Gondola
Director’s closure order [PDF] – Posted December 27, 2025