Whistler to Squamish, BC, including off-highway STS from 'Function Junction' to Brandywine

Whistler Town Center

Take in the Whistler Experience with a morning coffee stop before a local valley bicycle trail tour and then on to "Function Junction". Morning sun reaches into the main pedestrian section (the stroll) in Whistler town center. A steady stream of tourists and skiers passes by.

Past Whistler Golf Course

Take two-way paved bike trail along the Lorimer Road leading to the Golf Course trails. This route follows the southern border of golf course, with good views of the mountains and ski runs looking across the Fairways. A freak raven may give a scare.

Alta Lakeside Park

Along Alta Lake shore. Paddle boards active. Contiuous along smooth two-lane paved bike trails.

Pass Whistler Train Station

Along Nita and Apha Lakes

Continuous lake shore paved bike paths

Highway junction

The paved bike path ends at Highway 99 South. Head south on wide shoulders to "Function Junction". This short highway section prepares for the final stage of the route, which follows Highway 99 from Brandywine Falls Park to Eagle Walk and the Town of Squamish.

'Function Junction', at Olive's community market

Market is a few hundred meters south of Highway 99. A grocery store with deli-style health food. Indoor and outdoor tables with unbrellas. Get trail snacks and top up water. A popular bicycle stop, near Y-Yoga.

Upper Cheakamus River

Bridge crossing near Whistler Olympic Village. From here onwards, be aware that you are travelling through black bear country.

Sea to Sky (STS) Mountain Bike Trailhead

A fast mountain bike is ideal equipment. Done easily with a good cross bike on 41-mm fatties. Check list includes (but not necessarily limited to) energy snacks, 2 bottles liquid, flat tire tools, spare tube or patch kit, basic first aid kit, extra warm clothing, cell phone.

first view point - decision point

Arrive at the first good mountain viewpoint at a clearing on top of a hill. Continuing south from should commit to reaching the parking lot at Brandywine Falls Provincial Park (another 10-km of similar conditions).

Rock bench

Trail artwork, large natural flat rocks are fashioned into a rest bench with a mountain view.

Suspension Bridge

Second crossing of the Cheakamus River

Volcanic rock and forest scenes

A narrow trail secion traverses along the top of a talus slope; go slower to be safe here.

Cal-Cheak Campsite area, river-bank view

The STS trail crosses a country road and continues a short way through the forest to the river bank, where there is a panoramic view. Watch for the campground and then exit through the campground towards the east, back to the paved country road. Go south on the paved road to a high, green bungee jumper's bridge.The STS trail goes over this bridge, so go up the steep ramp to access the east end of the bridge.

Bungee jumper's bridge

Access the east end by going up a steep ramp past a sea container. Walk bike through bridge sections that are congested with pending jumpers and their supporters. A reflecting pool and bridge viewing area on the west side is worth a longer stop.

Start Highway 99 South segment

Top up water and take advantage of facilities before leaving Brandywine Falls Park, headed south to Eagle Walk and Squamish. Prepare for continuous Highway from here to the Eagle Walk exit, a few kms north of Squamish. According to local knowledge there are no easy or well maintained sections of off-highway STS to the south of Bandywine Falls Provincial Park, and those shown on maps (including Google Maps and OpenCycleMap) include extreme sections that most bicyclists should avoid. Expect several moderately steep uphills on Highway 99 heading south. There are convenient pull overs along these hill sections, providing rest and mountain views. The highway shoulders are mostly wide, clean, and smooth, but erratic junk could be present.

Optional off-road segment

This optional section is accessed from the BlackTusk-Pinecreast turnoff. It starts on a quiet paved road that turns into a mountain bike trail running under a large powerline. The mountian bike section was found to be less well maintained and rough, so exited back to highway at the first opportunity (a STS sign showed where).

Rest stop on long up-hill

At a highway pull-out with a grassy area and picnic tables. Flowering wild shrubs common in this area.

Crest of hill

Panoramic mountain views from another convenient highway pull out. Can see Squamish towards the south

Mountain panorama

A large highway pullout with views to west of a spectacular range of snow-capped mountains.

Eagle Run

Acess Eagle Run area by pulling off Highway 99 at a prominent pedestrian-bicycle overpass, then head west to the Squamish River bank. Food and refreshments are available overlooking the Squamish River. Watch for American Bald Eagles in season.

Downtown Squamish

end ot route, on main street in central Squamish, plenty of street parking.