The Sea to Sky Highway 99 in British Columbia is a dreamy scenic drive from Vancouver to Pemberton. It takes you up the spectacular Howe Sound, onwards to Squamish and Whistler. It is a great scenic route to combine with a trip into the Canadian Rockies or the Okanagan Valley.
The Best Stops on the Sea to Sky Highway
Vancouver & North Vancouver
While the focus of this article is most definitely the road trip aspect; you can’t depart from Vancouver without stopping for a few days to enjoy the delights of this city.
A bike ride around the Stanley Park Sea Wall, lunch at the Granville Island Market, and a visit to the Gas Town Steam Clock are musts. Walking around the harbour, a self-guided brewery tour of east Van, and a scenic flight on a float plane are amazing extras. If you are in Vancouver for longer, a trip out to the Burnaby Village Museum or a chill day at Kitsilano Beach are perfect for families.
North Vancouver is worth a visit too. Less so for the Capilano Suspension Bridge (we rate the Sea to Sky Gondola higher, see below), but more for the hiking and relaxed vibe of North Van. A visit to Deep Cove, Panorama Park and the Quarry Rock hike is a must for nature-lovers.
Porteau Cove
Porteau Cove Marine Park is a fantastic spot for a picnic, some kayaking, or just a pitstop to see the sea lions cavort on the piers.
These rocky beaches offer wonderful views of Howe Sound and a taste of what’s ahead as you drive further up the Sea to Sky Highway.
Britannia Beach & Britannia Mine Museum
Learn more about the copper mining industry in BC at the Britannia Mine Museum. Just 10 minutes south of Squamish, this is an educational stop along the Sea to Sky Highway. Stop for a coffee, a picnic at Britannia Beach, and a visit to the museum and shop, which sells local copper art.
Sea to Sky Gondola + The Stawamus Chief
The Sea to Sky Gondola really is truly magical. It’s a great way to see Howe Sound, Stawamus Chief, Shannon Falls, and the Squamish area from above. The gondola ascends in steep sections, and you have full length windows in each gondola cabin. The cabins hold a maximum of 8 people, however if you visit on a quiet day, you are usually lucky enough to get your own cabin. This allows you unimpeded views of the surroundings as you climb / descend.
The viewing platforms and 100-metre-long Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge offer breathtaking vistas of the surrounding landscapes. There is a restaurant, hiking trails and much to occupy you for a couple of wonderful hours. The Sea to Sky Gondola was one of best gondola trips I’ve ever taken.
Disclaimer: I received free passes to the Sea to Sky Gondola, however, as usual, all opinions are my own.
The Stawamus Chief is one of the biggest granite monoliths on earth. This beautiful dome of rock is popular for climbing and hiking. It is also of spiritual significance in Indigenous history – learn more about the Squamish and Lil’Wat peoples at the Whistler Cultural Centre.
Squamish
Squamish is a really cute little town, and is definitely somewhere I would recommend a stop. To enjoy some of the many craft breweries, I would schedule in an overnighter, so you can enjoy them safely!
We had the most amazing lunch at Steamworks, with my husband enjoying the craft beers. We had a fabulous brisket poutine and super saucy chicken wings.
You may recognise the Squamish area from TV shows such as Men in Trees and Virgin River.
Whistler
Whistler is a ski-lovers dream. And it has many other activities to enjoy other than skiing. However, I wouldn’t spend too much time here if you aren’t a ski / snow-activity enthusiast. Why? Because Jasper has way more to offer (from a general tourism perspective), and Jasper National Park is beyond beautiful.
I frame it this way simply because most people doing a road trip in Canada have limited time. I have seen so many people spend 2 nights in Whistler and only 1 in Jasper, and then they miss out on the hot springs, the dark sky preserve and Moraine Lake in Jasper National Park – which is a crying shame.
In saying that, Whistler is worth a stop. For the Squamish & Lil’Wat Cultural Centre alone. But also for the surrounding hikes on offer, the Audain Art Museum, and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride. Brandywine Falls is a beautiful, easy hike near Whistler.
Tip: Visit Amsterdam Cafe for happy hour drinks and the best gyoza I’ve eaten in Canada!
Continue up Highway 99 to Lillooet and beyond
While the Sea to Sky Highway officially ends at Pemberton, Highway 99 carries on north to Lillooet before it meets Highway 97 north to south. The changing landscapes on this part of the journey were marvellous. From the lush coastline, to the rocky and interior, British Columbia has such diversity of scenery.
Don’t miss a stop at the Fort Berens Winery in Lillooet. Not only do they make very tasty wines, but their location in the valley is simply stunning.
Carry on north to the Gold Rush Trail to explore this phase of Canadian heritage. Or head inland to the Rockies and Banff!
See more of our Canadian adventures – a visit to Niagara,
exploring the Canadian Maritimes, or a boat tour in the Thousand Islands!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone 13 pro.
This post on the Sea To Sky Highway brought back memories of our recent visit. It was very grey and cloudy so we did not to up on the Sea to Sky Gondola. I can see we need to do that on a return visit. We never made it as far north as Lillooet either. So lots of great reasons to head up this route on a return visit.
I’m going to North Vancouver next weekend and will definitely be going to be checkng out those hikes!
The Sea To Sky Highway 99 in BC looks like the perfect road trip! So beautiful!
They say “almost heaven West Virginia” but BC isn’t far behind. My goodness it’s gorgeous. I’m not much for roadtrips but this would be one I’m interested in.
Vancouver is so gorgeous. I’ve been there 3 times because I have relatives but I feel like I haven’t explored as much as I wanted. Definitely want to go back!