Guides

    Hiking Elopement in Squamish: Best Trails for Your Wedding Day

    A hiking elopement means earning your ceremony, walking through forest and climbing above the treeline to a viewpoint that feels like the top of the world, then getting married there while you're still breathing hard and grinning.

    Squamish is one of the best places in North America for this, with trails within 30 minutes of downtown that range from gentle forest walks to full-day alpine expeditions. Here are the best options for an elopement day.

    Easy Trails (Under 30 Minutes)

    These trails give you a natural setting without asking anything of your hiking fitness, so you can wear whatever you want and focus entirely on the ceremony.

    Shannon Falls Trail

    • Distance: 500m each way
    • Elevation gain: Minimal (20m)
    • Time: 5-10 minutes
    • What you get: A 335-metre waterfall viewed from a platform at its base. Ancient forest overhead.
    • Difficulty: Paved, flat path. Heels are fine.
    • Permit: BC Parks commercial activity permit required.

    Nexen Beach / Estuary Walk

    • Distance: 500m-1km
    • Elevation gain: None (flat)
    • Time: 10-15 minutes
    • What you get: Open sky, mountain reflections in tidal water, unobstructed sunset views.
    • Difficulty: Flat gravel paths. Easy in any footwear.
    • Permit: Check with District of Squamish.

    Porteau Cove Beach Walk

    • Distance: 200m
    • Elevation gain: None
    • Time: 5 minutes from parking
    • What you get: Ocean shoreline with mountain views in every direction. Beautiful sunset location.
    • Difficulty: Flat, easy in any footwear.
    • Permit: BC Parks commercial activity permit.

    Moderate Trails (1-3 Hours Round Trip)

    These trails add a sense of adventure without taking a full day, though comfortable hiking footwear is worth having.

    Smoke Bluffs Trails

    • Distance: 2-4km depending on route
    • Elevation gain: 100-200m
    • Time: 1-2 hours round trip
    • What you get: A network of forest trails through Squamish's most accessible climbing area. Granite slabs, forest clearings, and viewpoints over the town.
    • Difficulty: Moderate. Some rocky sections. Hiking shoes recommended.
    • Best for: Couples who want a forest walk, with the option of adding a climb.
    • Permit: Municipal trails. Check with District of Squamish.

    Brandywine Falls Trail

    • Distance: 1km each way
    • Elevation gain: Minimal
    • Time: 30-45 minutes round trip
    • What you get: A 70-metre waterfall dropping into a volcanic canyon. Viewing platform with basalt column geology.
    • Difficulty: Easy-moderate. Forest trail, some uneven footing.
    • Permit: BC Parks commercial activity permit.

    Sea to Sky Trail (Lower Sections)

    • Distance: Variable (2-10km)
    • Elevation gain: Variable (50-300m)
    • Time: 1-3 hours round trip
    • What you get: A long-distance trail running through the Sea to Sky corridor. The sections near Squamish offer forest walks with occasional viewpoints.
    • Difficulty: Easy-moderate. Well-maintained trail.
    • Best for: Couples who want a longer walk through the forest.

    Hard Trails (4-8 Hours Round Trip)

    These are full-day commitments, and they pay you back with views that almost nobody else gets for a ceremony. Hiking fitness required.

    Stawamus Chief Trail (First Peak)

    • Distance: 6km round trip
    • Elevation gain: 540m
    • Time: 3-5 hours round trip
    • What you get: Summit of one of the largest granite monoliths on Earth. 360-degree views of Howe Sound, Tantalus Range, and the Sea to Sky corridor.
    • Difficulty: Hard. Steep switchbacks, chain-assisted sections, some scrambling. Not for beginners.
    • Permit: BC Parks commercial activity permit.
    • Note: Worth doing with a certified guide if you are not confident on this terrain. Several local companies run guided hikes here.

    Stawamus Chief Trail (Second or Third Peak)

    • Distance: 8-11km round trip
    • Elevation gain: 600-700m
    • Time: 5-7 hours round trip
    • What you get: Higher and less crowded than First Peak. The Second Peak has the most dramatic cliff edge. The Third Peak is the highest and quietest.
    • Difficulty: Hard to very hard. Requires chain sections, ladders, and scrambling.
    • Best for: Experienced hikers who want the ultimate Squamish summit ceremony.

    Garibaldi Lake Trail

    • Distance: 18km round trip
    • Elevation gain: 820m
    • Time: 6-8 hours round trip (or overnight camping)
    • What you get: A turquoise glacial lake at 1,450m surrounded by volcanic peaks. One of the most stunning locations in all of British Columbia.
    • Difficulty: Hard due to distance and elevation, but the trail itself is well-maintained.
    • Permit: BC Parks commercial activity permit. Camping reservations needed if staying overnight.
    • Season: Late June through early October (snow closes access).
    • Note: This is a full-day commitment. We recommend making it a multi-day experience by camping at the lake.

    What to Wear for a Hiking Elopement

    The key question: do you hike in your ceremony clothes, or change at the top?

    Option 1: Hike in Ceremony Clothes

    Hiking in your wedding outfit makes the effort part of the story, with the dusty boots, the hemline catching on roots, and the sweat that went into earning the view.

    This works best with:

    • A simple, lightweight dress that moves well
    • A suit you don't mind getting dirty
    • Hiking boots or trail runners under the outfit

    Option 2: Hike and Change at the Top

    More practical on the harder trails, where you carry your ceremony clothes in a pack, change at the summit or a sheltered spot, and change back for the descent.

    This works best with:

    • A wrinkle-resistant outfit that packs small
    • A changing spot with some privacy (we know where these are)
    • Quick-change outfits (avoid anything with 40 buttons or lacing)

    What Lana Recommends

    "Hike in something comfortable and bring your ceremony outfit in a pack. Change at the top. The hike is part of the adventure, but you should feel amazing when you say your vows."

    Practical Tips

    Pack List for a Hiking Elopement

    Essential:

    • Water (1L minimum, more for longer hikes)
    • Snacks (you'll be hungry after the ceremony)
    • Sunscreen and hat
    • Rain layer (weather changes quickly in the mountains)
    • Ceremony clothes if changing at the top
    • Marriage license and rings

    Helpful:

    • Trekking poles (especially for the descent)
    • Blister kit
    • Tissues (you'll cry)
    • Small mirror for touch-ups at the top
    • Champagne (in a protective case, plenty of bottles have made it up these trails)

    Timing Your Hike

    We will time your hike so you arrive at the ceremony location during golden hour or shortly before, worth coordinating with your photographer too. This means:

    • Sunrise ceremonies: Start hiking in the dark (headlamps provided). Watch the sun come up as you approach the summit.
    • Sunset ceremonies: Start mid-afternoon, ceremony at golden hour, hike down with headlamps.
    • Midday: Less ideal for photography but fine for shorter trails where you want to avoid early/late starts.

    Safety

    For moderate and hard trails it's worth hiring a certified guide, since Squamish has several excellent guiding companies and their route knowledge earns its cost the moment you're on unfamiliar terrain in wedding clothes.

    For easy trails Lana will meet you at the location, having scouted the route in advance.

    Dreaming of a hiking elopement? Tell us about your fitness level and vision and we'll recommend the perfect trail.

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