Here I have listed six of my favorite trail runs in Squamish. All offer variations that can easily be explored. I have included explanations and Google Earth photos for each run but not the GPS files. I suggest picking up a copy of the Squmish Trail Map. It is worth every penny for the paper copy and the iPhone App. Some of these trails are used by mountain bikes as well and I always try to give them the right of way - keep a head up.Smoke Bluffs Loop:
Distance: 14.54 km
Elevation Gain: 270 m
This is a longer run that circles the entire Smoke Bluff Park using a variety of logging roads trails and very little pavement. You can start really anywhere on the loop but the climbers parking lot in the Smoke Bluffs is a good place. Start by heading up the main trail past Neat and Cool and Penny Lane, cut into the Valleycliff neighborhood and follow Plateau Drive. Cross Westway and turn left on the dirt trail (Stawamus Dyke) heading east. Left on the logging road and take another left at the first junction. This is long and flat heading north. If you are climbing uphill you missed the turn. (A good variation to this start is to take the Summer's Eve/Endo/Farside Trail through the woods near Valleycliffe) You will cross a gate and drop down a steep hill past the powerhouse. Climb up another steep hill and follow the Powerline Road. Take a left onto some singletrack (Blaine's Connector/Poop Alley) and cross a bridge. Here you intersect Garibaldi Park Road - take a left and follow it to Hwy 99. Head south on a dirt path along the highway until you cross the Mamquam River. Here you can follow the sidewalk to the trail that parallels Loggers Lane back to the Smoke Bluffs parking lot.
Smoke Bluff Climbers Parking Lot; Elevation Profile for Smoke Bluff Loop; Google Earth Image for Smoke Bluff Loop.
Chief Traverse:
Distance: 15 km
Elevation Gain: 1430 m
More of a mountain run than trail, some avoid the Chief as Squamish's Grouse Grind. Several excellent alternatives to the tourist trails make this a fantastic run and good training area. This is my go-to skimo running workout in Squamish. Start the any of the parking lots at the base of the Chief (I like the Apron) and head north on the trail that parallels Hwy 99 until you get to the Stawamus River Forrest Service Road. Take a right and run several kilometers until a blocked off gravel pit on the right. Turn up a climbers trail here and start steeply ascending the Squaw. When you reach the base of the cliffs, continue right on the steep rocky trail. Eventually it levels out and heads south towards the Chief. A viewpoint gives good views of downtown Squamish and Valleycliffe as well as the dark and imposiong north walls and gullies of the Chief. Just after the viewpoint, the trail forks. Head left and several minutes later take another left onto a more developed trail to the Squaw. Follow this up to the summit and return to this junction, continue straight toward the Chief and follow the tral around to the backside, the next junction brings you to the third peak. From there return back down to a sign for the second peak, traverse across this and descent the slabs into the gully. Turn up the gully and follow the via ferrata route (rebar staples glued into the rock) up to the first peak. Pop out on top and then descend the normal first peak route to the campground and then back to the parking lot.
While not a particularly long distance, this route covers a reasonable amount of vertical in rough terrain. Expect running mixed with scrambling. Many variations can be taken including a 4th class scramble from the ridge between the Squaw and Chief directly to the third peak of the Chief.
Four Lakes Trail:
Distance: 6 km
Elevation Gain: 200 m
Park in the main parking lot at Alice Lake Provincial Park and head toward Alice Lake. Follow signs for the Four Lakes Trail. Very easy to follow mix of single track and dirt roads takes you past all the lakes and back to the parking lot. I mix up the direction that I like to go and usually finish with a quick dip in Alice Lake before heading back to the car.
Wonderland Loop:
Distance: 9.2 km
Elevation Gain: 314 m
Wonderland is an awesome rolling mountain bike trial between Brackendale and Alice Lake Park. It can be combined with several other mountain bike trails to make a nice loop. Drive north from Squamish and turn right at the Alice Lake Park road. Take the first left on a gravel road and park several hundered meters up at an obvious parking area. The loop starts with a trail called White Rabbit so head right for the bridge where Hwy 99 crosses the Cheekeye River. White Rabbit is a short distance that takes you back to Alice Lake Park road. Cross the road and reenter the trees on Wonderland. Follow this south to the end of the trail. When you get spit back out on Hwy 99, cross it and enter the woods immediately onto Sweet Judy. If you go along the highway and reach the big stone Squamish sign, you have gone too far. Here you can get creative and choose your way but I personally like taking Rusty Bucket to Larry's Loop. This gets you back to Squamish Valley Road and you can cross Hwy 99 back towards Alice Lake. I usually retrace my tracks on White Rabbit to get back to the car.
Parking for Wonderland/White Rabbit; Google Map of Wonderland Loop; Elevation profile of Wonderland Loop.
Squamish Squishy Seventeen Trail:
Distance: 18.25k
Elevation Gain: 696m
Squamish River Dyke/Spit:
Distance: 8.3k
Elevation: 34m
Fairly different from the majority of trails in Squamish but very scenic and worthwhile listing.
Parking for Squamish Spit; Google Map of Spit Loop; Elevation profile of Spit Loop.
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