Recreational activities abound in the Sea to Sky corridor which extends from Horseshoe Bay to the Pemberton Valley. The municipalities of Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton are the best sources of services in the area. At one end, peaks rise straight out of the waters of Howe Sound. At the other end, the fertile soil of the expansive, glacial Pemberton Valley is North America’s most important source of seed potatoes. In between the jagged, glacial-covered peaks of the Coast Range provide nearly limitless recreational opportunities extending literally from sea to sky.
That’s the good news. The departure of Greyhound Canada from western Canada and the demise of Pacific Coachlines has left a festering hole in inter-city travel in the province of British Columbia. Nowhere has been hit harder than the Sea to Sky corridor. A few transportation companies have risen from the ashes but they mostly service the same lucrative urban centres, leaving the rural in-between without. That’s the really bad news because choice routes like the following have become far less accessible. Despair not, however, as there are some workarounds. Moreover, plans in the works are slowly moving forward to establish a unified transit system from the Lower Mainland to Mount Currie. In the meantime, take one of the carriers servicing the Sea to Sky corridor to the nearest town, then grab a cab to the trailhead. Be sure to bring a cellphone with plenty of battery charge and ensure there is coverage to call for a pick up at the end of the trip. Alternatively, prearrange pick-up with your driver and be sure to tip well to ensure she shows up and the route remains serviced for those car-free wanderers who follow.
Route Workaround Details and Contact
Deeks Lake Trail & Deeks Bluffs Trail
Bus to Horseshoe Bay then taxi:
- Sunshine Cabs 604-988-8888;
- North Shore Taxi 604-987-7171
For Phyllis Creek & Mount Capilano, Petgill Lake, Shannon Falls, The Chief & the Squaw, Eagle Watching
Bus to Squamish then taxi:
- Squamish Taxi 604-567-1111;
- Howe Sound Taxi 604-898-8888
Henrietta Lake
Bus to Squamish then water taxi:
- Squamish RiverJet;
- Squamish Marine Services
Brew Lake, Brandywine Falls & Cal-Cheak Trail, Garibaldi Lake & Black Tusk
Bus to Whistler Creekside then taxi:
- Whistler Taxi 604-932-3333;
- Whistler Resort Cabs 604-938-1515
- Park Bus
Wedgemount Lake and Stein Valley Mini-Traverse
Bus to Whistler then local bus BC Transit Bus from Whistler to Pemberton
Buses to Whistler
The following carriers will get you to the community nearest your recreational destination. Just to be a pest, contact the shuttle companies prior to your trip and ask if they’ll drop you along the highway nearest to your trailhead. If the big Greyhound buses could do it, there’s no reason these companies cannot. They’ll likely say “No” while mumbling some excuses about licensing but if enough people inquire, whine and complain a bit they’ll realize they are losing money by overlooking recreational riders. Squeaky wheels and all that rot….
Epic Rides Express Bus to Whistler and points in between is the cheapest choice, offering a whopping 10 trips daily during peak season, twice a day during the shoulder seasons.
The BC Connector is a premium coach boasting comfy seats, onboard WiFi and service from downtown Vancouver to Whistler four times daily, most days.
YVR Skylynx Bus has a groovy name and prices to match. As the name suggests, they feature airport and hotel pick-up on most runs with between two to seven trips daily to Squamish and Whistler depending on the season. WiFi is included but door-to-door service costs a bit extra.
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