Habrich is one of those mountains you can spot from all over Squamish, and scrambling up to the top is quite the fun little adventure! It’s considered a class 4/climber’s scramble, and the peak sits at 1,792 metres above sea level.
The route has a bit of everything: a steep uphill grind, ropes and chains, some hands-on scrambling, incredible views, and a gorgeous hike through meadows and forests. It’s a great option if you’re looking for something a little more technical than a regular hike without spending your whole day just getting to the trailhead.
This post is sponsored by the Sea to Sky Gondola. They provided financial compensation for this post, but all opinions and experiences are my own.
Getting There
The Sea to Sky Gondola makes Mount Habrich a surprisingly accessible outing from Squamish. Instead of starting way down at the bottom of the mountain, you can ride the gondola up and get straight into it. Plus, the gondola ride itself is stunning – you get sweeping views of the Howe Sound, and an awesome angle of the Chief overlooking town. If you have the time, I highly recommend exploring the viewing platforms and suspension bridge as well!
Operating hours change throughout the year (based on the sunrise/sunset times), so check the Sea to Sky Gondola hours and prices before you go. You can buy your pass in person, or online here.
Want to do it without the gondola? You can! You’ll just need to hike up first, either via the Sea to Summit Trail or The Climb. Both are challenging routes, and the official website lists each as taking 3–5 hours one way. Note: I have some sicko friends who can do the Climb in under an hour; for me, it takes about 1:20. So 3-5 is a comfortable estimate! Either way, it’s a pretty significant addition to the day before you even start Mount Habrich, so plan accordingly.
If you want to hike up but save yourself the descent, you can purchase a one-way gondola download ticket. At the time of writing, it’s $19 online or via the QR code near the gondola loading area, compared with $25 if purchased at the Summit Gift Shop.
And if you do miss the last gondola down, don’t panic: you can still hike off the mountain. Just know that the route is designed for hiking up and taking the gondola down, so descending the whole thing at the end of your day probably won’t be the most fun. Make sure you have enough daylight, water, and energy to get down safely. Bring a headlamp even if you expect to be back in time. You really don’t want to be caught hiking down in the dark without one.
We started hiking just before 2 p.m. and had five hours of elapsed time. We just barely made the last gondola down 😂. I wouldn’t recommend cutting it quite that close!
The Hike
The route starts off pretty casually, with a relatively easy jog along a road with a mild incline. Then you turn up into the woods, for my least favourite part of the day! It’s a long stretch of grinding uphill at a pretty relentless angle, without a whole lot of variety to break it up. But it is pretty short, and once you get higher and the views start opening up, the route gets a lot more interesting.
From there, you get into the fun stuff: rocks, roots, ropes, chains, and sections where you’re using your hands to help yourself up. It’s much more of a technical scramble than a straightforward hike, so you’ll want to be comfortable with that kind of terrain.
You also don’t have to summit Mount Habrich to enjoy the outing. If the scrambling feels outside your comfort zone, you can skip the summit section and explore a loop along the ridge instead. You’ll still get some beautiful views without committing to the more technical part of the route.
The Summit
The summit was absolutely beautiful, with views looking down over the valley. It was especially satisfying to get up there because Mount Habrich is a peak you can see from so many places around Squamish. Now, whenever I’m driving around town and look up at it, I get to think, I’ve been up there!
The weather up top was also a reminder of how quickly conditions can change. One side was cloudy, foggy, cold, and extremely wet, while the other was in brilliant sunshine. We went from one set of conditions to another almost instantly, and it made me super grateful for the layers I had packed.
The Hike Back
Don’t expect the hike back toward the gondola to be one long descent. I mistakenly assumed as much, and wasn’t pumped to find out we still had a bunch of elevation to tackle.
That said, it’s absolutely gorgeous. The route winds through beautiful meadows and then into the forest, and there are some really fun sections toward the end where you can run along the slabs.
A Few Things to Note
- This is a technical scramble, not just a hike. There are ropes, chains, and sections that require hands-on scrambling. Be honest with yourself about your comfort level with exposed terrain and routefinding.
- You can skip the summit. If the technical section isn’t for you, you can still have a great outing by exploring the ridge without doing the summit scramble.
- The elevation gain adds up. Even though the gondola makes access easy, there’s still a substantial amount of climbing once you’re on the route.
- The hike back isn’t all downhill. There are still plenty of ups and downs between the summit and the gondola.
- Expect changing conditions. Bring layers and be prepared for conditions to change.
- Plan around the gondola. Check the operating hours for your date, account for your pace, and leave a buffer for the return. We started just before 2 p.m. and barely made the last gondola down, so I wouldn’t treat our timing as a recommendation!
- Bring a headlamp. Even if you plan to make the last gondola, carry one in case you need to hike down instead. Getting caught on the trail after dark without a light is not a situation you want to be in.
- Pay attention to routefinding. There’s a big network of trails around the Sea to Sky Gondola, with lots of different hiking routes and rock climbing areas. You’ll come across trail forks that seem to lead off to nowhere, but some of these are actually climber trails leading to a climbing route. It’s awesome that there are so many options up there, but it also means it can be easy to take a wrong turn if you aren’t paying attention. Download your route ahead of time and make sure you’re comfortable with routefinding. We used a combination of Gaia GPS and Strava and checked them regularly because there were so many trail forks.
- Be bear aware. We didn’t see any bears on our hike, but bears do live in the area. Stay aware of your surroundings, make noise as you hike, keep your food secure, and carry bear spray somewhere accessible.
What I Brought
A few things I had with me for the outing:
Gear
- Watch: Garmin fēnix 7S Pro
- Pack: Nathan hydration vest
- Shoes: Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX
- Layers: Long-sleeve layer, windbreaker, and puffy jacket
- Headlamp
- Bear spray
Snacks
- Meat sticks
- Sour Patch Kids
- Apple slices
- Chocolate almonds
- Cookies
All of my gear is linked here: Hiking Gear.
Safety, Ethics & Trail Etiquette
- Respect the Mountain: Mount Habrich involves technical scrambling, exposed sections, and significant elevation gain. Wear appropriate footwear, bring the 10 Essentials, and prepare for rapidly changing mountain weather. Carry a headlamp in case you miss the last gondola down, and make sure you have the skills and energy to hike back down if needed. Know your limits and remember that turning around is always an option.
- Routefinding: There’s an extensive network of hiking trails, scrambling routes, and climber access trails around the Sea to Sky Gondola. Some trails may appear to lead nowhere but actually access nearby crags and climbing areas. Download your route before you go, bring offline navigation, and be prepared to check it frequently at trail forks. We used a combination of Gaia GPS and Strava to stay on track.
- Leave No Trace: Mountain ecosystems are fragile and can take decades to recover from damage. Stay on established trails or durable surfaces where possible, pack out all garbage (including food scraps), and leave the area as you found it.
- Wildlife Etiquette: Bears live in the area, even though we didn’t see any on our hike. Stay bear aware, make noise as you travel, keep food secured, and carry bear spray somewhere accessible. Give wildlife plenty of space and never feed animals.
- Indigenous Territory: This route is located within the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. Recreate respectfully and mindfully.
The Stats
According to my Strava:
- Distance: 14.77 km
- Elevation gain: 1,337 m
- Moving time: 4:49:49
- Elapsed time: 5:00:06
- Calories: 2,024
Would I Do It Again?
Yes! The initial climb wasn’t my favourite, but the scrambling, summit views, and gorgeous route back made it a really fun outing. I especially love that it’s a peak I can see from around Squamish and now have a personal connection with.
The Sea to Sky Gondola makes it easy to turn Mount Habrich into a half-day adventure, which is a pretty great way to spend an afternoon. Just make sure you check the gondola schedule, give yourself enough time to get back down, download your route, and bring a headlamp just in case!
Quick Details
- Location: Sea to Sky Gondola, Squamish, BC
- Distance: 14.77 km
- Elevation gain: 1,337 m
- Summit Elevation: 1,792m
- Difficulty: Climber’s scramble with exposed, technical sections near the summit
- Hike time: 4 hours, 49 minutes
- Drive from Squamish: 10 minutes
- Drive from Vancouver: 1 hour
- Access: Sea to Sky Gondola, or hike up via the Sea to Summit Trail or The Climb
- Best for: Hikers and scramblers who are comfortable with technical terrain
