One of my favourite scrambles I’ve done around Squamish! A full-day adventure with alpine lakes, huge mountain views, a fun Class 3 scramble and, a not-to-be-underestimated approach.
Tricouni Peak is a 2,122 m Class 3 scramble in the Squamish River Valley. The actual hike is about 13.3 km with 1,143 m of elevation gain, but getting to the trailhead adds a little extra adventure of its own.
Getting There
Tricouni Peak is in the Squamish River Valley, just north of Squamish and not far from Whistler. It’s roughly a 1.5–2 hour drive from Squamish or around 2.5–3 hours from Vancouver, depending on road conditions.
You can get to within about 3 km of the actual trailhead with a reasonably capable SUV — my Kia Sportage made it no problem. Then you hit a massive washout that only true off-road vehicles can get through.
Most people park here and walk the remaining 3 km. I decided to mountain bike it instead, and I cannot say I would recommend this move. It sucked. 😂
The road is steep, loose and boring, with an average incline of around 16%. It took me just over an hour to “bike” the 3 km to the trailhead (I was hiking my bike for a lot of it!), but the huge advantage was on the descent. My bike got me back to the car in about 15 minutes at the end of the day.
The Hike
Pretty much right at the start of the trail, you’ll have a choice: take the high side through the boulder fields, or take the low side through the forest and mud.
The low side is apparently a bit quicker and easier, but it can be very mucky. The high side takes a little longer and involves picking your way through the boulder fields, so it’s physically longer and a bit more tedious. A lot of people hike the high side on the way in and take the low side on the way back out to save some time (and presumably avoid doing the boulder fields twice).
I did the high side both ways and honestly, I didn’t find it to be a problem at all. It’s not an especially long day, and I found the extra time and effort totally manageable. Plus, the low route’s mud seems to encourage people to spread out and find their own way through the forest to avoid the worst of it, which isn’t something I love seeing on a trail.
So personally, I’d recommend just sticking to the high side both ways. You’ll spend a little more time navigating the boulders, but it’s totally manageable and keeps you out of the mud — and, importantly, keeps you on the more durable terrain rather than creating additional impact through the forest.
Once you’re through this area, it really opens up and you come across a few stunning lakes. As you gain elevation, the views get bigger and the terrain gets increasingly rocky and rugged.
The final section to the summit involves Class 3 scrambling, with some loose rock and route-finding required. There are some steep and exposed sections, so you definitely want to be comfortable scrambling on this type of terrain.
The summit sits at 2,122 m, and the views from the top are incredible. You get huge views across the Coast Mountains, with glaciers, jagged peaks and alpine lakes stretching out in every direction.
I did this hike in September, and there was still snow up there. So I’d imagine at other times of year, there could be lost of snow. Keep this in mind when planning your footwear! Microspikes might be worth having on hand. I was able to ascend on the boulders no problem, and just chose the snowpatch for the way down because it was a bit faster.
A Few Things To Note
There are a couple of things I’d definitely keep in mind if you’re planning this route.
The road is a huge part of the adventure. You can get within about 3 km of the trailhead in a capable SUV, but there’s a major washout beyond that. Unless you have a proper off-road vehicle, you’ll need to park and cover the remaining distance on foot — or bring a bike like I did.
The approach road is STEEP. If you’re walking or biking it, be prepared for a steep, loose FSR. My bike computer showed an average incline of around 16%, and it was basically just a slow grind uphill.
Make sure you have your route downloaded offline. I used Strava and Gaia to navigate the route, particularly through the boulder fields where it can be less obvious which way to go.
Be comfortable with scrambling. The majority of the route is hiking, but the summit involves Class 3 scrambling and some loose rock. Bring a helmet and make sure you’re comfortable with this type of terrain.
Give yourself extra time if you can’t reach the trailhead by vehicle. The hike itself took me about 5 hours from the proper trailhead. My bike approach took just over an hour, and the ride back out took about 15 minutes. If you’re walking the road in both directions, the total day will be closer to 7–9 hours, depending on your pace.
What I Brought
For a day this long, food and hydration were obviously important.
My snacks included:
- Rice Krispie brains
- Meat sticks
- Sour Patch Kids
- Cheddar cheese
- Chocolate almonds
For gear, I brought:
- Helmet: Petzl Meteor
- Watch: Garmin fēnix 7S
- Pack: Osprey day pack
- Shoes: Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX
- Water filter: Katadyn BeFree
- Bike: Mountain bike for the approach
All of my gear is linked here: Tricouni Peak Gear
Where to Stay
If you’re coming from out of town, Squamish River Campground is a great option for an overnight stay. It’s super close to the Tricouni Peak trailhead, so it makes the logistics really easy.
I stayed there the night after doing the hike/scramble and absolutely loved it. The campground is beautiful, quiet, and really, really nice, especially after a full day out on the mountain. It was honestly the perfect place to spend the night after the hike.
Safety, Ethics & Trail Etiquette
- Respect the Mountain: Class 3 terrain, loose rock and remote access mean there are some very real objective hazards on this route. Wear a helmet, bring the 10 Essentials, and make sure you’re prepared for changing mountain weather. Know your limits and remember that turning around is always an option.
- Leave No Trace: Alpine ecosystems are fragile and can take decades to recover from damage. Stay on rock or durable surfaces where possible, pack out all garbage (including food scraps), and leave the area as you found it.
- Wildlife Etiquette: You’re travelling through alpine wildlife habitat, so give animals plenty of space and never feed them. Keep food secured and pack out everything you bring in.
- 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: 13.3 km
Elevation gain: 1,143 m
Moving time: 5:08:12
Elapsed time: 6:15:37
Calories: 2,335
Steps: 14,440
The stats above are for the hike itself and don’t include my bike ride to and from the trailhead.
If you wanna see info for those, here are the Strava links: Tricouni trailhead approach ; Semi controlled rock surfing back to the car.
Would I Do It Again?
Absolutely.
The approach was questionable. My decision to voluntarily bike up a road averaging 16% was super questionable.
The hike itself? 10/10.
The combination of alpine lakes, huge Coast Mountain views and the scramble to the summit makes Tricouni Peak one of my favourite adventures I’ve done around Squamish so far.
Next time, though, I might just find someone with a Jeep. 😂
Quick Details
Location: Squamish River Valley, BC
Distance: ~13.3 km from the proper trailhead
Elevation gain: ~1,143 m
Summit elevation: 2,122 m
Difficulty: Class 3 scramble
Hike time: ~5 hours from the proper trailhead
Total time: ~7–9 hours if walking the road to/from the trailhead
Drive from Squamish: ~1.5–2 hours
Drive from Vancouver: ~2.5–3 hours
Best for: Experienced hikers/scramblers comfortable with loose rock, route-finding and steep terrain
Vehicle: A capable SUV can get you to within ~3 km of the trailhead; a proper off-road vehicle is needed to drive the final section
