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Offered languages
- English
Let the Sea to Sky Highway take your breath away on this jaw-dropping voyage between Vancouver and Whistler. This highway is every bit as fascinating as the two destinations it connects, so make the most of your journey with this self-guided driving tour! Along the way, you’ll witness grand mountain vistas, shimmering views of the Howe Sound, lush, ancient forests, and so much more. Plus, uncover the stories that make this region what it is, from historic First Nations traditions to geological wonders shaped over millennia.
This tour can be taken in either direction.
After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.
Buy once, use for a year! Perfect for extended or return trips.
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This tour ends at Whistler Visitor Centre.
Itinerary
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1
To our left is the Lost Lagoon of Stanley Park. It was named by the indigenous Canadian poet Emily Pauline Johnson. The name is taken from her poem of the same title. Note: The tour is over 75 miles long, with more than 90+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
We’re about to cross over the Burrard Inlet on the Lions Gate Bridge. Do you see the two leftmost peak directly ahead of us? That’s where the bridge gets its name! Some say they look a bit like the twin lions of Trafalgar Square if you squint.
Admission ticket free -
2
Ahead, you’ll have the option of taking a detour to see Cypress Provincial Park or hiking to Saint Marks Summit from breathtaking mountaintop views. The detour is about ten miles one way, but well worth it if you’d like to see some spectacular sights.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
We’re still a few miles from St. Mark’s Summit, but the road we’re on now is going to end in about a mile. How does one get the rest of the way there? On foot! The trail begins at the Cypress Creek Lodge and is about seven miles round trip. It’s considered an intermediate hike that takes most people around four to five hours.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
We’re driving along the Sea to Sky Highway, perhaps Canada’s most famous scenic roadway. But did you know this highway is hundreds of years old? Okay, maybe all the pavement and paint and guardrails are a bit newer than that, but the original path really is that old! See, beneath much of this highway was an ancient footpath used by the Squamish and Stó:lō Nations. It connected the two tribes and allowed for easy trading between them.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
Just ahead is Crystal Falls, a lovely roadside waterfall many visitors miss! Take the next exit if you’d like to see it, or drive straight to continue the main tour.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
To the Squamish, Anvil Island was once home to a great serpent known as Sínulhkay̓. Sínulhkay̓ lived on the island’s highest peak and watched the people far below. Some said he had created the land all around them, but to others he was simply a terrifying monster who menaced their villages. Sínulhkay̓ would lie in wait in the water, hypnotize villagers, then devour them.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7
Tucked away within those mountains directly ahead of us is the Watts Point Volcanic Centre. Remember how these mountains are largely composed of volcanic rocks? Watts Point marks the spot where much of that volcanic material erupted from! But don’t worry about another burst of magma! It hasn’t erupted for 90,000 years and isn’t likely to do so anytime soon.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
Sporting a lovely, placid lake and a couple of great hiking trails, this is a splendid stop if you’re looking to stretch your legs for a second. In the park, you can embark on an easy 1.5-mile stroll around the lake, or opt for the slightly more challenging Jurassic Ridge Trail. This 2-mile loop climbs almost 700 feet in elevation and offers incredible panoramic views from the top.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
9
Coming up is the Sea to Sky Gondola, one of the coolest stops on this route. The Gondola takes passengers nearly 1,000 meters above sea level, to a lodge with an amazing viewing platform.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
10
Shannon Falls Provincial Park is just ahead, home to an astonishing 1,000-foot waterfall! Shannon Falls is the third tallest waterfall in British Columbia. And this park features a boardwalk around its base! It only takes about 20 minutes to hike to the falls.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
11
Expert hikers can turn right to access the Stawamus Chief Trail, which climbs 2,300 feet to the top of The Chief. That’s quite a trek! Ordinary folks like us can continue driving straight.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
12
Continue straight. That mountain we’re passing is the Stawamus Chief, and stands at over 2,300 feet above the Sound. The first man to ever summit it was Ed Cooper. And it took him four weeks!
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
13
This bridge ahead offers some great views, so slow down a bit to enjoy them! Just ahead is the famous Eagle Run Vista Point, featuring panoramic views and a great chance at spotting an eagle. Getting there requires a quick 5-10 minute detour if you’re interested.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
14
This park is dominated by four lakes: Alice, Edith, Fawn, and Stump. The origin of most of these names has been lost to time, but Edith Lake is an exception. And its story is a bit of a peculiar one
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
15
If you’re looking to stretch your legs, this picturesque, watery park is a great place for it. The most popular attraction is the Four Lake Trail, an easy 4-mile loop that weaves past all four of the park’s lakes in under three hours.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
16
The most dominant peak of these mountains is, of course, Mount Tantalus, standing at 2,608 meters from base to summit. It gets its name from the Greek mythological figure of Tantalus. Tantalus was one of Zeus’s many sons, though his mother was mortal. Still, despite being half mortal, Tantalus was welcomed at the table of Olympus all the same.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
17
We’re driving alongside the Cheakamus River. In a few minutes, we’ll be able to glimpse the Cheakamus Hydroelectric Dam. It’s been around since 1957, but has recently been the source of much controversy.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
18
An optional detour to Rubble Creek Trail is coming up soon. This brutally challenging 15-mile trail climbs to the top of Black Tusk Mountain. It’s an all-day affair, however, so I wouldn’t recommend trying it on a whim.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
19
Turn right if you’d like to visit the Cheakamus Hydroelectric Dam or Rubble Creek Trail. Otherwise, continue straight.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
20
The lake we’re driving past now is Daisy Lake, named by Joseph William Mckay. Mckay was of Metis descent. Metis is a somewhat complicated term, as it can either refer to people from the historic Metis community of Manitoba or it might be used as a general term to describe a person of mixed European and Indigenous heritage.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
21
We’re nearing Creekside Village at Whistler Creek now, though locals just call it “the Creek.” It was originally the base for Whistler Mountain skiing, home to only a single six person gondola, a far cry from the 79 lifts that can be found in Whistler today.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
Show 4 more
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
- Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
- For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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