Responsible Recreation

Squamish is an idyllic place of towering mountains, lush rainforest and pristine waterways. With so much glorious nature to enjoy, it's no wonder that so many of us want to explore, hike, climb and camp in the stunning nature of the region.

Sadly, over the past few years we've noticed that some of us haven’t been treating Mother Nature too kindly. We know it's exciting to be heading out on an adventure, and often there is so much to prepare that the odd thing might slip through the cracks. As much as we encourage you get outside and explore Squamish and all the wondrous beauty there is to experience here, it's also important to diligently plan ahead and be prepared - we can't forget to take care of this spectacular place and always leave it as we found it (or better!).

Here are some guidelines to help everyone have a safe, responsible, and respectful adventure here in Squamish.

Let's work together to keep it beautiful.

Image: D'arcy McLeish

 

Pick Up After Yourself - Litter-ally

We see an overwhelming amount of garbage being left behind in our parks and forests each year. We need to do better.

 

Let’s Talk About Poop

When nature calls, what do you do? There is a right and wrong way to relieve yourself in nature. Please (we beg of you!) do it the right way.

Into The Wild

Wildlife needs to be kept wild. When we are adventuring deep into the woods and mountains around Squamish, we are encroaching on their natural habitats as we leave ours behind. It's important to the best you can to prevent wildlife encounters.

Play Smart

Squamish Search and Rescue seems to almost always be busy – this is not a good thing. If you are heading into the backcountry it’s important to be prepared, make a plan and stick to it.

 

Camp Well With Others

There are a number of wonderful camping sites in and around our region to offer you the unique Squamish camping experience you are seeking. Remember to always camp responsibly and leave no trace.

Fired Up About Fire Bans

Each summer at some point a very important fire ban comes into play. It's imperative to keep updated on current fire bans and restrictions before you light any kind of fire. Fire bans and restrictions are in place for critical reasons and ignoring these rules endangers everything in the region from nature to people’s homes and wildlife.

A few more tips to leave you with:

• We know you love letting your dog off-leash, but we highly recommend keeping dogs on leash. By doing this you keep you, them - and wildlife - safe. You'll also be better protecting sensitive natural resources.
• Please leave nature where you’ve found it. Everything from flowers to mushrooms, wood to rocks plays a vital role on our region.
• Be kind to other people you encounter. It’s nice to acknowledge others you see on the trails. It’s also respectful to keep noise to a minimum and not blast music / disturb others.
• Stay on the trail; shortcutting and trampling cause erosion and impacts plant and animal habitat.

 

Together we can keep Squamish clean for everyone to enjoy for many years to come. We love Squamish and we hope you do too – let’s keep it healthy and pristine by recreating responsibly. Thank you!