To Hike or Not to Hike?

Now that the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish is open, that’s definitely a question.

We took the brand-new, 885-metre mechanical climb to the (approximate) top of the (previously only hike-able) Mount Habrich last weekend, located between Shannon Falls and the Chief. After a 10-minute ride, we took a seat and took in jaw-dropping views of the Squamish Valley.

That’s not all. Catering to tourists and outdoor enthusiasts alike, the attraction features a suspension bridge, restaurant (and, yes, bar), hiking and walking trails and more. We figured about 50% of our fellow top-of-mountaineers hiked the new Habrich trail, which is different from the locally loved Chief and takes about three hours to complete, all told.

Whether you hike it or ride it, there’s nothing quite like a beer at the top of the mountain. —Kate LeGresley

Sea to Sky Gondola, $35 per adult, $10 for descending hikers, www.seatoskygondola.com