Sea-to-Sky Highway: visitor guide

The Sea-to-Sky Highway is Highway 99, running north from the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal and West Vancouver through Squamish and Whistler to Pemberton. It is a two-lane mountain road for most of its length, with passing lanes on the climbs and a handful of viewpoints on the sea side. The name is literal: the first hour runs along Howe Sound, the second climbs into the Coast Mountains.

Most travellers drive it one way and either turn around at Whistler or continue north to Pemberton and Lillooet. The road is paved throughout and signed in kilometres. Cell coverage is patchy in the deeper valleys.

Porteau Cove is the first real pull-off, a provincial park on the water with a pier and a view back down Howe Sound. Shannon Falls, just south of Squamish, is a short walk from the car park to a tall waterfall. In Squamish the highway meets the outdoor-sports crowd: climbing, kiteboarding and a small downtown with cafés.

North of Squamish, Brandywine Falls is a quick stop with a viewing platform. Whistler itself is the main overnight base, with a pedestrian village, bike park in summer and ski lifts in winter. Beyond Whistler, Nairn Falls near Pemberton is a short hike to a gorge, and the road continues toward Lillooet if you want a longer loop.

The driving season runs from May to early October, when the passes are clear and the viewpoints are open. July and August are the busiest and the most expensive; late May, June and September give the same road with fewer cars and cheaper rooms. October can be wet and some services close.

Winter changes the trip. From December to March the highway is a ski road: Whistler and Blackcomb are the draw, snow tyres or chains are needed on the mountain sections, and the drive can be slow in a storm. Check the provincial road conditions before setting out in any month.

There is no toll on Highway 99, so the cost is fuel, food and parking. Fuel in Squamish and Whistler is usually more expensive than in Vancouver, so fill up before you leave. Parking in Whistler village is paid in most lots; day rates vary by season.

If you stay overnight, Whistler beds are the biggest line item and prices swing widely between ski season and summer. Squamish is cheaper and about an hour closer to Vancouver. Camping is available at provincial parks along the route, booked in advance in summer.

Whistler is the obvious base, with the largest range of hotels, hostels and condos, all within walking distance of the lifts and the village. Book early for ski season and for summer weekends. Squamish suits travellers who want a shorter drive from Vancouver and cheaper rooms, with easy access to climbing and the estuary.

Pemberton is quiet and rural, useful if you are continuing north. Campers can use provincial park sites along the route, but these fill fast in July and August. Vancouver itself works as a base for a day trip, though it makes for a long day.

This is a mountain highway with variable weather, so carry layers, water and food even on a short drive. Fuel up in Vancouver or Squamish. In winter, fit winter tyres or carry chains and check road conditions before you leave; the province can require them on this route.

Drive on the right, distances are in kilometres, and a home licence is fine for short visits. Watch for cyclists and slow vehicles on the climbs, and use the pull-offs rather than stopping on the shoulder. Wildlife, including bears and deer, crosses the road, especially at dawn and dusk.