Summary of Route
- Type: Out and back; beach car camping
- Rating: 5/5
- Season: Any, but Spring to October recommended
- Length: 42.5+ km one way from start of gravel road
- Vehicle suitability: Stock 4x4 or Subaru with AT tires for Elaho Main Line,
any vehicle for Squamish Valley FSR
The Route
Squamish Valley is the area that we have spent the most time exploring in all of British Columbia for good reason. While this route covers the core Squamish Valley area, substantial time could be further spent in this area as there are ample side roads to explore, alpine lakes to hike to, and beautiful campsites throughout. Access is easy and begins just past Squamish with a left turn (if you’re coming from Vancouver) at Squamish Valley Road. Continue along Squamish Valley Road, making sure you bear left as you cross Checkamus River. The gravel Forest Service Road begins at 49.90280; - 123.29324, coordinates you can punch into Google maps for ease.
This is a classic area to spend any warm weekend and you’ll likely not be alone as you travel up through this route. As you continue along Squamish Valley FSR, you’ll quickly come across signs of dispersed camping and BC Rec Sites. If you’re here on a weekday and looking for a shorter drive, the first rec site, “High Falls Recreation Site” is an excellent option with riverside spots to pitch a tent or park your vehicle. High Falls Recreation Site is approximately 5.2 km into this drive and signage is plentiful. If you’re here on a weekend, expect this site to be extremely busy. While the brief entry road is somewhat sandy and undulating, most vehicles should be able to access this site and 4x4 is not necessary. There are no amenities, including outhouses, at High Falls Recreation Site. Be sure to check www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca for updates on the status of this site or any of the others mentioned herein prior to visiting!
As you continue up Squamish Valley FSR take your time and check out the many sandbars that you can access with a quick walk from the road. These change somewhat annually and access will be dependent upon current river volume. The first that you come across and one of our favorites is located at 50.00501, -123.32711. With the right river volume, you can explore out onto sandbars for hours in this area. This is also a great area to get a couple casts in if you brought your rod.
Similarly, at GPS coordinates 50.06475, -123.33795, or after approximately 25.9 km of travel, one can find an excellent spot for walk-in camping. In the past one could drive to these sites; however, abuse of this area has resulted in closure of many river-side vehicle camping sites. Should you be willing to walk 100m with your gear, this is a gorgeous area to spend a weekend as there are plenty of sites here within view of the Squamish River with access to the extensive sandbars found in this area.
After approximately 26.4 km of of travel along Squamish Valley FSR you will reach Hideaway Recreation Site. This site is not as nice as High Falls; however, totem poles of an unclear origin can be found here and present an interesting break from the drive. Access to Hideway is slightly more difficult and an SUV is recommended for clearance, although 4x4 is not necessary. Hideaway is a large site that can accommodate a substantial number of visitors; however, don’t expect too much privacy here as despite the forested nature of Hideway Recreation Site, it is relatively wide open. If staying at Hideaway Recreation Site, be sure to walk to the Squamish River to enjoy the sandbars in this area.
Shortly after Hideaway Recreation Site, approximately 27.6 km from the start of this route, you will reach your first intersection (GPS coordinates 50.11349, - 123.38584). Be sure to take a left turn at the intersection depicted below, crossing the bridge over the Squamish River. After crossing this bridge you will now be travelling on Elaho Mainline and we recommend that only 4x4 vehicles continue. That being said, we recently saw a BMW x3 at the end of this route.
Immediately after crossing the bridge over the Squamish River you will encounter another intersection. This route ultimately continues straight; however, a brief detour to Squamish-Elaho Recreation site on FSR E100 can be completed by taking a right turn at this intersection. Squamish-Elaho Recreation Site is another wonderful option with extensive, well spaced-out sites along the Squamish River. While this area is less sandy than the sites found along Squamish Valley FSR, this site receives less traffic due to being a slightly further drive. As of July 2024, an outhouse was being installed at this site.
Returning to Elaho Mainline, road conditions deteriorate from the well-groomed FSR that is Squamish Valley FSR. There are a number of gravelly hill climbs in this next section, though any 4x4 with all-terrains should have no problem continuing this route and we have seen non-4x4 SUV’s beyond this point. Occasional views begin to open up in this next section and the Elaho River narrows into raging rapids on the drivers left as you proceed. At approximately 35.4 km of travel, Elaho Mainline will take you past Maude Frickert Falls, most likely giving your vehicle a brief car wash in the process.
An additional 2 km of travel, will bring you to another intersection. A slight detour to the left will have you crossing the Elaho River and proceeding along G Main FSR to Peaches & Cream Falls. There are a few sites in the vicinity of Peaches & Cream Falls. Park and follow the obvious walking path located on the southwest side of the river. Unfortunately, when we last visited, these sites were occupied by individuals who did not want us to pass through their site to access the falls. Remember that these are shared resources and if you choose to camp at a trail-head, people have a right to walk through your site.
After avoiding or completing the above detour, return to Elaho Mainline and continue north. At the odometer count of 42.5 km, our first recommended non-recreational site arrives shortly after at 50.17821, -123.53126. There are plenty of drive in sites with river access and sandy ground at this location. Access can be difficult when wet due to the muddy nature of the entrance road, but in dry conditions any SUV should be able to access these sites. That being said, be cautious of soft sand if you do not have experience driving in such conditions. This site fills up on weekends but arrival on a Friday will likely guarantee you a spot. As noted previously, many sites along this route have been closed by irresponsible users so avoid driving in any standing water or the open breach, and treat the area with respect.
While the foregoing site marks the end of this route for many, Elaho Mainline continues and becomes significantly less travelled from here-on out. We’ve come across lynx and deer in this section, so take your time despite the road being in good condition from here-on. At 50.21343, -123.54937, consider stopping your car and turning off the engine. Driving this route in the late spring of past years we found thousands of frogs calling and hopping around in this area.
At 50.25051, -123.57899 you will find a road leading left off Elaho Main Line that will take you to an area formerly called the Beach. This area was previously a wonderful spot to camp; however, individuals driving through salmon spawning habitat have resulted in this area being closed. If you choose to take this detour, stop before driving through any water and consider camping away from the Elaho River or walking in to find extensive beach camping opportunities. Failure to abide by the rules and regulations in place will get this entire area closed down for all future use.
Those who are up for the challenge can attempt to continue along Elaho Main Line to Lava Camp, Cedar Woman Lookout, and the Douglas Fir Loop Trail. These points of interest mark the end of the Elaho Main Line and are found after approximately 70 km of travel on gravel road. Road conditions remain generally excellent, with the exception of water-crossings, despite the remoteness of this area and excellent views lie ahead.
That being said, we have never been able to make it to these sites despite multiple attempts. Washouts and flooding of these roads are common, and our furthest point reached was at the approximate 61.1 km mark whereupon we came across the below depicted water-crossing that we were unwilling to attempt. Water was approximately knee high in early July, 2024. Waiting until the end of summer or attempting early morning, when run-off is at its lowest, may present the greatest opportunity to reach the end of Elaho Main Line and the prior noted points of interest.
If you're looking for a hike to break up the drive, consider trying Blanca Lake! For other top-rated overland routes, consider our Mount Thynne or Harrison to Pemberton overland routes!