Squamish, British Columbia sits at the head of Howe Sound, where the granite face of the Stawamus Chief rises over the highway and three rivers meet the sea. In winter the town fills with bald eagles, holiday lights and a train that rolls out toward the North Pole. Every idea below was checked on an official website on November 1, 2026, so you can plan with confidence.
Up the Mountain for Spirit of the Season
Sea to Sky Gondola: The gondola climbs from the highway to a summit lodge high above Howe Sound. It closes from November 16 to 26 for yearly maintenance, then reopens on Friday, November 27, for Spirit of the Season, which runs until December 31. Walk the decorated Spirit Trail through the forest together, then step inside to warm up and watch the light change over the water. On Saturday, November 28, the Christmas Tree Lighting brings live music from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. The home page lists hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last ride down at 6 p.m. Indoor Storytime gathers at the summit on November 30 and December 7 and 14, and holiday shopping offers run in the gift shop on November 28 and December 5 and 12. Santa's Workshop in the Diamond Head Room offers gingerbread cookie decorating and wooden ornament crafts on select days, a playful way to make a keepsake together.
All Aboard the North Pole Express
North Pole Express: The Railway Museum of British Columbia, at 39645 Government Road, runs a Christmas train ride on weekends from November 28 to December 20, plus Monday, December 21. Departures leave at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Pick the 5 p.m. run for a ride as night falls. Some cars are vintage coaches, and one modern coach has large viewing windows. Every ticket comes with reserved seats and free parking, so the hardest choice is which coach to sit in. It is a family favourite, but grown ups who love old trains will enjoy it just as much.
Downtown Saturdays: Market and Parade
Squamish Farmers Market: Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the market fills 37996 Cleveland Avenue at Victoria Street with local vendors, musicians and community tables. The season runs to mid December, and Sea to Sky farmers keep bringing produce, eggs and meat right to the end. Give each other ten dollars and see who comes back with the better lunch.
Downtown Squamish Holiday Parade: On Saturday, December 5, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., floats, community groups and local businesses roll through downtown as dusk settles, finishing up Cleveland Avenue at Pemberton Avenue. Downtown shops are being asked to stay open until 7 p.m., so you can pick up a gift or two once the last float passes.
Bald Eagles on the Squamish River
Eagle Run viewing shelter: Every winter, chum salmon draw bald eagles to the Squamish River, and in 1994 volunteers counted a world record 3,769 birds. The park across the river is closed to people from October to March so the eagles can feed and rest, but the Eagle Run shelter on the dyke at 41015 Government Road gives you a clear view. Bring binoculars and come in the morning, since that is when eagles are most active. The gravel path suits strollers and wheelchairs, and a display explains the salmon life cycle. Viewing peaks in November and December.
A Short Walk to Shannon Falls
Shannon Falls Provincial Park: Just 2 kilometres south of town, an easy 350 metre trail follows Shannon Creek through hemlock, fir and cedar to a view of the falls. The water drops 335 metres, making it the third highest waterfall in the province. In winter the stairs and walkways can be slick, so wear good boots and stay in the viewing area. It is a quick, rewarding stop on the way into or out of town.
Sample Date Itineraries
1. Summit lights (Saturday, November 28): Ride the gondola for the Christmas Tree Lighting → walk the Spirit Trail → catch the last ride down by 6 p.m.
2. Eagles and a market (any Saturday into December): Morning at the Eagle Run shelter → lunch from the farmers market stalls on Cleveland Avenue.
3. Parade night (Saturday, December 5): A misty walk to Shannon Falls → the Holiday Parade at 5 p.m. → late shopping downtown until 7.
Pro Tips for Memorable Dates
Remember the gondola is shut from November 16 to 26, so save your summit date for the reopening.
Pack binoculars and a thermos for the dyke, and stay on the viewing trail; the eagle park itself is off limits all winter.
Seats on the North Pole Express are reserved, so choose your departure and coach ahead of time.
Weather on Howe Sound changes fast; bring rain layers even on a dry morning.
Check the EagleWatch daily counts before you drive out to Brackendale.
Between a summit trail in lights, a holiday train and a river full of eagles, Squamish gives couples a winter that feels both wild and warm.
Last reviewed: November 2026
Photo credits: Sea to Sky Gondola by DarkNight0917, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Stawamus Chief by TravelingOtter, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Shannon Falls by TravelingOtter, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.