Where to Go Puddle Jumping in Squamish
Posted on: September 15, 2024
Where to Go Puddle Jumping in Squamish
Retreat to the rainforest and take a rain day with your little ones. Seek out the trails littered with crystalline puddles waiting to excite and delight. The art of embracing the rain is an easily acquired skill in Squamish. Here is a list of our favourite puddle-friendly trails for your rainy day adventure.
1. Ray Peters Trail
On a rainy day, Ray Peters Trail is home to a collection of seasonal creeks and pop up puddles. The many tributary trails that connect to Ray Peters Trail quadruple the fun making this one of the splashiest areas in town. We recommend entering the path from the Paradise Valley road parking lot just off the Sea to Sky Highway. From here head south to reach the puddle treasure trove. For maximum fun visit after a storm.
Distance: 7.2km
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2 hours
Directions: Take the Squamish Valley Road exit off of the Sea to Sky Highway directly across from Alice Lake Provincial Park. Park in the small lot immediately after the exit. You can enter the trail across the road from the parking lot.
2. Coho Park Trail
Photo: @thelittleexplorerssquamish
This temperate rainforest oasis in the middle of Squamish boasts waterfalls, scenic wood features, and some of the most sprayful puddles in Squamish. The spongy earth is dotted with stump walkways so you can keep your feet dry while exploring the trails. Our advice; step down from the stumps and go for a wet romp in the water-laden earth. After all, why buy rain gear if you don't cover it in mud every once and awhile.
Distance: 2.2km
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 - 1.5 hours
Directions: Take the Garibaldi Way exit off the Sea to Sky Highway. There will be a left turn shortly after on Cheakamus Way. Park at the end of the road that faces a playground. From there, walk past the playground and up the street until you hit the trailhead that leads you into Coho Park.
3. Four Lakes Trail
Put the rain back in rainforest and enjoy a walk on the Four Lakes Trail under the thick canopy of Alice Lake Provincial Park. This forest was designed for the rain, it will be muddy, it will be wet, and it will be fully loaded with fun. Complete the loop to walk by four mountain lakes or abbreviate the adventure by turning around at stump lake.
Distance: 6.5km
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2 - 3 hours
Directions: Take the Alice Lake Provincial Park exit off of the Sea to Sky Highway. Parking is available at the Stump Lake entrance, just opposite the entrance to the park.
4. Porteau Cove
Porteau Cove offers panoramic views of the biggest puddle in Squamish–the Pacific Ocean. You can splash around the shoreline, or bring some beach chairs and embrace the stillness of rain watching. Walk out onto the multi-level pier, explore the soggy driftwood beaches and take a look at the tidal and intertidal marine life up close, the more rainy, the more alive the ocean becomes.
Distance: 6.5km
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2 - 3 hours
Directions: To get there follow the Sea to Sky Highway 20km south from Squamish until you reach the sign for Porteau Cove Provincial Park. Turn left off of the highway into the park.
5. Mamquam River Spawning Channels
The puddle potential on the Mamquam River trail is huge. The trailhead starts just past the Squamish Golf and Country Club and weaves alongside the Mamquam River. Finish up your hike and head over to Cloudburst Cafe across the street for a warm cup of cocoa.
Distance: 4km
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 - 2 hours
Directions: Take the Mamquam Road exit from the Sea to Sky Highway and park your car in a small lot slightly past the Squamish Golf and Country Club. The trailhead begins a few metres west of the parking lot.