Buying a New Home in Squamish, BC

With so many beautiful and interesting places in British Columbia, moving to or within BC presents many options. One of the many cities that are becoming more and more popular is Squamish. Located between Whistler and Vancouver, Squamish offers the beauty and activity of the mountains, the convenience and charm of a small city and the closeness to Vancouver.

With the implementation of the Sea to Sky Highway improvement program, Squamish is becoming a more realistic option for those looking to relocate to or within BC. The highway improvement plan will serve to not only increase the size of the highway to create a better flow for traffic, but also to improve the general safety of the road thus reducing the number of accidents and making the highway a safe and reliable route to and from the Squamish region. The highway improvement program will also serve population growth, stimulate economic development in the corridor communities while also increasing demand for visitor travel and goods movement. All of this means substantial economic growth for the Squamish area with reduced travel times and an increased capacity for the Sea to Sky Highway.

The first recreational sport Squamish was known for was the incredible fishing, which has been known to attract anglers from all over the world. All five varieties of Pacific Slamon as well as Dolly Varden char and cutthroat have all been known to run in the four main rivers in the area, the Mamquam, Cheakamus, Squamis and Elaho.

Now known as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, Squamish has activities to suit any need or desire.  Branching out from fishing, but still keeping the sport as a popular favourite, Squamish now has an abundance of adventure and fun for all who love the great outdoors. With eight Provincial Parks near the area, walking tails and family fun are at your fingertips. Squamish also has the greatest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the world. Many local companies offer walking and rafting tours to see the thousands of eagles in the area between November and March. The two 18-hole golf courses in Squamish also present fantastic outdoor recreation opportunities in a beautiful setting.

Mountain bikers from all over the world have come to participate in the Squamish Test of Metal International Mountain Bike Race which runs in June of each year on the abundant technical and fun mountain bike trails. This diverse terrain has caught the attention of many mountain bike enthusiasts and has made Squamish one of the premier mountain biking communities in British Columbia and the world.

Another way to enjoy the glorious backcountry trails in Squamish is hiking. With many trails to choose from, ranging in length and difficulty, it's easy to see why hikers are attracted to this area; rock climbers can always be found taking advantage of some of the best rock climbing in North America on the granite cliffs surrounding Squamish. The peak climbing months are between April and October, but climbers can be found whenever the weather permits on one and two pitch climbs of all difficulties.

Of course, skiing and snowmobiling and any other winter mountain activity one could fathom is available in the Squamish and Whistler area; many ski touring adventures are offered around the Squamish area and the upper Squamish Valley along with Brohm Ridge are favourite locations for snowmobilers.

If water sports are more your style, the Squamish Split has been called one of the top ten windsurfing locations in the world because of the high winds in the summer propelling surfers up to 60 kilometers per hour. Novices are invited to learn this exciting sport in a more relaxed environment on one of the many local lakes.

Kayaking, canoeing and rafting are always favourites in the wild rapids of the Squamish River. Catering to all levels of experience, there are options to entice any paddler. There are also many rafting companies offering commercial trips in the area. Take a dip in one of the many lakes in the Squamish area to cool down on a hot summer's day, or use the swimming pool at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre year round.

With the combination of everything that the Squamish area has to offer and the new ease of travelling between Squamish and Vancouver, Squamish is quickly becoming a popular place to reside in British Columbia for anyone looking for a new home in BC. Numerous new housing and condominium developments are springing up to compensate for the growing demand for homes in Squamish as more and more people are realising the benefits of living in this beautiful area, giving many options and opportunities for new home shoppers as well as new residents to fall in love with Squamish.

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