Squamish has five distinct neighbourhoods as well as rural areas on the outskirts of town, and Britannia Beach, a municipality just south of Squamish. Brackendale is the northern most suburb of Squamish with Valleycliffe being the southernmost having the closest proximity to Vancouver. Each neighbourhood has its pro and cons and knowing whether you want to be walking distance to shops and cafes, within 45 minutes of downtown Vancouver or with trails and wilderness at your doorstep will help determine which one may be right for you. Here is a guide to the neighbourhoods in Squamish- find one that is the right fit then organize a personalized tour of the town to discover it first-hand.
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Brackendale
Brackendale is located at the north end of Squamish, is a quick 30 minute drive to Whistler and is 10 minutes to downtown Squamish. Brackendale is nestled in a valley with the Squamish River running through the middle. Brackendale has micro communities within; the EagleRun area is well established with beautiful homes, great green-spaces and a small commercial area featuring a cafe, bike shop, restaurant and salon. The WaterShed Bar and Grill is a popular restaurant and watering hole located on the Squamish River and is an easy walk from EagleRun.
North of Eagle Run lies the rest of Brackendale which has a balanced mix of new and old construction, detached single family homes, duplexes and townhouse complexes. The Brackendale store, post office and Crab Apple Cafe are located centrally in Brackendale. The north end of the suburb features Brackendale Elementary School and Don Ross Middle School as well as access to Upper Squamish.
Garibaldi Highlands
Garibaldi Highlands is an established neighbourhood situated on a hill amongst the trees. ‘The Highlands’ offers single family homes on beautiful big lots with plenty of parks and trails easily accessible by foot or bike. The new University Heights area features Quest University a state-of-the-art, liberal arts school. Many homes in University Heights offer spectacular views of the ocean, mountains, and Squamish Valley as do homes situated on Thunderbird Ridge and Glacier View Dr.
Garibaldi Highlands Elementary is located centrally in The Highlands and the shops and restaurants of Garibaldi Estates are a quick 5 minute drive or a nice bike ride away.
Central Squamish
Central Squamish is comprised of Garibaldi Estates, Tantalus, The Northyards/Dentville and the Brennan Park area. All neighbourhoods in Central Squamish are situated on flat ground (no hills) and are within central proximity to Whistler and Vancouver.
Garibaldi Estates is located at the foot of Garibaldi Highlands and just off the Sea to Sky Highway. ‘The Estates’ is a good mix of residential and commercial with beautiful established neighbourhoods, new and soon to be developed townhouse and condo complexes, and small and large businesses such as the Independent Grocer, London Drugs, Starbucks, Sushi Sen, Shala Yoga and many more. Mamquam School is located in Garibaldi Estates just across the highway from the main shopping area.
The Northyards and Dentville have recently seen an explosion of development with an assortment of new condo and townhouse developments being built. The Northyards is walking distance to downtown and is also close to Mamquam Elementary School.
The Brennan Park area which use to be home to the only acreages in Squamish is currently under development. Ravenswood featuring West Coast single family homes is currently in its second stage of development. With Brennan Park Recreation Centre steps away, an easy walk or bike ride to downtown, and a rural away-from-it-all feel the Brennan Park area feels remote but is still close to it all.
Downtown
Downtown Squamish is seeing huge population growth. A surge of new condo and townhomes is seeing the downtown core expand and young families and professionals seeking an adventurous lifestyle can be found on every corner. The main street, Cleveland Avenue, is home to a handful of independent cafes, retail shops and professional businesses. There are two large shopping complexes, one with Save On Foods and Shoppers Drug Mart the other with Nesters Market and a variety of retail stores. Squamish Elementary is centrally located downtown and right beside it is Howe Sound Secondary School.
The downtown waterfront sits at the south end of Squamish and is slated for residential and commercial development in the coming years. Currently there is a great trail network along the waterfront catering to a variety of watersports such as kite-surfing, wind-surfing, SUPing, sailing and boating as well as hiking.
Valleycliffe
Valleycliffe is at the southern end of Squamish and is perched on a cliff overlooking the Howe Sound. This established neighbourhood is gaining popularity as people realize the convenience of being so close to Vancouver and downtown Squamish with trails, rivers and rock-climbing easily accessible from Valleycliffe.
The Hospital Hill area of Valleycliffe features large family homes with great views. Plateau Drive and the new Crumpet Woods Development are lovely, family-friendly areas with trails and parks easily accessible. Valleycliffe Elementary is centrally located in the neighbourhood and there is also a nice shopping area with a convenience store, post office, gym, cafe and more.
Take a video tour around Valleycliffe!
Britannia Beach
Although Britannia Beach isn’t technically part of Squamish many people are opting for this small seaside community due to its proximity to Vancouver and affordable real estate. Located 10 minutes outside of Squamish and about 35 minutes from downtown Vancouver Britannia Beach is quickly getting discovered with new homes popping up everywhere. Britannia Beach is situated on a hillside with many homes offering great views of the Howe Sound. The community has a convenience store, a scattering of shops and the iconic Britannia Beach Mining Museum which is a focal point on the Sea to Sky Highway.
Rural Squamish
You don’t have to drive far from downtown Squamish to access rural living. Upper Squamish (or Squamish Valley) is nestled between the Tantalus Mountain Ranges and CloudBurst Mountain. The roads leading to Upper Squamish are marked with mile markers and there is no cell reception past the 10 mile marker which is past the First Nations reservation. Upper Squamish is a rural residential farming area perched on the Squamish River.
The Paradise Valley is north of Brackendale and is a rural residential area situated on the Cheakamus River. Currently the Paradise Valley is home to small farms as well as the Coast Mountain Outdoor School.
Ring Creek is another rural area of Squamish located east of Quest University past the Garibaldi Highlands, 2000ft above sea level. Ring Creek falls outside of the municipal boundary and the entire community is off the grid.
Want to explore these neighbourhoods some more? Take the QUIZ Which Squamish Neighbourhood Is Right For You, view the current properties for sale or book a personalized tour of Squamish today.