If you’ve been in Squamish, BC, recently, you’ve probably heard people talking about the new waterfront park. And if you haven’t been yet, consider this your nudge.
Sp’akw’us Feather Park sits at the tip of the Oceanfront Peninsula, right on the shores of Howe Sound. Named to honour the eagle (sp’akw’us in the Squamish language), which soars higher than all other birds, the park is a full 11 acres of public waterfront.
The Backstory
The land the park sits on was once a chlor-alkali plant, which left behind mercury contamination in the soil and groundwater. After the BC Ministry of Environment ordered a cleanup in 1999, the site sat largely inaccessible to the public for years. Developer Matthews West purchased the land in 2016, and since then, the team has been working alongside the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the District of Squamish to completely transform it.
That meant reclaiming 11 acres of land, conducting extensive environmental remediation, and elevating the site to address future sea level rise. There’s even a seismic berm built into the landscape to stabilize the peninsula. This place was built to last.
The park officially soft-opened in May 2024, and it’s already become one of the most loved spots in town.
What’s Actually There
Quite a bit, actually!
The park features two constructed beaches and a tidal marsh, meaning it’s genuinely welcoming to people, fish, and wildlife at the water’s edge. You can swim (heads up, the water is cold), launch a boat, watch kitesurfers and wingfoilers ripping across the sound, or just sit on the sandy beach and stare at the Chief. No bad options.
On land, there’s a large grassy lawn designed as a soundstage, so expect events here. There are slackline posts, a traditional intertidal root garden, and cultural gardens with space for outdoor classes. Granite boulders, basalt flagstone, and timber benches give the whole place a grounded, place-based feel that fits Squamish perfectly. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the park, and it’s an easy walk from downtown Squamish.
The public art is genuinely worth a look. Pieces by local artists are scattered throughout the park, including a Welcome Gate installation by Squamish Nation artist James Harry. The art isn’t just decorative; it’s part of how the park tells the story of this land and the people who have called it home since time immemorial.
Right beside the park sits House of Lager, a lager-focused eatery and brewery along the scenic waterfront, which opened in May 2025. The founders describe it as a restaurant with a brewery in the back, and the menu backs that up. The restaurant spills out onto two separate patios in summer with views of Howe Sound and the Chief that are hard to beat. If you’re just passing through, a take-out window on the Howe Sound side serves coffee, sandwiches, and ice cream to go, perfect for grabbing something before you settle onto the beach.
The Playground Is Something Else
The playground is one of the standout features, designed in collaboration with Squamish Nation youth. The children helped shape the structures themselves, each one representing a prominent Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw story of the land. QR codes throughout the playground link to audio recordings of children from St’a7mes Elementary telling those stories in their own voices. It’s interactive, it’s educational, and it’s beautiful. Even if you’re not there with children, it’s worth seeing.
Good to Know Before You Go
There’s a parking lot at the park with accessible spaces included. The park closes at 11 p.m. and reopens at 6 a.m. (no overnight parking). Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leash. Alcohol is not permitted. Kiteboarding is restricted from the watersports beach, though wingfoiling and windsurfing are still allowed. There’s a multi-use path around the peninsula and bike racks throughout the park.
Getting there is easy: head southwest on Loggers Lane or Cleveland Ave toward the waterfront. It’s a short walk or bike ride if you’re already in downtown Squamish.
Make a Day (or a Weekend) of It
Sp’akw’us Feather Park is a great anchor for a full day out, and it pairs naturally with everything else Squamish has going on. You’re already on the Sea to Sky Highway, which means Shannon Falls Provincial Park, Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, and the Sea to Sky Gondola are all within a few minutes’ drive. The Squamish Estuary is nearby for a quieter walk through lush forests. Rock climbers will know that Smoke Bluffs Park is a short trip away, and the broader area is one of the top rock climbing destinations in all of British Columbia.
If you’re spending an entire weekend, there’s no shortage of things to do in Squamish, BC. Hike to Garibaldi Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park, ride the mountain biking trails that draw mountain bikers from around the world, or stop in at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre to go deeper on the history you’ll feel woven through Feather Park itself. Britannia Beach and the Britannia Mine Museum are worth the short detour south along the highway, too.
After a morning at the park, grab a coffee at one of the local coffee shops downtown, or head to one of Squamish’s craft breweries for something cold. The outdoor recreation capital of Canada doesn’t take breaks, but it does know how to wind down.
Getting to Squamish
Squamish sits right on the Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99), roughly halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, which makes it one of the more accessible outdoor destinations in British Columbia.
From Vancouver: It’s about an hour’s drive north from the city, depending on traffic. The route along Highway 99 is genuinely one of the most scenic drives in the country, hugging the coast of Howe Sound through the Coastal Mountains. If you’d rather not drive, the Squamish Connector runs a daily non-stop shuttle service between downtown Vancouver and Squamish, departing from near Waterfront Station. The BC Connector also offers daily service on the same corridor. Either option gets you here in about an hour to an hour and a half.
From Vancouver International Airport (YVR): Allow around 90 minutes by car. Head north through Vancouver and onto Highway 99. If you’re flying in without a rental car, YVR Skylynx runs a direct shuttle service from the airport through downtown Vancouver and up to Squamish, with daily departures and luggage included. The Squamish Connector also connects to YVR. Either way, the ride up the Sea to Sky Highway is a pretty great introduction to the region.
From the BC Interior: Coming from Kamloops, you’re looking at roughly four to four and a half hours, heading southwest through Merritt and Hope before picking up the Trans-Canada and connecting to Highway 99. From Kelowna, the drive is roughly four to five hours, depending on your route through the Fraser Valley. The roads are well-travelled, but mountain passes mean winter tires are essential between October and April, so plan accordingly.
However you arrive, the drive into Squamish never really gets old.
Should You Go?
Yes. Genuinely, yes.
This park represents something rare: a piece of land that was contaminated and closed off, then transformed into a vibrant, accessible community space with Indigenous culture thoughtfully woven throughout. It has breathtaking views of Shannon Falls, the Stawamus Chief (the massive granite monolith on the horizon, framed by the surrounding mountains), and Howe Sound all at once. It’s free. It’s within walking distance from downtown. And it’s the kind of outdoor adventure you don’t have to break a sweat to enjoy.
Whether you’re visiting Squamish for the first time or you’re a local who hasn’t made it out yet, Sp’akw’us Feather Park is the kind of place that reminds you why people fall in love with this town.
After a day out there, the Crash Hotel is right in downtown Squamish waiting for you. Easy.