Hiking Al's Habrich Ridge near Squamish
Contents
Al's Habrich Ridge Hike Information
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6.80Km
Elevation Gain: 410m
Highest Elevation: 1,228m
Average Gradient: 12.06%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 3 – 4 Hours
– Moderate: 2 – 3 Hours
– Fast: 1.5 – 2 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes – But not from the gondola
Season: Year-Round
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Al's Habrich Ridge Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°40’31.7″N 123°09’27.5″W
Al's Habrich Ridge Overview
Al’s Habrich Ridge is a trail typically accessed from the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish. The hike is a mixture of forest travel bundled in with your typical Squamish granite bluffs. There are several viewpoints throughout the hike, culminating in a panoramic view high above the Chief and the Howe Sound down below.
While most people will access this trail from the top of the gondola, hikers are also able to hike up the Sea to Summit trail to reach the start point, or they can even drive up the Shannon Creek FSR to around 775m elevation where there is a parking area, though this is generally only suitable in AWD vehicles with some clearance.
In terms of seasonality, most people will follow this hike in the summer, however it is also accessible as a winter snowshoe, which is actually promoted by the gondola so is presumably not difficult to navigate. Don’t travel beyond Neverland Lake in the winter though as the trail becomes very steep and would be difficult in snow.
Dogs are allowed on this trail as it is considered a backcountry trail and thus not within the Sea to Sky gondola restriction for dogs on their front country trails. However, dogs are not allowed to ride UP the gondola (they can ride down – for a fee), so if you plan to do this hike with your dog you will need to either hike up to the top of the gondola or begin from the Shannon Creek FSR parking area.
In the summer hikers can also continue beyond Neverland Lake and hike up to Peak 1,632, which offers more expansive views including Sky Pilot Mountain and Mount Habrich. The trail to Peak 1,632 is unmaintained and far more challenging, however, so hikers should be prepared for self navigation in the backcountry if they plan to go.
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Is Al's Habrich Ridge worthwhile?
Al’s Habrich Ridge offers quite nice views throughout thanks to a number of bluffs and a fairly open ridge walk. The final viewpoint is panoramic, though not 360 degrees, and comparable to the Chief, only significantly higher (twice as high, in fact). If you are planning on going up the Sea to Sky Gondola and looking for a worthwhile trail from the top, this is probably the best one. I’m not sure I would suggest this hike if you begin from the bottom of the gondola as it would be a pretty huge day that doesn’t culminate in a 360 degree view. I would sooner suggest the nearby Goat Ridge if that was your intention.
How difficult is the Al's Habrich Ridge hike?
Al’s Habrich Ridge is a fairly moderate hike assuming you begin from the top of the gondola. At under 7km most hikers will be finished within 3 hours, making this a pretty quick outing. Obviously if you are hiking from the bottom of the gondola you will be adding a significant challenge as the Sea to Summit trail is a steep one already.
Technically this hike is very simple with little challenge. You may want an offline map as it’s not the best signposted trail, otherwise the hike is very straightforward.
Al's Habrich Ridge Route Information
As noted, there are a number of different points at which you could begin this hike. Most people will probably park at the gondola parking lot, which is obviously accessible to all vehicles, and I’ll assume you’ll begin hiking from the top of the gondola, either after an enjoyable gondola ride or a challenging climb up the Sea to Summit trail.
From the gondola exit you’ll want to drop down the stairs to the outdoor picnic area and look for signage for Al Habrich’s Ridge. You’ll then briefly follow Shannon Creek Road before the trail departs into the forest (summer route) or continues ahead following the road (winter route). The forest trail initially starts off relatively flat for the first 500m before meeting up with the winter route, where you’ll soon cross over a creek using a rope to assist you as you hop over the rocks (interestingly this creek is flowing from Neverland Lake, where the trail ends).
Beyond the creek you’ll begin to ascend in earnest, mostly through the forest but you’ll start to hike across the typical Squamish granite shortly ahead. After around 700m of this you’ll find yourself on a long stretch of granite surrounded by sparse forest, with ever improving views as you continue to climb. There are several excellent viewpoints along this 500m stretch, so make sure to stop and soak in the views. The trail here is not that obvious, but if you keep an eye out you should see orange markers on the trees to confirm you’re on the right path.
At the end of the granite you’ll find a small offshoot trail leading up to a pointed viewpoint. Most people are tempted by this, but it’s not much to write home about. Back on the trail, it now drops back down into the forest, at which point there is a junction. The typical Al’s Habrich trail will go around to the left, while an “alternative” trail will go straight ahead. Either way is fine, but the typical trail is easier and less steep so you’ll probably want to go that way.
The trail continues to climb in the forest, and after gaining around 120m you’ll reach a broad granite bluff offering unobstructed views over the Squamish Harbour below. If you look carefully you should also see the Sea to Summit lodge down below in the distance. The views here are the best views you’ll get along Al Habrich’s Ridge, so if there’s anywhere you’re going to stop for a rest and a snack, this is it. Thankfully there is plenty of space to spread out, so even if there are a lot of people, you won’t feel crowded.
After enjoying the views you should find the Al’s Habrich Ridge trail continues in the forest, following some boggy terrain as you meander towards Neverland Lake. The lake isn’t far, perhaps around 500m, and it’s nothing to write home about, especially in the late summer when it’s mostly dried up anyway. Neverland Lake is the end of the maintained trail, so once you reach here it’s time to head back.
There is an optional extension near Neverland Lake to Neverland Falls, which is around 200m before you reach the lake. The Neverland Falls extension is around 1km and gains 110m to the base of a small waterfall. If you plan to hike to Peak 1632, you do so from Neverland Lake as well. This is a much more involved backcountry trail requiring significant route finding, so a map is strongly recommended.
If you’re just heading back to the gondola you can follow the same trail back.
When should I hike Al's Habrich Ridge?
Al’s Habrich Ridge is a year-round hike as the Sea to Sky gondola promotes this (and presumably maintains/marks it) as a snowshoe trip from the top of their gondola. Most people will go in the summer though. In the winter you would need microspikes and potentially snowshoes.
Top Tip
In the right conditions extending the trip to Peak 1,632 is a worthwhile addition, offering 360 degree views including Mount Habrich and Sky Pilot Mountain. This does involve much more involved backcountry travel though, so come prepared.
If you have the vehicle for it, driving up the Shannon Creek FSR is probably the best way to start as it avoids the gondola fee. The Sea to Summit trail is nice but combined with Al’s Habrich Ridge makes for a big day.
