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Gear I Wish I Had My First Time Hiking Shannon Falls Squamish BC
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items Showed up to Shannon Falls in cotton sneakers and a backpack from 2009. My feet were soaked in twenty minutes, my phone died before I got the best viewpoint shot, and I had zero snacks when the trail took longer than expected. If you're planning the ...
Sections
5
Footwear and Traction for Wet BC Trails
Layers That Handle Sea to Sky Weather Changes
Camera and Phone Gear for Waterfall Shots
Snacks and Hydration for the Sea to Sky Drive and Trail
Comfort and Safety Extras Most People Forget
Footwear and Traction for Wet BC Trails
The rocks around Shannon Falls are slippery year-round. I watched three people eat it on the same mossy section before I even reached the viewpoint. These kept me upright on my second visit.
Swap your old runners for these before you hit the trailhead. The granite around the falls stays wet even in July, and I went from sliding on every rock to walking confidently in one trip. Perfect for anyone who hikes maybe twice a year but still wan...
Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX
Bring these if you're visiting between November and March. I showed up in January thinking it'd just be wet, but the upper viewpoint trail was pure ice. Slipped them on over my boots in thirty seconds and suddenly felt like a mountain goat.
NANOspikes® Footwear Traction
Keep a fresh pair in your pack. My feet were drenched halfway through because I wore cotton ankle socks like a rookie. These merino ones stayed warm even when damp, and they replace them free if they ever wear out.
Darn Tough Vermont Men's Hiker Midweight Socks
Try these if the Salomons feel too narrow. My partner has wider feet and swore by these on the Shannon Falls trail. Waterproofing held up through every puddle on the lower boardwalk section.
Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof Hiking Shoes - Women's
Toss these into whatever hiking shoe you already own. The gravel sections near the parking lot are surprisingly rough, and my arches were screaming until I added these. Worth it if you're on your feet all day exploring Squamish after.
Superfeet All-Purpose High Arch Insoles M 2.5-5
Use these to keep gravel and mud out of your shoes on the connector trail. I skipped them my first time and spent ten minutes picking pebbles out of my socks at the viewpoint. Lightweight enough to forget you're wearing them.
Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain Low Gaiters Reviews
Spray this on your hiking shoes the night before. My boots lost their waterproofing after a few trips and I didn't realize until I was ankle-deep near the creek crossing. Takes five minutes and saves you from soggy misery.
Gear Aid Revivex Durable Water Repellent
Layers That Handle Sea to Sky Weather Changes
The temperature dropped about eight degrees between the parking lot and the upper viewpoint. I was sweating at the bottom and shivering at the top wearing just a hoodie. Never again.
Stuff this into your pack even if it's sunny at the base. The wind picks up hard near the falls and I watched my friend in a t-shirt basically vibrate with cold while I was perfectly comfortable. Packs down to the size of a grapefruit.
Patagonia Men's Nano Puff® Packable Insulated Jacket
Grab this if you want something lighter than a puffer. Named after the town for a reason. The wind tunnels near the falls are no joke, and this blocks it all without making you overheat on the uphill sections.
Squamish Hoody Men's
Wear this under everything. I used to layer cotton shirts and wondered why I was clammy and cold simultaneously. Switched to this merino base and the temperature swings between shaded forest and open viewpoint stopped bothering me entirely.
Women's Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer Crew
Toss this in your bag even if the forecast says clear. Squamish weather changes faster than anywhere I've been. Got caught in a surprise downpour once and this jacket weighs basically nothing, so there's zero excuse not to carry it.
Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket Review
Use it as a neck warmer near the falls where the mist hits you, then pull it up as a headband on the sweaty uphill return. One piece of fabric, about fourteen uses. I keep two in my hiking bag now because I always find a reason.
Multifunction Headwear Buff Original EcoStretch Neckwear
Pack these for shoulder season visits. My fingers went numb trying to take photos at the viewpoint in October and I couldn't even work my phone screen. These are thin enough to swipe and tap without taking them off.
Black Diamond Lightweight Screentap Gloves | REI Co-op
Ditch the jeans. Seriously. I hiked in denim once and the chafing was brutal by the time I reached the upper trail. These stretch, dry fast if they get splashed, and look normal enough for lunch in Squamish after.
Prana Stretch Zion II Pants
Camera and Phone Gear for Waterfall Shots
My first Shannon Falls photo looked like a white smear because I had no idea how to shoot a waterfall with my phone. Came back with a few cheap accessories and the difference was ridiculous.
Charge this the night before and throw it in your pack. My phone died right as I reached the best viewpoint because I'd been filming the whole walk up. This thing charged it back to full with juice to spare for the drive home.
Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K)
Snap this onto your phone for wider waterfall shots without the fisheye distortion. Shannon Falls is 335 meters tall and fitting the whole thing in frame from the viewpoint is tough. This lens solved it without carrying a real camera.
Moment Anamorphic Lens For Iphone
Wrap this around the railing at the viewpoint for steady long-exposure waterfall shots. I tried holding my phone still for a slow shutter shot and every single one was blurry. The bendy legs grip onto basically anything.
Joby GorillaPod 1K Flexible Mini-Tripod with Ball Head Kit
Use this if you want that silky smooth waterfall effect on your phone. Without it, daytime long exposures just blow out to white. Took me three visits to figure out why my waterfall photos never looked like the ones on Instagram.
LCP17 VND4-8 Filter | Variable ND for LiteChaser Pro
Keep your phone, lenses, and snacks in this instead of digging through a huge backpack. Quick-access zipper meant I could pull out my camera setup in seconds when I spotted a cool angle, instead of missing the moment.
Everyday Sling
Bring this because the mist from Shannon Falls coats everything. I wiped my phone lens on my shirt and just smeared water spots across every photo. This little pen cleaned it perfectly in two seconds, right at the viewpoint.
LensPen NLP-1 Camera Lens Cleaning Pen, Black
Swap this into your GoPro or action camera before the hike. My buddy's cheap card corrupted halfway through and he lost all his footage of the falls. Not the place to gamble on storage when you can't exactly come back tomorrow from out of town.
ProGrade Digital microSDXC UHS-II V60 Gold Memory
Snacks and Hydration for the Sea to Sky Drive and Trail
I drove two hours from Vancouver, hiked on an empty stomach, and hit a wall at the viewpoint. The closest food is back in Squamish town. Pack smart or you'll be hangry with a beautiful view you can't enjoy.
Toss this in your bag because it folds flat when empty. The trail isn't long but between the drive and the hike, dehydration sneaks up. I got a headache at the viewpoint my first time and realized I hadn't had water in three hours.
Stow™ 1 L Collapsible Water Bottle
Stash two of these in your jacket pockets for the trail. Short ingredient list, actually fills you up, and they don't melt or crumble in your pocket like granola bars do. Saved me when the hike took longer than the sign said.
RXBAR Protein Bar Variety Pack
Drop one in your water bottle before the hike, especially in summer. The uphill section to the viewpoint is steeper than it looks and I was dizzy by the top until I started adding electrolytes. Tastes way better than plain water too.
Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets Mixed Flavor
Keep a sleeve in your pocket for quick energy on the trail. Easier to eat while walking than a full bar, and the margarita flavor has salt which helps if you're sweating on the climb up. My go-to for any hike under three hours.
CLIF BLOKS Energy Chews, Salted Watermelon Flavor
Fill this with ice water for the car. After the hike, getting back into a hot car with nothing cold to drink is miserable. The straw makes it easy to sip while driving the Sea to Sky Highway back without taking your eyes off the road.
Produk Baru: Stanley IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler 30oz
Pair one of these with an apple from home and you have a real snack at the viewpoint. Way more satisfying than another granola bar. I started packing these for every day trip after getting tired of eating the same dry trail mix.
Justin's Classic Almond Butter Squeeze Pack 1.15 oz
Bring this if you're combining Shannon Falls with longer trails nearby. There are creek crossings where you can refill, and Squamish tap water from trailhead fountains isn't always running. Filters in seconds and weighs almost nothing.
Katadyn BeFree 1L Collapsible Water Filter Bottle
Comfort and Safety Extras Most People Forget
Nobody talks about the stuff that isn't exciting but saves your trip. I forgot sunscreen once and got burned through the clouds. Another time I had no first aid kit when my friend cut her hand on a rock. Small things, big regrets.
Throw this in your pack and forget about it until you need it. My friend sliced her palm on a sharp rock near the lower falls and we had nothing. Bandaids from the car weren't cutting it. This kit is tiny but has real supplies.
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 First Aid Kit
Slather this on even when it's overcast. Squamish clouds are deceptive and I got a brutal forehead burn in what I thought was grey weather. This one doesn't sting your eyes when you sweat, which matters on the uphill sections.
Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Spray your ankles and neck before you start walking. The bugs near the creek at the base of Shannon Falls are vicious in summer. I came home with seventeen mosquito bites my first July visit because I assumed the elevation would keep them away.
Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent - 3 oz.
Carry this if there's any chance you'll be on the trail near dusk. The forest canopy makes it dark way earlier than you'd expect, and the path back to the parking lot has roots everywhere. Weighs nothing and clips right onto your pack strap.
Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp Review
Keep your phone, wallet, and car keys in this. The mist near the falls soaks everything in your outer pockets. I pulled out a soggy wallet once and my transit card stopped working. Costs less than replacing a waterlogged phone.
Ultra-Sil Dry Bag Set
Set this up at the viewpoint and actually sit for a while. Everyone rushes to take photos and leaves. I finally brought a chair, sat there for thirty minutes watching the falls, and it was the best part of the whole trip. Weighs under two pounds.
YIZI-GO Ultralight Portable Camping Chair
Carry this for peace of mind, especially if you wander past Shannon Falls onto the connecting backcountry trails. Cell service drops completely once you're past the main viewpoint. I told myself I'd never need it until I watched someone twist an ankl...
Garmin inReach Mini 2 Satellite Communicator