Box Creek

Box Creek is a beautifully sculpted, flowing canyon just west of Squamish, BC. The carving and formations in the granite are very unusual, more resembling the morphology of sandstone than the normal granitic formations.

The canyon presents no particular difficulties in summer conditions, but is somewhat difficult to get to, requiring a crossing of the Squamish River for access. While there is good cell phone coverage in the area, the canyon is impossible to escape in some of the deeper, darker areas. This all adds to a sense of remoteness and isolation, despite the canyon being a mere 3 km from downtown Squamish as the crow flies. While only a half day canyon, the feeling of adventure is much greater than expected.

Access to the canyon requires a crossing of the Squamish River, west of the town of Squamish, a kilometer or two before the river exits into Howe Sound. Crossing can be done by canoe, kayak, or other watercraft. This article will describe the route to reach the shortest crossing distance.

NOTE: Crossing a fast-moving river like the Squamish is potentially very dangerous! Depending upon the discharge rate of the river and the dynamic hazards therein, there may be standing waves, snags, partially submerged logs, etc. You can check on the current, recent and historical data here: http://www.wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/graph/graph_e.html?stn=08GA022 The author has crossed the river at rates of between 300 and 500 cubic meters per second discharge. Combined with a strong wind, it can feel sketchy in a recreational canoe, but a careful crossing.

Access Road: From Highway 99, approaching Squamish from the south or north, turn west at the lights at Cleveland Avenue. After 400m, turn right on Bailey Street. The road quickly becomes gravel and comes to a fork. Keep to the right – this is Government Road. Continue north on Government road for 1.6km, crossing two sets of railroad tracks and getting back onto pavement. Turn left towards Squamish River Dyke Road (signed for Estuary Access and Squamish Spit) and return to a gravel road. After 350m, turn left onto the dyke road. In another 300m, look for a steep path to the right, dropping toward the river, followed almost immediately by a pullout to the right with room for two or three cars. Down the path you will find a number of metal posts to the left, and a small, narrow channel of the river, opening up into the main river just ahead. GPS waypoint: 49.71534,-123.167974

Crossing to Trailhead: Put in to the water in the little side channer, and strike out across the river. Looking directly across the river, and slightly left (downstream) there is a large expanse of gravel. You want to round the downstream tip of this gravel bar, and head upstream into a much narrower, slower moving channel on the other side. As you head up this channel, you will soon come to a small cluster of old pilings on your left, close to the tree-covered shoreline. There are a couple of tiny coves here (N49.71469 W123.17253) where you can pull in and tie your boat to the trees. Note: the river here is still tidal and can go up and down a few feet while you are in the canyon – make sure you tie up the boat so it doesn’t float away while you’re gone!

From the Trailhead: Once you’re ashore, you’ll find yourself in a small clearing with a few narrow trails spreading out into the trees. Go to the north (upstream) end of the clearing and follow the trail there away from the river. After a couple of minutes, it will angle to the left, and in a few more minutes you will hear the chatter of Monmouth Creek. Before the trail starts to climb steeply up the hillside, turn left off of the trail and drop to the creek (N49.71347 W123.18041). There is currently a cairn built just off the left side of the trail here. Following the creek upstream, you will soon come to a smaller creek entering from your left. This is Box – turn up this side stream and follow it southwest bound.

After about 10 or 15 minutes, you will come to a pool at the bottom of a waterfall with some large logs scattered around (N49.71098 W123.18464). This is the lower end of the technical section – if you wish, you can leave dry clothes, food & drinks, etc. stashed here.



Exit route from the canyon, to climb to drop in point.

To climb to the drop in point, exit the canyon steeply to the right (looking upcanyon) via a big blocky boulder, onto a large log angling up the hill. Scramble up into the trees, and continue steeply uphill. Be alert for wasp nests in the area – we encountered two on the way in! The way from here is now flagged – follow the pink flagging to the drop-in point. Suit up, and get ready for a great little gem of a canyon!

Additional Risks: Crossing the Squamish River for access to this canyon has potential risks found in fast flowing river channels - deadheads, sweepers, standing waves, gravel bars, and so on - in relation to the water level.

Water: Be cautious of water flow - best time for this canyon is after the spring runoff, which can range from early/mid-July (or as late as mid-August) to abate, through until the fall rains begin in earnest - usually sometime in October. The water is cold, and a 4/3 wetsuit should be considered the absolute minimum for most people, on warm summer days. There are only a couple of spots where actual swimming is required. Most pools are waist to chest deep.

Anchor Conditions: The canyon contains a mix of anchors. The plan is to eventually bolt most of the drops in the canyon, to provide for safe stances, bomber contingencies, and durability during runoff. Currently, two drops are anchored off of (bomber) single bolts, while the balance are slung logs and boulders.

Gear Recommendations: Longest rappel is approximately 100 feet. You will require helmet, harness, rappel gear, webbing, rapides, dry bag/keg, and (of course) a waterproof camera.

Flash Flood Danger: None, but be vigilant about high flow prior to committing to the first rappel. Most of the rappels in the canyon do not expose the canyoneer to the full flow of the current pounding down unimpeded, but, in high flow, the bottom part of rappel number three will be the most intimidating flow of the canyon.

You’re now back at the pool where you exited the canyon to head uphill. Shuck your wetsuit, pick up your cached food/water/clothes, and head back downstream to rejoin the trail. Hike back to the clearing, hop in the canoe, and recross the river to the dyke road.

Two methods of recrossing the river:

• If the river isn’t running too strongly
  • You can round the tip of the gravel bar and work your way back upstream close to shore – either lining the canoe from shore, or paddling it in close, in the eddies. From the upper extremity of the calm water, strike out across the river again, ferrying towards the spot you entered the river originally.

• If the river is high and flowing strongly
  • You can head further up the small side channel where the trailhead is located. Be very careful of sweepers, submerged logs, and gravel bars. Eventually, you will come to the top end of the island. You may need to get out on the gravel and line the canoe around the very top of the gravel bar to avoid sweeper logs sticking out the tip of the island . From here, you can head across the river, carefully working across the current, rather than battling against it, to your take-out point. If you miss the take-out point due to strong current, it may be a few hundred meters downriver before you can find another suitable exit point; the banks of the river are steep and fairly thickly wooded.

This canyon is located on Crown land. There are no known access issues.