Shannon Pools is a short, secluded trail right beside Shannon Falls Provincial Park. The end of this short hike brings you to the foot of one of the upper cascades of Shannon Falls with a view that overlooks Squamish and the valley beyond the end of Howe Sound. This quick and easy trail is well marked, however, I would not reccomend it for small children because the trail requires lots of scrambling up steep rock faces with ropes, as well as several rock edges which overlook 60-100ft drops.
The trail head is not as clearly marked as the trail itself. It is simply a clearing between the tree cover right at the entrance off the exit for Highway 99. You will find the main entrance about 5m behind the sign prohibiting overnight camping and consumption of alcohol within the park. Following the clear path will take you up what looks like an old logging or service road. After about 300m, the path diverges from the wide tracks onto a smaller foot trail on the left-hand side. This turn may be easy to miss but it is marked with an orange marker on a tree. This will take you over and under some fallen trees. After crossing a small wooden bridge, the trail's gradient increases. You can find some neatly cut wooden stairs to help with some steep areas. Continue following the trekked trail until you approach a big granite wall. At this point, make a right and follow the tree roots with your left hand on the rock face. This part of the trail gets perilous, as the cliff on the right-hand side can be as high as 100ft. Make sure to keep your footing firm and have both hands free! Do not forget to look up as parts of the trail open up to a nice low view through the trees of the Squamish docks.
Around this area you will also get to the first rope scramble; don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and use the rope while trying to not get your shoe stuck in between the tree roots. Take your time, you're halfway there (length-wise). I found this section the most fun on the trail, but for others it might be the most nerve wracking. The trail travels a good distance along the rocks, and is clearly marked.
The last half of the hike is consistently steep, with the finale being a valley with broken rocks and tree roots everywhere. Here, the trail is less consistent and you can try to find the track that works best for you. Look closely to your left as you trek up; there is a small clearing which opens to a large granite bluff that overlooks the end of Howe Sound and part of the Sea to Sky Highway. This is an ideal outlook to set up some camp chairs such as the Helinox Chair One and have a snack. You can also continue up the trail and snack right by the waterfall pools. During springtime, the waterfall could be quite rapid which kicks up a lot of mist. Therefore, snacking right by the waterfall is not fully recommended by myself.
If you are looking for a quick getaway on a weekday or happen to have some extra time while already at Shannon Falls, this is a perfect hike. The whole trip should take just around 90 minutes, with a total elevation gain of 350m. With beautiful views, minimal traffic, and a fun trip up, I would definitely recommend this hike to everyone.
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