Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish starts selling annual passes

Squamish’s new sightseeing gondola is scheduled to open in May 2014. But locals chomping at the bit can buy an annual pass starting today (November 28).

The Sea to Sky Gondola is making a limited number of one-year passes available for a limited time. The cost: $99 per adult, $69.95 per youth (13 to 18 years old), $39.95 per child (six to 12 years old), and $249 per family (two adults and two children). The passes, which can be purchased on the Sea to Sky website, are valid from May 16, 2014, to May 31, 2015.

In 10 minutes, the gondola will carry passengers from the base, between the Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls, to a height of 885 metres on the wooded ridge northwest of Mount Habrich. At the top of the gondola, visitors will find a lodge, hiking trails, viewing platforms, and a suspension bridge. The lodge will feature a restaurant, a bar, a cafe, a tea house, and a gift shop.

One of the six main hiking trails is likely to give the Grouse Grind some competition. The Sea to Summit Trail offers a distance of six kilometres, an elevation gain of 916 metres, and an estimated time of three to four hours one-way.

When the gondola opens, day tickets will cost $34.95 per adult, $22.95 per youth, $13.95 per child, and $89.95 per family. Admission will be free for children under six years old.

During the summer season (May 16 to October 13, 2014), the gondola’s tentative opening hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with later hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays.

Last year, the Sea to Sky Gondola sparked controversy after the Georgia Straight revealed that the project required the removal of a 2.36-hectare strip of land from Stawamus Chief Provincial Park.