With trail running exploding in popularity, many running enthusiasts are travelling around the world to compete in boundary-pushing races on challenging mountainous terrain or getting out in our local backcountry for a taste of the summer alpine.
Thanks to a world-class trail network and a growing community of trail-running enthusiasts, Squamish has become a bucket list destination for anyone interested in walking, hiking or running through the gorgeous surroundings of beautiful B.C.
Fortunately for us, Squamish is also home to Capra, a locally owned and operated running store that caters to the unique and technical needs of trail running in the Sea to Sky corridor. Capra will be celebrating their 8th birthday this August, and to celebrate their big achievement, we’ve partnered with them to get an insider take on some of the best trail running hot spots near Squamish.
Here’s what they chose:
Crooked Falls
A short drive out Squamish Valley Road, Crooked Falls is a steep and technical route that takes you through the lush forests, and unique rock walls and ends at the stunning Crooked Falls. This out & back is a similar output to the Squamish Chief, gaining over 500M in less than 7 km return.
Jurassic Ridge - Murrin Park
This loop trail from Browning Lake at Murrin National Park is located south of Squamish and is just off Highway 99. If you’re looking for an outdoor workout and have a limited amount of time, at only 2.4 km long, this is the Jurassic Ridge - Murrin Park trail is the most bang for your buck. It features steep ascents/descents, rope sections, mega rock slabs and scenic views to explore, as well as add-on options to make up a longer adventure. Plus, if a post-sweat swim is how you prefer to end your day, you can jump into Browning Lake for a refreshing cold dip after your run/hike!
Squamish50
If you’re looking for a true challenge; something that requires not just peak physical, but also mental fitness, consider the Squamish50’s epic 50-mile race. Between the relatively flat first 10km and the final mile, you’ll find over 3550M of climbing jammed into the remaining 70km of terrain, which according to insiders, only gets more challenging in the back half. If 50 miles sounds a tad too daunting for you, consider the annual event’s 50km or 23km options. Note: this race sells out in November for the following August, so you will definitely need to plan ahead to add this to your bucket list!
Communities don’t just spring up around niche sports overnight, they require passionate people, who encourage, nurture, and welcome new people into the fold. Since its founding in 2016, Capra has become a hub for those people, offering free running clinics and providing individualized advice for every customer who enters the store. As one of the first Trail-focussed running stores in Canada, they stock unique brands, such as Hoka, La Sportiva, New Balance, Salomon, Norda, Topo, Scott, Brooks, Altra and Rabbit. Capra founders, Mike and Solana, carefully curate their products based on what’s best suited for B.C.’s unique terrain, which is where you’ll find them out running, pretty much every day. Between them and their amazing staff—Tiff, Heather, Grace, Riley—everyone at Capra lives and breathes the sport. You can see it in their growing community and in the unique and educational shopping experience they provide to their customers. Some like to walk on a seawall, some like to run 100 mile ultra-marathons and everything in between! For the past eight years, the team at Capra has made it their mission to serve them all.
You can learn more about Capra by visiting capra.run or following them on social @caprarunning
