FURRY CREEK

Living in a large metropolitan area has its merits, but for many people, city life just doesn’t compare to the less hurried pace of living in the suburban and rural areas. Luckily for those people, there is plenty of serene open space in the western Vancouver area, especially along the Sea to Sky Highway. One of those slower paced areas is the community of Furry Creek.

Location

Furry Creek can be reached using the Sea to Sky Highway as it is located in the Squamish-Lillooet district on the banks of the Howe Sound. The area is named after Oliver Furry, a prospector from the late 1800s. Furry Creek is further out from the city than Lions Bay and Porteau, but it is not quite as far as Squamish.

Parks and Green Spaces

One of the biggest draws to the area is the Furry Creek Golf & Country Club. This course offers 18 holes amid some of the most beautiful sights in British Columbia. The 14th hole is one the course is particularly proud of because it is right on the Howe Sound shoreline. The entire course winds through all the trees and natural beauty in the area even crossing a few ravines. It has been voted “British Columbia’s Most Scenic Golf Course.”

Another spot for outdoor adventure in the Furry Creek area isn’t as much green as it is blue. The Furry Creek Dive Site has a parking area near the beach to make it easier for divers to get in the water. It is a good spot for finding octopi and maybe even an antique glass bottle or two. There are also some submerged boulders that are fun to explore.

Not too far from the village is a hiker’s dream called Sky Pilot Mountain. It can be reached via the Sea to Sky Gondola, and it gives outdoorsy types a very challenging hike. Some people hit the summit and get back to the bottom in a single day, but many people choose to do a little camping on the mountainside and take their time. Either way gives climbers lots of gorgeous views to remember.

Another green space that is a much closer to Furry Creek, although not nearly as rugged, is the Porteau Cove Provincial Park which is located on the shores of the sound just off of the Sea to Sky Hwy. The park consists of 56 hectares, and it has spots for camping, canoeing, cycling, and fishing. Dogs are allowed when they are kept leashed, and divers can find some human-made reefs to enjoy at the dive site.

Also on the Squamish side of town is the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. This park is popular due to the many camping sites and the granite monolith that dominates the park. Residents can find the park off of Highway 99 about two miles south of Squamish.

Shopping and Dining

Furry Creek is a reasonably quiet area and doesn’t contain much in the way of shopping or dining other than the facilities at the Furry Creek Golf & Country Club. The Sea to Sky Restaurant overlooks the 18th green and the stunning mountains beyond. Diners can enjoy their meal from the innovative menu while dining indoors or out on the terrace.

Most of the other shopping and dining options are found in Squamish, and there are several options to choose from. Hungry residents will find choices such as Middle Eastern food, local favourites, sushi, Thai food, and steak. There are also pizza and Mexican options as well.

For shopping, Squamish has quite a few options as well. There is Chieftain Centre, Garibaldi Village which features a Starbucks, a ski shop called Whistler Blackcomb Outlet Store, and the Nootka and Sea gift shop. There are several grocery stores in Squamish as well including a Walmart, an independent Grocer, and a Save-On-Foods.

For an authentic farm to fork experience, residents of Furry Creek and Squamish can shop at Nutrient Dense Farm. In Squamish, residents can find this urban farm setting up shop at their FARM Stand on Depot Road every Thursday, but in the summertime, they can also be found hawking fresh vegetables at the Squamish Farmers Market. This farm grows just about any vegetable that is needed for cooking high-quality meals, including mixed greens, carrots, rhubarb, and bok choi.

Getting to the City

Residents may love the serenity they find when they call Furry Creek home, but that doesn’t mean they will never want to make their way to the city. Getting to downtown Vancouver is a bit of a hike, but it can be done in about 45 minutes when the traffic is cooperating. Unfortunately, there isn’t any public transit that makes it all the way up to Furry Creek, but for those that would prefer to catch a bus to the city, a drive down to at least the Lions Bay area would be required.

Serene mountain living can be found in Furry Creek, but the county club ensures that residents in the community still have plenty of luxury to enjoy, fresh air, verdant trees, and lush golf greens all around.