We're heading up to Squamish this weekend from Seattle and am curious of how all the Olympic construction has been affecting traffic, parking, etc. in and around the Park.

Thanks.

The road between Vancouver and Squamish is pretty torn up right now. I'd expect some significant delays there. I drove up there a couple weeks ago on a Friday night and drove through late enough that it wasn't a problem. I think we left Seattle around 8pm or so. The road in Squamish is under some significant construction, but doesn't really affect parking at all.

Most of the time, the drive from Horseshoe Bay to Squamish (the torn up section) is less than 45 minutes. There was a period when there were a lot of delays but they seem past that phase, or at least between such phases. It's the drive through Vancouver, especially on a Friday evening that's the problem.

You'll note that if you search for directions on Google from Seattle to Squamish, it doesn't run you through downtown, but has you leave I-5 before you cross the border on 543 in Blaine to the Truck Crossing and then Hwy. 15 due north until you hit Highway 1 which takes you all the way to Squamish via the Second Narrows Bridge rather than the Lion's Gate. I highly recommend following these directions rather than going through downtown.

In Squamish itself the construction isn't a much of a problem. There are now two entrances to the Chief parking lot, and there's a fair bit more parking too.

This weekend is the Squamish Climbers Festival so there might be a bit of extra traffic on the routes, but probably nothing noticeable on the roads.

Thanks for the info. I did Google the directions, and as sure as the sun rising, Google led me around Vancouver via the 543.

Also, does anyone have any beta on the free camping out on the windsurfer's spit? Or any other free camping beta for that matter?

The last time I camped on the spit was two years ago. At that point, it was pretty relaxed, but I do believe that it is technically illegal. If you do camp out there, don't leave any of your gear; break camp every day. Squamish is notorious for thieves, and I know that most people never have a problem, but take precautions.

To get there, turn off of Hwy 99 at the McDonalds onto Cleveland Avenue, and shortly thereafter, turn right onto Buckley and follow that for a few miles. It turns into Queens Way, which you continue to follow until the road veers left (west) and turns into Government Road. You pass the Train Museum (that's one landmark that always helps). Follow Gov't Road for a couple miles, and turn right onto a dirt road that takes you shortly to the Spit Road, which you turn left on. Follow this out to the spit. Camping spots can be found along wide spots on the road. The very end of the road usually had a camper or two with windsurfers.

As for whether it's still kosher to camp out there, i'm not sure. Does anybody have recent beta on that?? I know that the Olympics have made Squamish a bit more regulated than before (probably a good thing with all the increased traffic), so don't forget that the best spot to camp is the climbers' campground beneath the Chief. It's relatively cheap, it's a great place to meet up with other climbers, and is walking distance to the Apron, The Chief, Bulletheads, etc. Happy Climbing!

I slept out on the spit a few weeks ago and didn't get hassled. We did get in late and leave early though.

We looked at camping at the Spit last week but passed on it too dusty. There was also a comp going on. Instead we did a road side bivy 1.5 km up the road that is next to the Apron parking area. There is a 1.5km sign right by the spot and is the parking for a boulder area (Clean Boulders???). There is more camping along the way.

As for traffic - one day coming into Squamish was a complete cluster fuck as the left turn for town was closed. We did not have any problems coming through Vancouver as we were already on 1 and on the return we did not drop south until we hit Rt 15. The fricking border crossing took an hour on Sunday afternoon.