3 Places to Try Via Ferrata Near Vancouver

Whistler Via Ferrata. Photo: Daniel O’Keefe/MSAA

Have you heard of via ferrata? Strap on a harness, clip into the safety line, then follow your guide as you scramble up ladder rungs and across cliffs with gorgeous views. Find out how to try via ferrata near Vancouver.

What is Via Ferrata?

In Italian, via ferrata means “iron path”. These routes use steel cables, ladder rungs, and bridges bolted to the rock every few meters to forge a path up a mountain. You clip your harness to the cables as you climb instead of using a rope. The experience is a cross between steep hiking and rock climbing. Via ferrata routes are very popular in Europe, but there are only a few in North America.

Squamish Via Ferrata. Photo: Mike Crane/MSAA

What to Know Before You Try Via Ferrata

While many via ferrata routes in Europe are open to the public, all of the via ferrata options near Vancouver require going with a guide for safety.
You don’t need any climbing experience to try via ferrata. The courses near Vancouver are all beginner-friendly and your guide will provide lots of instruction and tips as you go. You should have at least average fitness and be comfortable hiking for an hour or two.
Your guide will provide a helmet, harness, and via ferrata lanyard with carabiners to attach to the safety cables. They will also provide instructions on how the gear works and other safety precautions.
Hiking boots or trail runners are the best footwear as they will help provide grip on the rock.
Wear quick-drying hiking clothes and dress in layers that you can add or subtract as you heat up or cool down. Don’t forget a warm layer like a fleece or puffy jacket.
The weather in the mountains changes quickly, so always bring a rain jacket.
Bring sunglasses and sunscreen as it is easy to get burned.
Pack water and snacks to stay fueled.
Bring a small backpack to carry your gear.
Don’t forget your camera! If you have a Go Pro, your guide can help you attach it to your helmet. Otherwise, make sure to stow your phone or camera in a zippered pocket or bring a lanyard to secure it.

Whistler Sky Walk

The Whistler Sky Walk is the easiest via ferrata near Vancouver. The experience includes a guided hike with a short and easy via ferrata section that takes you across bridges and ramps at the edge of a cliff. The 2-hour-long experience takes place near the peak of Whistler Mountain.

Whistler Sky Walk. Photo: MSAA

Squamish Via Ferrata

Enjoy incredible views of snow-capped mountains and Howe Sound from the Squamish Via Ferrata at the Sea to Sky Gondola. This via ferrata is more adventurous than the Whistler Sky Walk but is still beginner-friendly. The route takes you up ladder rungs and across suspension bridges on a 1 to 1.5-hour tour.

Squamish Via Ferrata. Photo: Destination BC/@viranlly

Whistler Via Ferrata

Climb to the top of Whistler Peak on the Whistler Via Ferrata. You’ll ascend vertical ladders, scramble over rocks, and walk along narrow ledges. The views are incredible! The four-hour experience is more extreme than the other Vancouver area via ferratas but is still a great option for fit beginners.