Squamish Canyon Walk
Connecting people to nature through accessible design
Client: Mamquam Adventures Inc.
Location: Squamish, BC
Project Type: Buildings, Special Structures
About This Project
This new tourist destination introduces visitors to a dramatic natural setting through a safe, sustainable and accessible public space. The site features three main components – the cliff walk, boardwalk, and forest lounge – each designed to immerse users into the surrounding landscape.
The cliff walk interacts closely with the canyon wall, requiring sensitive structural design tied directly to the rock face. Elevated walkway structures were developed using robust, cost-effective, and environmentally responsive solutions that minimize disturbance to the forest floor.. Typical details were designed to allow flexibility during installation, accommodating the site’s rugged terrain.
Lookout areas provide rest, gatherings, and viewing opportunities. A covered walkway section separates the experience from the adjacent road bridge. Two long-span sections use pre-engineered steel girders, while the covered walkway features a repeated heavy timber system. Structural steel components were extensively prefabricated to improve efficiency and minimize on-site impact. Foundations consist of rock-anchored concrete piers, with substructures built from structural steel, timber decking, and guardrails.
The boardwalk was designed as a site-fit structure, using a mix of foundation types – including precast blocks, cast-in-place footings, and mini-piles – to suit the variable ground conditions. The superstructure combines heavy timber and dimensional lumber with timber decking and guardrails, maintaining a cohesive design throughout the site
The forest lounge section includes small buildings assembly deck areas and a children’s nature playground. Associated timber decks follow the same
Together, these interconnected elements make nature more accessible. Designed with sustainability and inclusivity in mind, the project opens the wilderness to a wider community — offering safe, welcoming pathways that invite everyone to experience the outdoors.
Integrated Expertise
- Structural
- Buildings
- Supporting Services
- Transportation
- Municipal