Howe Sound

Howe Sound begins just northwest of Vancouver, British Columbia, with its southern reaches accessible within about 30 minutes by car. The Sea-to-Sky Highway (Highway 99) runs along its eastern shore, connecting Vancouver to Squamish at the fjord's northern end. This makes it one of the most easily accessible major fjords from a major city in North America.

Yes, Howe Sound supports marine life including harbor seals, porpoises, and occasionally killer whales (orcas). After decades of industrial pollution from the Britannia Beach copper mine, the waterway has seen significant ecological recovery, and Pacific white-sided dolphins have returned in recent years. The waters around Gambier and Bowen Islands are popular spots for wildlife viewing.

Communities along Howe Sound include Squamish at its northern head, Britannia Beach, Lions Bay, and Horseshoe Bay (part of West Vancouver) near its mouth. Bowen Island and Gambier Island are the major populated islands within the sound. The fjord stretches from the Strait of Georgia to Squamish, serving as a vital maritime corridor between these settlements.

Howe Sound is a genuine glacially carved fjord and holds the distinction of being the southernmost major fjord on North America's Pacific coast. It was carved by glaciers during the last ice age and features the steep walls and deep waters characteristic of true fjords. Its network of inlets branches through the Coast Mountains of British Columbia.