The best hiking trails around Vancouver to try out
Oh, British Columbia, the land of everything beautiful and green! Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve dreamt of living in this nature’s paradise. Victoria, Surrey, Burnaby, and the surrounding have always enchanted me with their incredible landscapes.
And for a good reason! Once I temporarily relocated to Vancouver, I spent every free minute exploring the wonderland of its hiking trails and everything about them. Vancouver, deemed by many as the most livable city in Canada (by far the most affordable, nonetheless), is home to some of the best greeneries and sandy beaches.
The city is full of sporty people - cyclists, runners, surfers, but if you want to dive into the mother of all outdoor activities, then hiking is the way to go. You must be prepared for a limited season, though, as only June through October offers good weather conditions for hiking.
During these five short months, a lot can be explored, seen and adored, so I’ve compiled a list of my top hiking trails in and around Vancouver. I’ve kept it as simple as possible: you’ll see only trails with a minimal elevation gain that both experts and beginners can enjoy.
So… let’s dig in!
Dog Mountain, Seymour Provincial Park
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 5 km roundtrip
Time: 2 hours
Elevation gain: minimal
Trailhead: Mount Seymour Ski Resort parking lot
Distance from Vancouver: 29 km, 50 minutes by car
Let’s start simple, shall we? The Dog Mountain trail is my favourite route for beginners. It offers minimal elevation and an easy hike from Mount Seymour. On a clear sunny day, you can experience the most spectacular views of the Vancouver Metropolitan Area.
What makes this trail even better? Experiencing it at night. The sparkling and clamorous Vancouver, with its bright city lights, is most striking under the moonlight. If you’re in for an adventure, head in late to the parking lot and journey to the top guided by the stars.
Be careful, though! The trail can be rocky, muddy, slippery and rooted, so it’s best to go in with a flashlight or nightlamp.
Lynn Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 5 km roundtrip
Time: 1.5 hours
Elevation gain: 160 m
Trailhead: Lynn Valley Road parking lot
Distance from Vancouver: 20 km, 30 minutes by car
You can try out many trails at Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, both short and long. Still, if you’re into starting small and simple, I highly recommend the Lynn Loop trail. Surrounded by cedar and hemlock trees, you’ll submerge into greenery like no other!
The route is one of the simplest to complete and takes you through the forest before getting to the Lynn Creek wonders. The rushing water will guide your way and enhance your audio surrounding over the bridge.
Make sure you get to know the Park’s map well so you don’t end up starting on another trail. The road is steep in places, so bring your most comfortable shoes and watch your steps!
Killarney Lake Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 9 km roundtrip
Time: 2 hours
Elevation gain: minimal
Trailhead: Bowen Island, Snug Cove Ferry terminal
Distance from Vancouver: 45 minutes to ferry
Coastal British Columbia, with her small island, truly is something else! Powered by the beauty of all of Vancouver, the Killarney Lake Loop takes the green scenery to another level with a walk up and down Bowen Island.
Getting to the island from Vancouver is a piece of cake, as ferries run regularly between the two spots. The trip only takes 20 minutes, giving you a glimpse of the laid-back island life down at Bowen.
The best thing about the trail is that it starts right next to the shore and goes all around Killarney Lake, making the trip full of cafes and snack options. The lake will be visible about a km after the trailhead, so you’ll enjoy the blue scenery almost the entire time.
Pacific Spirit Park Hiking Trails
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 10 km roundtrip
Time: 2 hours
Elevation gain: minimal
Trailhead: 16th Avenue, Camosun park
What can be better than enjoying an awesome hike right in the middle of the city? In Vancouver, you can do that with the Pacific Spirit Park Hiking Trails, right next to the University of British Columbia.
The park itself is fantastic and offers tons of different hiking trails and routes that you can explore. Sure, for some, this trail will be more of a walk than a hike, but it’s definitely worth your time if you don’t have the option to go out of the city!
You have two main options: just wander and probably get a little bit lost, or follow the official 10 km hiking trail that starts at 16th Avenue. Going for option 2 will give you a splendid time in the midst of the natural reserve.
Foreshore Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 10 km roundtrip
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Elevation gain: 40 m
Trailhead: Acadia Beach parking lot
Distance from Vancouver: 20 minutes by car
For sea and ocean lovers, that’s the road to follow! The Foreshore Trail starts at Pacific Spirit Park, but unlike the main hiking trail, this one takes you along the coastline! It’s a great route if you want to experience all of Vancouver’s best at once: forest, beach and ocean!
The best thing about it is that the trail crosses Wreck Beach, famous for its clothing-optional attire (if you’re into it, of course). Otherwise, you can pick another route to avoid the beach. The beach is impressive, though, so it would be a waste to miss those stretches.
Be careful during high tides, as portions of the trail have eroded. It’s best to keep this hike for a calm sunny day.
Quarry Rock, Deep Cove
Difficulty: Easy - Moderate
Length: 4 km roundtrip
Time: 1.5 hours
Elevation gain: 100 m
Trailhead: Deep Cove town parking lot
Distance from Vancouver: 30 minutes by car
Does a more iconic Vancouver hike exist? Probably not. The Quarry Rock trail is the tourists’ favourite, both Canadian and foreigners, and the reasons are innumerable.
Located just half an hour outside of Vancouver, next to the quiet town of Deep Cove, the Quarry Rock trail looks more like a large rocky outcrop at first glance. However, once you get into the woods, you’ll find yourself filled with serenity passing through the densely wooded creeks and mountain runoffs. The fresh forest air will fill your lungs with both oxygen and excitement, and you’ll savour every second of this 1.5 hours hike.
Make sure to not get too lost in the feeling. You need to watch your steps when you’re crossing bridges and steep embankments. Save aside at least an hour to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the tiny boats floating on your feet.
Capilano Canyon Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 3 km roundtrip
Time: 1 hour
Elevation gain: 100 m
Trailhead: Cleveland Dam parking lot
Distance from Vancouver: 30 minutes by car
An easy task to complete is spending a day in the midst of one of Vancouver’s four canyons. Capilano Canyon is probably Canadians’ favourite canyon in the Vancouver area as it offers splendid, easily accessible views of rocks, water and rainforest.
Home to several trails with different difficulty levels, the North Shore forests serve as the trailhead of some of the most scenic hikes near Vancouver. The Capilano Suspension Bridge is emblematic and appears on many regional postcards.
The best thing about that trail? It starts at Cleveland Dam, a stunning water reservoir with mindblowing views. Make sure to save time to enjoy the initial scenery before going on the rocky adventure!
High Knol
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 10 km roundtrip
Time: 2.5 - 3 hours
Elevation gain: 180 m
Trailhead: Quarry Road parking lot
Distance from Vancouver: 45 minutes by car
If you’re looking for the best hike-to-view ratio, you won’t find a better hiking trail than High Knol. You won’t feel tired when reaching the peak, as the elevation gain is kept to a minimum, and the hike up is relatively fast.
It’s all worth seeing the mesmerising views at the top of the trail! You can walk, hike, bike, or just explore the area; it will all be worth it! You can’t get lost while doing so, as the route is perfectly mapped and marked, so you’ll always know where you stand.
Why is in the top list? You can’t help but admit the calamity you can experience at High Knol. The road is less popular than the others, so it won’t be busy when you’re hiking. You also get unique marshy areas, rocky paths and forest greenery.
Be prepared to make a final push-up to the viewpoint. Most of the elevation gain is at the end of the hiking up, so you’ll just need a little push to get to the sweeping views over Fraser River.
So here you have them: the 8 trails that will make your time in Vancouver worth it! Don’t hesitate to hop into a pair of snickers and roam them!