Best Hikes From Vancouver

Tunnel Bluffs Hike

Tunnel Bluffs hike from the Lion’s Bay parking is one of the most famous day hikes near Vancouver. Tunnel Bluffs is situated along the Sea to Sky highway. Also known as just Tunnel Bluffs, this hike gives a very nice view of the Sea to Sky highway, Howe sounds waters and Vancouver islands. Read about Tunnel Bluffs hike in full details

Tunnel Bluffs Hike Trail Summary

• Hike Difficulty: Medium
• Hiking Duration: 3-4 Hours
• Elevation Gain: 519 meters or 1703 feet
• Best time to hike/ Hiking Season: May to November
• Trail type: Out & back
• Dog Friendly: Yes
• Public Transport: Bus Number 262 from Horseshow Bay to Crosscreek Rd at Lions Bay (Trailhead is 1.5Km walk from here)
• Day Pass: Not needed
• Camping: Not Allowed
• Parking: At Lion’s Bay Parking at Trailhead or Park near Lion’s Bay Elementary School Overflow Parking opposite to 257 Bayview Rd, Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0
• Parking fee: If you park at the trailhead, you have to pay $24 for the full day parking. Parking at elementary school overflow parking is free (Trailhead is another 1 KM from here)
• Washroom: Near the trailhead

Big Cedar and Kennedy Falls hikes, North Vancouver

Big Cedar and Kennedy Falls hikes are situated on the same trail in North Vancouver. This hike is located on the east side of Mount Fromme and towards the West of Lynn Creek where the famous Norvan falls hike is there. Below are the Individual Details about both of the hikes. Big Cedar and Kennedy Falls hike in full detail

Big Cedar hike summary

• Total distance: 7 Km
• Total time: 3 hours
• Elevation gain: minimal
• Dog allowed: Yes
• Best season: April to October

Big Cedar & Kennedy Falls Hike Summary

• Total distance: 10.5 Km
• Total tile: 4 hours
• elevantion gain: 150 meters
• Dog allowed: Yes
• Best season: April to October

Murrin Park Hike

Murrin Park hike is one of the easiest hikes near Vancouver along with sea to sky highway. It is a Nature spot with climbing wall, lake, birds, nature and a very beautiful view of the Indian Arm to the north from the peak.

Murrin Park hike starts from the Browning lake situated at the beginning of the parking lot. After crossing the lake, watch for a sign and a trail on the right, marking the route to Quercus Viewpoint.

Leave the Browning Lake area and begin hiking up the steep hill as it climbs briefly before descending and arriving at a junction. At the junction, go right and follow the Loop Trail in a counterclockwise direction.

The trail climbs very steeply, first along dirt and then up wood steps. Admire the large rock overhangs that precariously sit above the trail as you stop to catch your breath before continuing uphill. There is also a ridge called Jurassic ridge from where you get a very beautiful view of the Howe Sound. At many places, you will see the ropes tied to the rocks. Those ropes are for ascending down the slippery rocks during rain. Otherwise, the hike is pretty easy.

St. Marks Summit

St. Marks Summit is one of the famous day hikes from Vancouver near Cypress Mountain. The trail starts from the Cypress mountain parking lot. St. marks summit is along the Lions mountain trail. St. Marks summit hike starts from the Cypress mountain parking lot. There are washrooms and other facilities near the parking lot which you can utilize before commencing the hike. The trail is pretty straightforward from there and you can also see a lot of people going for the hike.

Overall, the hike is easy but it is also little technical. It is steep throughout also but not so much. We did the hike in the first week of November and the snow had begun to form. So, the trail had become very slippery. Also, the trail passes through the forest with a lot of natural roots along the way.

From the top, the view of Howe sound, Bowen Island, horse show bay, Vancouver Island etc. is breathtaking. Please also be aware that the birds at the top have been being fed by hikers so they are very bold and can pick some stuff out of your hand. So, please do not feed birds at the top. Also, at the top, the temperature will be much cooler compared to the parking lot.

St. Marks Summit hiking trail summary

• Total hiking distance: 10.5 Km (Roundtrip)
• Hiking time: Around 4 hours (Roundtrip)
• Highest point: 1347 meters (4419 feet)
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Best season to do the chief hike: April to November
• Elevation gain: 499 meters (1637 feet)

Sumas Mountain Hike

Sumas peak is situated near Abbotsford town near Vancouver beside the river Fraser. There is not any marked parking spot near the parking area but very few people visit the peak for the hiking so, overall, parking should not be a problem.

• Total Hike Distance: 13 Km (Roundtrip)
• Elevation Gain: 2506 feet (764 meters)
• Highest point: 2972 feet (906 meters)
• Total roundtrip time: 7 hours
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Best Season to do Sumas peak hike: May – October
• Dog-Friendly: Yes
• Camping: No
• Public transport: No

BCMC Hike

BCMC is an alternate hiking trail to Grouse mountain hiking trail. Grouse grind is often known as one of the steepest hikes while BCMC hike is easier to do. There is a direct public transport which goes near the BCMC hiking trailhead. Steep mountain slopes and towering trees are the essences of this regional park. Hikers will enjoy the challenging trails. The mature rainforest is also home to a variety of wildlife including red-legged frogs, barred owls, black bears, and cougars.

• BCMC trail distance: 2.9 Km
• BCMC elevation gain: 750 m (2460 feet)
• The average time for BCMC hike: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Gradient: 30 degrees steep throughout
• BCMC park hours: 6.15 Am to 6.00 PM

Norvan Falls Hike

Norvan falls hike lies in the Lynn Valley in the North Vancouver. Norvan falls is a rainforest waterfall situated almost 7 Km from the Lynn Headwaters Park If you are going there in your own vehicle. However, If you start from the Lynn Canyon bridge, the distance will be around 9.5 Km one way. If you are planning to do Norvan falls hike by going there using the public transport then most probably, you will have to start from the Lynn suspension bridge. Read here about the Norvan Falls hike

Norvan Falls Hike from Lynn Headwaters Park

• Total Hike Distance: 14 Km (Roundtrip)
• Elevation Gain:  958 feet (292 meters)
• Highest point: 1400 feet (427 meters)
• Total roundtrip time: 5 hours
• Difficulty: easy
• Best Season to do Joffre lakes hike: July – September
• Dog-Friendly: Yes

Norvan Falls Hike from Lynn Suspension Bridge

• Total Hike Distance: 19 Km (Roundtrip)
• Elevation Gain:  944 feet (388 meters)
• Highest point: 1400 feet (427 meters)
• Total roundtrip time: 6 hours
• Difficulty: easy to intermediate
• Best Season to do Joffre lakes hike: July – September
• Dog-Friendly: Yes

Brohm Lake Hike

Brohm Lake is a part of Brohm Lake Interpretive Forest situated near Squamish, Almost 60 Kms from Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway. Brohm Lake is a popular hiking trail as well as a swimming lake for visitors and locals. Some of the major highlights of Brohm Lake Interpretive forest are the Brohm lake loop trail, Brohm lake powerline trail, Hatchery, and Tantalus viewpoints etc.

Blue Gentian, Lost Lake Via Brothers Creek Loop Hike & Trail Guide

Blue Gentian and Lost Lake via Brothers Creek Loop is an 8.5-kilometer long hike with a total of 1300 feet of elevation gain. It is situated in West Vancouver, British Columbia. Read here about this hike in details

Blue Gentian and Lost Lake via Brothers Creek Loop Hike Summary

• Rating: Moderate
• Distance: 8.5 km
• Elevation Gain: 1330 feet
• Time Needed: 4 hours
• Type: Loop
• Season: May to October
• Dogs Allowed: Yes

Lindeman Lake Hike

Lindeman Lake is a beautiful climb in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park. For 3.5 km, it is a short hike but still a beautiful one for the Lindeman Lake. Lindeman lake is an exquisite, turquoise lake encompassed by thick woods and mountain tops. A lot of hikers swim in the lake in the summer. Read more about Lindeman Lake Hike

• Rating: Moderate
• Distance: 3.5 km
• Elevation Gain: 800 feet
• Time Needed: 1.5 hours
• Type: Out-and-back
• Season: May to October
• Dogs Allowed: Yes
• Est. Driving Time from Vancouver: 2 Hours

The Chief Hike, Squamish

The chief hike, also known by different names such as The Squamish Chief hike or Stawamus Chief hike, is a dome-shaped monolithic hill located near Squamish known mostly for three peaks hiking trails. It is also called as the Stawamus hike because of the Stawamus lake and village located at the foothills of this hill.

• Total hiking distance: 7.5 Km
• Hiking time: Around 6 hours
• Highest point: 686 meters (2250 feet)
• Dogs allowed on leash
• Camping: allowed near the foothills
• Best season to do the chief hike: March to November

Joffre lakes Hike, Pemberton

Joffre lakes are a series of three lakes situated in the Joffre lake provincial park near Pemberton in British Columbia. All the three lakes are glacier-fed lakes and carry a turquoise color due to rock flour at the bottom of the lake. All the lakes are connected by a waterfall which flows directly from the upper lake to the lower lake passing through the middle lake

• Total Hike Distance: 8 Km (Roundtrip)
• Elevation Gain:  1194 feet (364 meters)
• Highest point: 5167 feet (1575 meters)
• Total roundtrip time: 4 hours
• Difficulty: intermediate
• Best Season to do Joffre lakes hike: July – September
• Dog-Friendly: No

Eagle Bluffs – Cabin Lake – Cypress Mountain Hike

Eagle Bluffs & Cabin lake hike offers a spectacular view of the Horseshoe Bay, Bowen Island, Bowyer island. Most of the people start their hike from the Cypress Mountains paring area to the eagle bluff point and the cabin lake.

Cypress mountain parking lot to Cabin lake

• Cypress mountain parking lot to Cabin lake: 1.8 Km (Round trip: 3.6 Km)
• Elevation Gain: 905 feet
• Average time to reach cabin lake from Cypress Parking lot: 40 Minutes
• Difficulty: easy
• Best Season to do: July – October
• Dog-Friendly: Yes

Cypress mountain parking lot to the north shore eagle bluffs point

• Cypress mountain parking lot to The north shore eagle bluffs point: 3.6 Km (Round trip: 7.2 KM)
• Total elevation gain: 905 feet
• Difficulty: easy
• Average time to reach the North shore eagle bluffs: Around 70 minutes
• Best Season to do: July – September
• Dog-Friendly: Yes