Last October I decided to make the move from Ontario to British Columbia. I fell in love with the west coast and felt like my life needed a bit more mountains and forests in it. I was itching to get out on some epic trails, but quickly realized that hiking in BC is quite a different ballgame.
While I’ve always been an outdoorsy person, my knowledge of backcountry hiking was very minimal, and I didn’t want to become a victim to the elements. So I did a ton of research and found some beautiful destinations that would also provide some peace of mind that I could do this as a beginner.
Below you’ll find 5 stunning but easy hikes near Vancouver that any beginner could confidently hike year round, as well as some tips to help keep you safe on the trail.
1. Buntzen Lake Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 10.5 km loop
Elevation gain: 301 meters
Hiking time: 3 hours
Dog friendly: Yes, on leash
Getting there.
Driving.
Located just north of Anmore, Buntzen Lake is an hour drive from downtown Vancouver.
Public Transit.
In the summer months you can take the #179 bus directly to the lake.
In the off season, you can always opt to take the #182 from Port Moody, which will drop you off at the entrance gates. If you’re up for the 2km walk in, get off at Sunnyside Road and Anmore Grocery Store. Just be sure to use the pedestrian access trail to South Beach.
Where to find the trailhead.
This place gives off some seriously moody PNW vibes. It’s also one of my favorite rainy day easy hikes near Vancouver. From the parking lot, make your way to the very east end of south beach – there you’ll find the trailhead on the right side.
Note: when we visited, the trail was marked as one way only (going counter clockwise) to support social distancing. Just be sure to follow this direction if this is still the case.
Make your way around the lake.
The first half of the hike is fairly steady going with minimal elevation gain. You’ll walk alongside the lake through a beautiful forest that leads you toward north beach. Here is where we took a little break to eat some lunch and take in the views. You’ll continue on toward a wooden suspension bridge that crosses the lake over to the west side of the trail.
The second half of the hike is a little bit more challenging, but nothing too strenuous. There are also mini beaches sprinkled throughout which make for great rest stops.
2. Bowen Lookout | Cypress Provincial Park
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 4.8km out and back
Elevation gain: 110 meters
Hiking time: 1.5 hours
Dog friendly: Yes, on leash
Getting there.
Driving
A 30 minute drive from downtown Vancouver. Keep in mind winter tires are required on the mountain from October 1st to March 31st.
Cypress Shuttle Service
You can catch the shuttle from multiple spots around Vancouver, but if you’re coming from downtown, the easiest way is from the Vancouver Art Gallery. When you arrive at the mountain, be sure to get off at the Cypress downhill ski area (rather than the Nordic cross country stop).
For up-to-date tickets and info, click here.
Where to find the trailhead.
First you’ll want to head to Black Mountain Lodge to get your free backcountry liability tag (a bright yellow tag you’ll need to access the trail). Then make your way through the parking lot over toward the Cypress Mountain ski chalet – you’ll find the trailhead just passed the eagle express chairlift.
Follow the red poles through the forested Yew Lake area, and up a series of fairly steep switchbacks. If you visit in the winter months microspikes will definitely come in handy for this part. You’ll (eventually) hit a sign where the path veers to the left, and onto the Bowen Lookout. It’s clearly marked so don’t worry, you won’t miss it.
The lookout.
Catch your breath, lay out a blanket, and stay a while – you’re going to want to catch the sunset here. Definitely bring a hot beverage up here to enjoy the views of Howe Sound before you head back down.
Tip: Be sure to bring headlamps for the way down if you’re staying for sunset. It can get quite dark in the forested areas of the trail.
3. Lighthouse Park
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: Up to 6km
Elevation gain: Minimal
Hiking time: As little as 30 minutes, up to 2 hours
Dog friendly: Yes
Getting there.
Driving
A short 30 minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Public transit
From downtown Vancouver take the #250 bus toward Horseshoe Bay. Get off at Marine Drive and Beacon Lane.
Where to find this view.
Another great easy hike near Vancouver, Lighthouse park is a “choose your own adventure” kind of place. There are so many different trail options to explore, that all lead to various lookout points. This is what we did to have a pretty magical experience here.
We arrived at the park about 20 minutes before sunrise. Hot coffees in hand, we threw on our headlamps and started making our way to the West Beach lookout. The path is well groomed and only takes about 15 minutes to hike if you take the Beacon Lane trail through to the West Beach trail.
While you’ll get a pretty spectacular view of the lighthouse from this spot, it’s the granite rock against the ocean that makes this hike so beautiful. You’ll also likely have it all to yourself if you come for sunrise. We spent the rest of the morning scrambling over these rock formations and exploring the rest of the park.
Tip: If you’re looking to fill up your day, try hiking the Capilano Suspension Bridge as well, which is only a 25 minute drive from here.
4. Lower Falls Trail | Golden Ears Provincial Park
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 5.5 km out and back
Elevation gain: 92 meters
Hiking time: 2 hours
Dog friendly: Yes, on leash
Getting there.
Driving
Located in Maple Ridge, Golden Ears is about an hour drive from downtown Vancouver. Keep in mind that the elevation within the park is higher than sea level, so you may encounter snowy road conditions if you visit in the winter months.
Public transit
Parkbus is your only option for getting here without a car. Click here for updated tickets and info.
Where to find the trailhead.
Once you enter the park, you’ll drive up about 15 minutes until you reach the Gold Creek parking lot. From here the trailhead is clearly marked, so you definitely won’t miss it.
Maybe my favorite easy hike near Vancouver, the path will take you through a mossy forest and lead you toward an emerald green waterfall. In the summer months this makes for such a good watering hole to cool off in.
Tip: About 1 km into the hike keep your eye out for some small pathways on your left which lead to the creek. Here you can walk along the pebble shoreline and even cross the creek at certain times of the year. This is also a great spot for your pup to go for a swim!
Stroll the Spirea Nature Trail.
It might be a short one, but this trail blew me away. Just picture a woodsy dreamland, and this is it. If you can get here by either sunrise or sunset, it will make it all the more magical. The way the rays filtered through the trees was unlike anything I had seen before – bonus points if it’s a foggy day.
Just under 1 km, this loop trail can take up a surprising amount of time just based on all the great photo ops. A must do if you visit the park.
5. Pump Peak | Mount Seymour
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7 km out and back
Elevation gain: 373 meters
Hiking time: 3.5 hours
Dog friendly: Yes, on leash
Getting there.
Driving
A 45 minute drive from downtown Vancouver. Winter tires are required to get up the mountain from October 1st to March 31st.
Seymour Shuttle Bus
The shuttle operates throughout the winter season only, and can be caught from either east or north Vancouver. For up-to-date tickets and info, click here.
Where to find the trailhead.
Head to the far end of the ski resort parking lot, and there you’ll find the trailhead on your right side. You’ll see the ski run, and the path is just to the left of it.
Full disclosure, this hike is a bit more challenging than the rest. It’s got a lot of steep parts to it and the elevation gain is pretty intense – BUT if you’re up for a bit of a workout, I promise the pay off is well worth it. The trail is also well maintained and heavily trafficked which makes it very doable as a beginner hike. In the winter season be sure to wear microspikes to help you along.
Catch the sunset at the peak.
We did this hike in the snowy shoulder season and decided to brave the cold to catch the sunset from the top. It was definitely well worth it to watch the sun go down over the city on one side, and disappear behind an endless sea of mountains on the other.
Keep in mind that you’ll be hiking back in the dark so definitely bring a headlamp along (as well as extra batteries!).
6. Cascade Falls
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.75km out and back
Elevation gain: 40 meters
Hiking time: 0.5 hours
Dog friendly: Yes, on leash
Getting there.
Driving
Located just north of Mission, Cascade falls is a 1.5 hour drive from downtown Vancouver. It’s also super close to Golden Ears Provincial Park, so I suggest making a pit stop here if you’re heading out that way.
How to find the falls.
So I threw this one in as a bit of a bonus, because it’s not that much of a hike. From the parking lot, you just need to walk up a pathway for a few minutes – and while it is rather steep, you’ll get to the falls in no time.
The trail begins on the far end of the parking lot on the right side. Very quickly you’ll reach a set of wooden stairs which will lead you up to the suspension bridge. Here you’ll get a spectacular view of the falls and a perfect spot for some photo ops.
And there you have it! My 5 favorite easy hikes near Vancouver with no shortage of stunning views. Let me know if you get out on any of these trails or if I’ve missed your favorites.
Safe travels!
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