5 dog-friendly hikes in Metro Vancouver to try this summer

Prime hiking season is finally here.

So you gather your essentials. Hiking boots – check. Sunglasses – check. Sunscreen – check. Bear spray – double check.

Luckily for you, Vancouver has a wealth of options for trail running, light hiking, and casual walking, where you can see some of the most incredible vistas in BC.

So once the weekend arrives, all you have to do is choose your destination, jump in the car and go. But you don’t want to do it alone. You want to bring your furry friend along for the ride.

Many hiking trails in the city don’t advise that you bring your pooch with you, but there are a number of awesome hikes where you can.

And to celebrate the fact, we’ve compiled a list of five of five dog-friendly trails that you can try this summer.

Quarry Rock hike

Nestled in the stunning Deep Cove area of North Vancouver, this hike is marked as an easy trail so it’s perfect for taking your dog along with you. It’s laid out with plenty of wooden steps so it won’t be difficult for Rex to navigate. Bring some doggie biscuits for him and a packed lunch so you can both dine al fresco at the lookout, admiring the views as boats pass by in the cove.

Diez Vistas trail

If you’re feeling energetic and want to spend the day out hiking, then hit up the Diez Vistas trail close to Port Moody with your four-legged friend. You can get there in an hour driving from Vancouver. It covers roughly 15 kilometres, featuring several epic viewpoints along the way. It can take up to seven hours to complete so you should bring plenty of water with you to stay hydrated. And doggie treats, lots of doggie treats.

Alice Lake

Alice Lake provincial park in Squamish covers a whopping 411 hectares and offers a beautiful trail around the lake that both you and Rex can enjoy. Surrounded by mountains and dense forests, the park also features more adventurous trails like the Four Lakes trail and DeBeck’s Hill trail if you want something more challenging. From the top of DeBeck’s Hill you’ll see beautiful views of the Squamish River and the Tantalus mountain range.

Dog Mountain trail

Yep, this hiking trail is seriously called dog mountain so you really have to try it out even for that fact. It’s a short and easy trail which heads off from Mount Seymour and it’s the perfect place to take Rex on a clear summers day. It takes approximately five kilometres to complete in a round trip and it offers spectacular views of Vancouver. Oh, and it’s less than an hour drive from the city too, which is always a bonus.

Cascade Falls

If you feel like you want to get out of the city for the day, then it’s worth driving to Cascade Falls trail in northeastern Mission. Along this easy trail your furry friend will get to enjoy the cooling spray of the magnificent waterfall and you’ll cross a neat suspension bridge. It’s definitely a place where you’ll get plenty of Instagram photo opportunities and selfies with your best friend.