56 New Year hikes near Vancouver you can do right now
The New Year is here, and with it come a thousand resolutions, which will inevitably fall by the wayside. But here’s one you can keep right away – go hiking.
Metro Vancouver and beyond has so many trails recommended all year round, you can easily venture out to visit our coast, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls right now.
To help you keep your hiking resolution this New Year, we’ve put together this handy list of hikes recommended all year round near Vancouver.
It will be cold out there, so make sure you read up on the dangers of hiking and what to pack before you head out. Also read our guide to winter hiking in Vancouver.
For your own safety, please make sure you are prepared before heading out on your next adventure. Information on how to prepare for your trip and stay safe while on your hike is available from North Shore Rescue and AdventureSmart.
Easier
Foreshore Trail
What: This easy trail through Pacific Spirit Regional Park passes through Vancouver’s famously nudist Wreck Beach. Along the way, you’ll enjoy scenic views and see an old WWII tower designed to warn Vancouver of impending attack. Note that more than half of the trail follows the beach, which is rocky, slippery, and can be challenging during high tides.
How long: 3 hours or 5 km
Where: Starts and ends at the Acadia Beach parking lot on NW Marine Drive, just past Pacific Spirit Regional Park at UBC, Vancouver
Get there: A 20-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take bus 44.
Recommended: All year round
Stanley Park
Stanley Park in the mist (Zhenwang Wang/Shutterstock)
What: The quintessential easy Vancouver hike through a beautiful urban park. Stanley Park is full of many networks of trails for both cycling and hiking. Venture into the forest to find Beaver Lake, and watch out for over-friendly raccoons!
How long: 2 hours or 6.5 km
Where: Starts near the Rose Garden and loops back around in Stanley Park, Vancouver
Get there: A 10-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take bus 19.
Recommended: All year round
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
What: Pacific Spirit Regional Park offers a huge network of easy trails in an oasis of green forest, trickling creeks and muddy bogs in Vancouver’s South Endowment Lands. Watch out for dog walkers on the trails as you flex your legs in the forest.
How long: 3 hours or 10 km
Where: Starts and ends at the park entrance on 16th Avenue next to Camosun Park, Vancouver
Get there: A 10-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to King Edward, then bus 33.
Recommended: All year round
Iona Beach Regional Park
What: This easy hike follows a long, narrow beach and grass area along the mouth of the Fraser River, offering views of the Georgia Strait and a dramatic descent into hundreds of logs washed up along the shoreline.
How long: 1.5 hours or 6 km
Where: Starts and ends at the parking lot off Iona Island Causeway, Vancouver
Get there: A 35-minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Fisherman’s Trail
What: This easy but long walk follows Seymour River through verdant forest, culminating in views of the river and mountains–and plenty of picnic tables for you to stop for lunch.
How long: 5 hours or 12 km
Where: Starts and ends in the parking lot at the end of Lilloet Road in North Vancouver
Get there: A 40-minute drive from downtown, or take the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay then bus 228.
Recommended: All year round
Lighthouse Park
Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver (JamesChen/Shutterstock)
What: Lots of short, easy trails offering breathtaking ocean views, huge, old-growth Western Red Cedars and the picturesque picnic spot of Starboat Cove.
How long: Up to 2 hours or 6 km
Where: Starts and ends at Lighthouse Park parking lot – Beacon Lane, West Vancouver.
Get there: A 40-minute drive from downtown, or take bus 250 all the way there instead.
Recommended: All year round
Quarry Rock
What: A classic easy North Shore hike, up wooden stairs, over tree roots and small creeks, among Douglas Fir and Hemlock trees, to a rocky outcrop and beautiful views of Deep Cove.
How long: 1.5 hours or 3.8 km
Where: Starts and ends at the Baden Powell Trailhead – Panorama Drive, Deep Cove.
Get there: A 30-minute drive from downtown, or take the Seabus plus buses 239 then 212 instead.
Recommended: All year round
Capilano Pacific Trail
What: This easy upward trail follows the Capilano River, taking you from pavement, rocky shores and beaches past steep cliffs and through thick rainforest to the imposing Cleveland Dam.
How long: 2 hours or 7.5 km one way
Where: Starts at Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver, ends at the Cleveland Dam in North Vancouver.
Get there: A 15-minute drive from downtown, or take bus 250 or 251 to a stop nearby instead.
Recommended: All year round
Lynn Loop
What: Enjoy an easy forest hike among Cedar and Hemlock trees, with views of Vancouver Island and some of the Gulf Islands, then stroll back along the gushing waters of Lynn Creek.
How long: 1.5 hours or 5.1 km
Where: Starts and ends in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park – Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver.
Get there: A 40-minute drive from downtown, or take the Seabus then 228 bus instead.
Recommended: All year round
Cypress Falls
What: This easy hike takes you along Cypress Creek, through forests of moss-covered, old-growth trees, past views of two gorgeous waterfalls as they pour into the canyon below.
How long: 1.5 hours or 3 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at Cypress Falls Park – Woodgreen Place, West Vancouver.
Get there: A 30-minute drive from downtown, or take bus 253 Caufield all the way there instead.
Recommended: All year round
Maplewood Flats
Purple Martins at the Maplewood Flats (John Lowman/Wild Bird trust of BC)
What: The easy trail through Maplewood Flats Conservation Area offers picnic tables, scenic views, and rocky terrain. Managed by the Wild Bird Trust of BC, it is also a popular bird watching park – look out for the more than 200 species of birds spotted in the area annually.
How long: 45 minutes or 2.5 km
Where: Starts and ends in the Maplewood Flats parking lot off the Dollarton Highway in North Vancouver.
Get there: A 20-minute drive from downtown Vancouver or take buses 209 then 212.
Recommended: All year round
Whyte Lake
What: Whyte Lake Park is a small, peaceful lake in the hills above Horseshoe Bay, in the largest park in West Vancouver. The easy trail to the lake is surrounded by wetlands, creeks and old-growth forest and ends at a small lakeside dock. Watch out for snow on the boardwalks.
How long: 2 hours or 5 km
Where: Starts and ends at the metal gate in the gravel parking area just off Westport Road, off Woodgreen Drive, in West Vancouver.
Get there: A 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Twin Falls
What: Twin Falls are on the Baden Powell Trail, near Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge. They’re easy to get to and there’s a wooden bridge viewing platform, which gets pretty busy in warm weather.
How long: 20 minutes or 1 km
Where: East of the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park.
Get there: A 40-minute drive from downtown to Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, or take the Seabus plus bus 228 instead.
Recommended: All year round
Whytecliff Park
Image: Whytecliff Park / Shutterstock
What: This park in West Vancouver boasts spectacular views of Howe Sound, a myriad of easy trails weaving through the forest, plus a beach, island area and chance to go scuba diving.
How long: 1.5 hours or 2 km
Where: Starts and ends at the top of the overflow parking lot off Marine Drive near Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver
Get there: A 45-minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Capilano Canyon
What: This easy trail offers beautiful views of Grouse Mountain and the Lions in the distance, as you walk through hemlock and fir trees, and clamber over tree roots surrounded by rainforest. You can also stop at an interpretive salmon hatchery on the way. Note this is a free trail in Capilano River Regional Park, separate from the famed Capilano Suspension Bridge.
How long: 1 hour or 2.6 km
Where: Starts and ends at Cleveland Dam off Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Get there: A 30-minute drive from downtown, or take the Seabus across to North Vancouver then bus 236.
Recommended: All year round
Rice Lake
What: This is a calm, quiet lake, full of life and natural beauty, on the edge of the Lynn Headwaters Regional Park in North Vancouver. There are several viewpoints and easy trails around the lake with benches to relax and take in the natural beauty of the area.
How long: 1 hour or 3 km
Where: Starts and ends at the parking lot north of Capilano College, on Lillooet Road in North Vancouver
Get there: About 40 minutes’ drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the Seabus across to North Vancouver then bus 228
Recommended: All year round
Killarney Lake
What: This is a scenic, easy hiking trail around Killarney Lake on Bowen Island. Along the way, you’ll meander through lush forest of hemlock, and past a marsh of eerie looking stumps of cedars, as well as enjoy lakeside views of the wintry waters.
How long: 2 hours or 9 km
Where: Starts and ends at the ferry terminal at Snug Cove, Bowen Island
Get there: A 45-minute drive from downtown Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay, then a 20-minute ferry to Snug Cove on Bowen Island.
Recommended: All year round
Dorman Point
What: A pretty, steep, but quick and easy hike on Bowen Island, offering beautiful views looking out over Howe Sound. This can easily be combined with the hike around Killarney Lake.
How long: 1 hour or 2.5 km
Where: Starts and ends at the ferry terminal at Snug Cove, Bowen Island
Get there: A 45-minute drive from downtown Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay, then a 20-minute ferry to Snug Cove on Bowen Island.
Recommended: All year round
Shoreline Trail–Port Moody
What: This easy hike takes you around the easternmost part of Burrard Inlet, along gravel trails and wooden boardwalks, through grassy parks and forest groves to Old Orchard Park where you’ll find picnic tables, a playground, and a small beach area.
How long: 2 hours or 6 km
Where: Starts and ends at Rocky Point Park, off Murray Street, Port Moody
Get there: A 40-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Port Moody then bus 181.
Recommended: All year round
Bert Flinn Park–Port Moody
What: This easy hike through gorgeous forest passes meanders past streams and over boardwalks in the north of the park.
How long: 1 hour or 2.6 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at the wide gravel trail to the west of the roundabout at David Avenue and Heritage Mountain, in Port Moody.
Get there: A 40-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Moody Centre, then bus 183.
Recommended: All year round.
Sasamat Lake–Belcarra
What: Sasamat Lake is warm to swim in, lined with a scenic forest and easy trails, and is home to White Pine Beach, a beautiful white sand beach. Bliss. The beach is a very popular weekend destination for Vancouverites, and the trail around the lake is a great escape.
How long: 3 hours or 8 km
Where: Lake and trails accessed from parking lot near White Pine Beach, off White Pine Beach Road, in Belcarra Park, Port Moody
Get there: A one-hour drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Coquitlam Station, then various buses during the summer months.
Recommended: All year round
Admiralty Point–Belcarra
What: This short, easy hike in Belcarra Regional Park offers gorgeous views of Mount Seymour, Deep Cove, and Burnaby Mountain over the waters that link Indian Arm and Burrard Inlet. The trail meanders through the forest and along the shoreline to a rocky outcrop and beach.
How long: 1.5 hours or 5 km
Where: Trail begins and ends in the parking lot of Belcarra Regional Park, off Bedwell Bay Road in Belcarra.
Get there: One hour’s drive from Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Port Moody, then bus 182.
Recommended: All year round
Burnaby Lake Regional Park
What: Burnaby Lake is the largest lake in Metro Vancouver and boasts a 10-kilometre, easy hiking path that loops around the entire park. Look out for ducks, geese, and beavers, as you stroll over boardwalks and bridges, alongside the lake and over creeks.
How long: 2 hours or 10 km
Where: The trail starts along the edge of the sports fields beyond the Rugby Club, off Kensington Avenue in Burnaby.
Get there: A 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Sperling-Burnaby Lake Station.
Recommended: All year round
Burnaby Mountain
What: With multiple trails of various difficulties, also popular with mountain bikers, there’s no shortage of hiking potential on Burnaby Mountain. Watch out for the aptly named steep Cardiac Hill, but enjoy the green forest and city views.
How long: Up to 3 hours or 7 km
Where: Starts and ends at the eastern edge of Pipeline Trail off North Road in Burnaby.
Get there: Either a 35-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Burquitlam Station.
Recommended: All year round
Deer Lake
What: This flat, easy walk around Deer Lake passes by a beach, a viewing tower, and a pier. Look out for the former site of the infamous Oakalla Prison, and stop in at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and Burnaby Art Museum along the way.
How long: An hour or 5 km
Where: Trail starts and ends on the east side of the lake along Sperling Avenue, Burnaby
Get there: A 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Metrotown and get bus 144.
Recommended: All year round
Minnekhada Regional Park
What: This easy walk around a nature sanctuary offers the chance to see wood ducks and beavers in protected marshland in Coquitlam, as well as views of the Lower Marsh and Pitt River flowing through farmland below, and on a clear day, Mount Baker.
How long: 2.5 hours or 10 km
Where: Trail begins and ends at the parking lot Minnekhada Regional Park, off Quarry Road in Coquitlam.
Get there: A 1-hour drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Crystal Falls
What: Scenic Crystal Falls in Coquitlam are easily accessible on a short trail, running along the Upper Coquitlam River. Wander through a moss-covered forest, hop over tiny streams playing along the path, and pack a picnic for when you reach the falls.
How long: 2 hours or 7 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at an unmarked trailhead on Karley Crescent, where it meets Shaughnessy Street, in Coquitlam.
Get there: A 45-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Lafarge-Lake Douglas, then bus 188.
Recommended: All year round
Sawblade Falls
What: You can reach Sawblade Falls, in the mountains above Coquitlam, on the easy Woodland Walk Trail. Through forest and over creeks, the trail takes you first to Woodland Falls and then after several switchbacks to the much more spectacular Sawblade Falls.
How long: 3 hours or 8 km
Where: Trail starts and ends to the left of the metal gate at the end of Harper Road, just before the PoCo & District Hunting & Fishing Club, in Coquitlam.
Get there: A 45-minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Kanaka Creek Cliff Falls
What: The Cliff Falls area of Kanaka Creek in Maple Ridge is a great spot for an easy hike through the forest, past calm creeks and rushing rapids. Enjoy a picnic with a view of the waterfall then finish up with a visit to the local salmon hatchery.
How long: 2 hours or 4 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at Cliff Park – 251 Street, Maple Ridge.
Get there: A one-hour drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Braid Station, then buses 791 and C48.
Recommended: All year round
Kanaka Creek Riverfront
What: The lower section of Kanaka Creek is also an easy hike, taking in the shoreline, bird watching, and views of the Fraser River.
How long: 1 hour or 2.5 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at a parking lot off River Road, Maple Ridge
Get there: A one-hour drive from downtown Vancouver
Recommended: All year round
Mike Lake
What: This short, scenic trail in Golden Ears Provincial Park is a meander over tree roots, through calm forest and past lake views. Don’t forget to head out onto the dock for a full view of Mike Lake before you leave.
How long: 45 minutes or 2 km
Where: About 4.5 km from the gates of Golden Ears Provincial Park on Fern Avenue in Maple Ridge
Get there: One hour and 30 minutes’ drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Gold Creek Falls
What: The easy walk to Gold Creek Falls in Golden Ears Provincial Park is short but sweet. Starting near Alouette Lake in Maple Ridge, the trail meanders over moss, past mountain vistas and through rainforest to reach fantastic views of the falls from above and below.
How long: 2 hours or 5.5 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at the last parking lot on Golden Ears Parkway near Alouette Lake in Maple Ridge.
Get there: One hour and 30 minutes’ drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Green Timbers Lake
What: This lake in the heart of the Green Timbers Urban Forest is great for spotting bald eagles, ducks, salamanders, woodpeckers and native Douglas squirrels. You can also enjoy more than 10 km of easy trails in the surrounding area.
How long: Varies according to trails taken.
Where: Green Timbers Urban Forest – 14600 Block of 100 Avenue, Surrey
Get there: About 45 minutes’ drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to King George Station.
Recommended: All year round
Aldergrove Regional Park
What: This park on the boundary between Aldergrove and Langley is popular with horseback riders. The easy trails within takes you through forest, along waterways, atop wooden bridges and over creeks. The view from the area’s rolling hills is worth checking out.
How long: 2 hours or 5 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at the east end of the parking lot off 8th Avenue in Aldergrove.
Get there: A one hour 30 minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Campbell Valley Regional Park
What: This park has a sprawling network of easy trails covering 29km, through forest and open fields, and over wooden boardwalks and marshes. Look out for the Equestrian Centre and the historic Langley Speedway, where you can still see the damage from past crashes.
How long: 1.5 hours or 4 km for a short hike – or pick a longer one!
Where: Trail starts and ends at the south end of the parking lot off 16th Avenue in Surrey.
Get there: An hour’s drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Tynehead Regional Park
What: This popular park has plenty of easy trails, offering dog off-leash areas, a hatchery, a picnic area, views of the park and the Serpentine River – all while enjoying a stroll through the forest and crossing several streams.
How long: 1.5 hours or 4.5 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at the parking lot for the Tynehead Hatchery off 96th Avenue in Surrey.
Get there: A 45-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Surrey Central Station, then bus 337.
Recommended: All year round
Rolley Lake–Maple Ridge
What: Rolley Lake is an easy hike through a flat, wilderness area blanketed with tall, second-growth Cedar and Hemlock trees. The trail meanders around the small, warm-water lake, through forests, over boardwalks, and past Rolley Falls.
How long: 2 hours or 5 km
Where: Trail starts and ends in the lowermost parking lot of Rolley Lake Provincial Park off Bell Street in Maple Ridge
Get there: A one hour 30 minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Hayward Lake–Mission
What: There are two easy trails around Hayward Lake–Railway Trail or Reservoir Trail. At the moment, there is work being done on the Ruskin Dam area which links them, so it’s not possible to do a loop, but there’s lush forest, a beautiful lake, and even a waterfall to enjoy.
How long: The Railway Trail is 3.5 hours or 12 km, the Reservoir Trail is 5.5 hours or 17 km.
Where: Both trails start and end at Hayward Lake Recreation Area parking lot, off Dewdney Trunk Road in Mission.
Get there: A one hour 20 minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Teapot Hill–Chilliwack
What: This easy, short, uphill hike offers a stroll along a stream and through a verdant forest up to some lovely views of the lake.
How long: 2 hours or 5 km
Where: Trail starts in a parking lot just past Delta Grove Campground on the Columbia Valley Highway (also called the Cultus Lake Road) in Chilliwack
Get there: A 1 hour 40 minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round.
Cheam Lake Wetlands–Chilliwack
What: This easy hike meanders around this popular park, where you can enjoy picnics and lake views, with a backdrop of Mount Cheam.
How long: 2 hours or 5 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at Cheam Lake Wetlands parking lot, off Elgey Road in Chilliwack.
Get there: A 1 hour 30 minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round.
Downes Bowl Trail–Abbotsford
What: This easy walk around quiet Downes Bowl takes in scenic forest and peaceful marshes, as you meander over wooden bridges and boardwalks.
How long: 1 hours or 3 km
Where: Starts and ends at the parking lot next to the sports fields off Clearbrook Road in Abbotsford.
Get there: A one hour drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Lions Bay Loop–Lions Bay
What: This easy hike follows several trails, taking you over splashing creeks, through beautiful forest, past Crystal Falls, and offers multiple views of Howe Sound.
How long: 2 hours or 4.5 km
Where: The trail starts and ends across the street from the Lions Bay General Store and Cafe on Centre Road in Lions Bay.
Get there: A 40 minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take bus 250 or 257 to Horsehoe Bay, then bus C12 to Crosscreek Road.
Recommended: All year round
Brandywine Falls
What: Brandywine Falls are another great spot to stretch your legs on the drive to Whistler. With only a short, easy walk, you’ll get a glorious view of the cascades falling into a cavern full of rockslides below. Further along, you can also see Daisy Lake.
How long: 30 minutes or 1 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at the Brandywine Falls parking lot off the Sea To Sky Highway, about 11 km south of Whistler.
Get there: One hour and 40 minutes’ drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Harder
Baden Powell Lynn Canyon To Grouse
What: This intermediate route hugs the North Shore’s steep mountain slopes, taking you through scenic forests and over several creeks – with quite a lot of stairs and uphill sections. Recommended all year round.
How long: 5 hours or 10 km
Where: Starts at a steep set of stairs between the main and overflow parking area in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park and ends at the base of Grouse Mountain.
Get there: A 40-minute drive from downtown to Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, or take the Seabus plus bus 228 instead. Get home from Grouse on bus 236 plus the Seabus.
Recommended: All year round
Baden Powell Deep Cove To Lynn Canyon
What: This intermediate hike begins with a walk up to Quarry Rock, offering sweeping views of Deep Cove and Indian Arm, then continues onto lush forest, scenic canyons and waterfall views.
How long: 5 hours or 12 km
Where: Starts at the Baden Powell Trailhead on Panorama Drive in Deep Cove and ends at Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge.
Get there: A 30-minute drive from downtown, or take the Seabus plus buses 229 then 212 instead. From Lynn Canyon, take bus 229 then the Seabus.
Recommended: All year round
Norvan Falls
What: This intermediate hike will have you clambering over streams, tree roots and rubble as you make your way through groves of old-growth Cedar – but it’s all worth it when you get to the falls.
How long: 5 hours or 14 km
Where: Starts and ends at the parking lot of Lynn Headwaters Regional Park.
Get there: A 40-minute drive from downtown, or take the Seabus plus bus 228 instead.
Recommended: All year round
Big Cedar And Kennedy Falls Trail
What: A rugged, intermediate hike into the backcountry, across roots, creeks and fallen trees, past an old-growth cedar, with several trees growing on it, and ending at a spectacular waterfall.
How long: 5 hours or 10 km
Where: Starts and ends at the top of Mountain Highway.
Get there: A 30-minute drive from downtown, or take bus 210 instead.
Recommended: All year round
Mount Gardner
What: This intermediate hike on Bowen Island takes you through a meadow to Killarney Lake and up a steep forested trail to spectacular viewpoints overlooking the Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast, West Vancouver, and Burrard Inlet.
How long: 7 hours or 17 km
Where: Starts and ends at the ferry terminal at Snug Cove, Bowen Island
Get there: A 45-minute drive from downtown Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay, then a 20-minute ferry to Snug Cove on Bowen Island.
Recommended: All year round
Jug Island Beach–Belcarra
What: This intermediate hike takes you through a moss-covered forest to a beach facing Jug Island, a tiny, gorgeous and inaccessible island just off the northern tip of Belcarra Regional Park. You’ll also be able to enjoy good views of Indian Arm and eagle and seal sightings.
How long: 2.5 hours or 5.5 km
Where: Starts and ends at the parking lot of Belcarra Regional Park – off Bedwell Bay Road, near Belcarra
Get there: A 1-hour drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Port Moody, then bus 182.
Recommended: All year round
Swan Falls–Anmore
What: Swan Falls, near Buntzen Lake in Anmore, are reached by a steep, intermediate hike around the lake. Not only will you get a gorgeous view of the waterfall from below, you’ll also be able to reach the bluffs near the top of the falls too.
How long: 3.5 hours or 10 km
Where: Trail starts and ends at the dog off-leash area in the Buntzen Lake Recreation Area parking lot, off Sunnyside Road in Anmore, north of Port Moody.
Get there: A one-hour drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Port Moody, then bus 182.
Recommended: All year round
Velodrome Trail
What: This steep, intermediate trail is sometimes referred to as Burnaby’s [Grouse] Grind and requires hikers to walk up more than 500 wooden stairs. As a result, it gets an “intermediate” rating.
How long: An hour or 3 km
Where: Starts at the northeast corner of the Velodrome near the Barnet Road and finishes at the Japanese totem poles near Horizon Restaurant in Burnaby
Get there: A 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take bus 160 direct to the Velodrome.
Recommended: All year round
Coquitlam Crunch
What: This intermediate, steep, urban hike offers no views that aren’t obstructed by power lines and towers. But it’s a great workout and shorter and less intense than the Grouse Grind.
How long: 1.5 hours or 4.5 km
Where: Trail begins and ends at a parking lot down a gravel road off Lansdowne Drive, Coquitlam
Get there: A 40-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, or take the SkyTrain to Lougheed Station, then bus 097.
Recommended: All year round
Widgeon Falls
What: A trip to Widgeon Falls, north of Pitt Meadows, allows you to combine a canoe ride, a scenic, easy hike and some wading all in one day. Keep an eye out for herons, deer, and bears as you make your way from shoreline to waterfall through thick forest.
How long: 5 hours or 6 km
Where: Paddle starts and ends at Pitt Lake, at the end of Neaves Road, north of Pitt Meadows. If you need a canoe, try Pitt Lake Canoe Adventure Rentals on 778-984-5334 or 604-460-8837.
Get there: One hour and 15 minutes’ drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Mount Thom–Chilliwack
What: This intermediate, steep hike up Mount Thom in Chilliwack offers a scenic view of Cultus Lake and the Fraser Valley. Expect a climb steadily upwards, on both switchbacks and long stretches of trail wrapping around the mountain.
How long: 2.5 hours or 10 km
Where: Starts and ends at Sylvan Drive – Promontory neighbourhood, Chilliwack
Get there: A 1 hour 30 minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
Abby Grind–Abbotsford
What: This intermediate, steep hike gains about 320 metres in 2 km as you head up towards a scenic view across Abbotsford. Note, you may hear gunshots at the beginning coming from the nearby shooting range.
How long: 1.5 hours or 4 km
Where: Starts and ends at a parking lot off McDermott Road, near the Abbotsford Fish & Game Club.
Get there: A 1 hour 15 minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Recommended: All year round
For your own safety, please make sure you are prepared before heading out on your next adventure. Information on how to prepare for your trip and stay safe while on your hike is available from North Shore Rescue and AdventureSmart.
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