Hiking in British Columbia's Coast Mountains
Recommended Day Hikes Within an Hour from Downtown Vancouver, BC
Jun 16, 2009
With an estimated 3,500 kilometres (2,175 miles) of hiking trails in the greater Vancouver area, there are plenty of choices for the novice, intermediate and experienced hiker.
This plethora of options can make the task of deciding which trail to enjoy on a given day somewhat difficult. The following are some day hike recommendations all within an hour of downtown Vancouver.
This list starts with some easier trail suggestions and progresses to the more strenuous and challenging hikes.
Easy Day Hikes, The Seawall and the Lynn Valley Loop
For those looking to enjoy the natural beauty of Vancouver but not interested in a grueling workout, the walk around Stanley Park’s Seawall is the perfect choice. This popular paved path around the perimeter of Stanley Park offers some amazing panoramic views of the North Shore Mountains and English Bay.
It can take up to three hours to walk the full perimeter but parking is abundant throughout the park, making all the points of interest readily available. Best of all, the park entrance is only minutes from the downtown core.
The Lynn Valley Loop is another good choice for a low impact day hike. This trail is more of a traditional hike than a walk. Located in the Lynn Headwaters Regional Park in North Vancouver, the trailhead is only a thirty-minute drive from downtown and is easily accessible by transit.
This gentle loop trail runs alongside Lynn Creek and ascends into the adjacent mountainside of second-growth coastal rainforest before returning to the trailhead. On average, it takes about two hours to complete and is great for families or for those fans of trail running.
Intermediate Day Hike, First Pump Peak of Mount Seymour
Of the three local Vancouver ski hills, Mount Seymour offers the best late summer and early autumn day hiking opportunities. The three peaks of Mt. Seymour are known as "Pumps" and are accessible via the main Mount Seymour Trail. The First Pump Peak can be reached in about an hour and half and is a 7 kilometre (4.35 miles) return trip.
With less than 200 metres (656 feet) of elevation gain, this trail is not physically demanding. Instead, it places the hiker in a panoramic sub-alpine environment with relatively little effort in comparison to the much harder trek up to the Stawamus Chief's panoramic summit.
The Mount Seymour Trail is recommended for intermediate hikers because the trail is not as well marked as the Lynn Valley Loop and is susceptible to sudden weather changes. Be prepared when hiking this mountain, even in the summer season.
Difficult Day Hikes, Stawamus Chief and the Grouse Grind
For those hikers looking for a challenge and a workout, there are two popular choices: the Grouse Grind and the Stawamus Chief. The Grouse Grind is located on Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver whereas "The Chief” is an hour north of Vancouver, just outside the city of Squamish.
Both trails will get the heart pumping by offering plenty of elevation gain over relatively short distances. The Grouse Grind tends to be the busier of the two due to its closer proximity to downtown Vancouver. The Grind also attracts hikers for summit amenities, including restaurants, a bar and the option of a gondola ride down the mountain.
The Chief offers none of these flashy facilities but instead provides a visually stunning hike from trailhead to summit, something the Grouse Grind cannot attest to. The Chief is also a little less busy than the Grind on most days.
This list is by no means exhaustive but rather a sampling of some of the more accessible and enjoyable day hikes in the Vancouver Coast Mountain region.
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