5 Great Hikes

The minute you get a peek at the sparkling waterways, lush rainforests and dramatic mountains surrounding Vancouver -- visible from even downtown -- you’re going to be itching to get out there and explore this jaw-dropping natural beauty. Hiking is one of the easiest ways to do so, and within a short distance of downtown are plenty of options. Check out these five to get you started.

Lighthouse Park

Just a few minutes from downtown, Lighthouse Park offers numerous easy hikes through some of the oldest-growth Douglas Firs in the region. Many of the trails pass by the waterfront, and elevation gain is minimum. Take the 15-minute walk to Starboat Cove, which is a great picnic spot with a view that extends from the Lions Gate Bridge to the University of British Columbia all the way to Vancouver Island.

Stanley Park

The seawall, deservedly, draws thousands of tourists on a daily basis, but there are numerous, quiet nature hikes through the central parts of the park. Work up a sweat with a six-kilometre (3.7-mile) loop through the woods. The walking path passes the park’s gardens and Beaver Lake, and it hits the water near Third Beach.

Capilano Canyon

A quieter alternative to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, the canyon features a 2.6-kilometre (1.6-mile) trail that winds through the canyon, passing streams and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. It only gains about 100 metres (329 feet) in elevation, so this trail is open to hikers of most fitness levels. It starts and ends at Cleveland Dam, which provides great scenery on both ends of the hike.

Grouse Grind

Many visitors take a gondola to the top of the Grouse Mountain Resort. We say that’s the easy way up. There’s a badge of courage that comes with the Grouse Grind hike, meaning you used your now steel-lined thighs to climb the 853 metres (2,799 feet) to the top. This 2.9-kilometre (1.8-mile) trail, with an average grade of about 30 degrees, feels more like steep staircase than a hike, but the views from the top that scan the Vancouver skyline are worth the pain. See if you can beat the course record of 25:24.

Stawamus Chief

An hour outside of Vancouver is one of the region’s classic hikes. This 11-kilometre (6.8-mile) hike covers 600 meters in elevation gain and offers expansive views of the mountains and water. The payoff for this rugged hike is the top, an opening on smooth rocks that begs for a picnic or a quick nap in the sun.

 

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