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BC Hikes Do
you have a hiking story, a recommendation,
or photos you want to share? Let
us know and upon review and approval, a link will be added
to this page. The
"Grouse Grind" This is a Vancouver must do. It's the closest technical hike to downtown Vancouver and by far the busiest. Many hikers go on a regular basis just for a great workout. Don't let the 6 km's fool you. This is a tough hike that is basically straight up. It's advisable to just hike the 3 km's up and take the tram down. The views from the top of Grouse Mountain make it all worth while. This is also one of the few hikes where you can sit down and enjoy a restaurant cooked meal at the top. Make sure you have good hiking shoes for this hike. Too many people with flip-flops keep the ambulance busy.
Howe
Sound Crest Trail If you are going to hike this trail, be ready for a grueling trek and have all your snow and safety gear. There are areas with meters of snow on the crest which makes it very difficult to see markers and extremely dangerous. The trail head is at Cypress Mountain and ends at Porteau Cove. The views are spectacular.
The
Lions The
Lions is a famous land mark between the Howe Sound and Vancouver.
Its ears stand upright for all to see. The view down from the
Lions is spectacular. This hike is well worth it if you are
an intermediate - advanced hiker. The only downfall to the hike
is the long switchback down to the parking lot. The views, mixture
of hiking techniques required, and the beautiful surroundings
make it all worth while. Mount Unnecessary This trail is steep and difficult but has spectacular vegetation and ancient forest growth. The route is also a quick route up to fantastic views of the Lions, Howe Sound, and Cypress Provincial Park. The first summit is a rocky plateau with and a wonderful place to scream and hear your echo. The hike up to the summit is worth the extra half hour. Watch yourself on the way down as sections are quite slippery. If you don't have all day, there is a quick 4 hour loop that you can access via this trail. This trail starts about 20 minutes up the trail. Watch for the arrow.
Mount
Harvey Hiking up to the base of Mount Harvey isn't that strenuous at all. Once you start reaching for the summit on the North East side it can get a bit tricky. Don't be too confident as it is a long drop down if you slip. Make sure you have ample water before leaving the meadows at the base of Harvey. There is no water source on the way up or down. The views from Mount Harvey make this hike one to put down on your "I did it!" list.
Brunswick
Mountain If you have taken out insurance on your buttocks, don't hike up this one. The shale rock and the steep grade make coming down difficult and dangerous. It's quite easy to lose footing and slip. The sharp shale easily cuts through skin and clothing. The hike is great and Brunswick Mountain stretches above the surrounding mountains at an altitude of 1785 meters. The views more than make up for the difficulty. A platform on the summit makes a great resting stop. Just watch your step heading up to it. The ridge is quite narrow.
Goat
Mountain
Mount
Seymour
Black
Tusk This is a Beyond the Tour "Must Do". It's advised to spend the night up at Garibaldi Lake as the setting is magnificent. It is hard to find any campsite that matches the views of this one. The hike up to Garibaldi Lake is only about 3-4 hours of switch-backs. Once you reach the lake, the famous landmark, the Black Tusk, can be seen in the distance. The hike up to the Tusk is peaceful as you will pass through some beautiful meadows. The peace soon ends when you then have to climb on loose rocks to make it up. Only attempt to climb to the top of the tusk if you have the appropriate gear. The cliffs are steep and the ridges are made up of loose rock. You don't want to fall down one of these. The views are breath taking.
Crown
Mountain Hiking/climbing Crown Mountain is rewarding in itself. The trail is technical
in some areas and proper hiking attire is highly recommended.
Make sure you bring ample water as there are no visible streams
on route. Making the final stretch to the summit requires some
climbing skill. Don't slip - you may die. The drop-off from
the Crown is very steep and people have died climbing it. On
a positive note, the views are spectacular. Dog
Mountain Mount
Seymour Provincial Park offers many spectacular hikes; just
make sure you are prepared with proper attire for changing conditions.
This day was a cloudy one. The forest, pond, and that "rain
forest" smell more than made up for it. Dog Mountain has
an incredible view of the Greater Vancouver Area. This hike
is highly recommended for those people who don't want to spend
all day hiking. Deeks
Lake
Sendero
Diez Vistas
Dam
Mountain Loop
Elsay
Lake
Lighthouse
Park Lighthouse
Park quickly takes you into the Vancouver rainforest. It's only
about 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver and has easy trails
to accommodate almost anyone. The views range. On one side you
see the rocky coast line, Vancouver Island and Horseshoe Bay.
On the other, Downtown Vancouver and English Bay. It's a wonderful
place to take family on a simple, quick, and rewarding walk. Hanes Valley Give yourself a day to complete this hike and get an early start. There are many sections of the trail that offer fabulous perspectives and a place to rejuvenate yourself. A lumber company closed operations in 1927 but many of the historic artifacts still linger. Please let them be. Enjoy the stumps of the massive trees that once were. The first 10 km's are relatively flat but have rough sections starting at the 4 km mark. The suspension bridge at Norvan Creek is fun to cross. Once you hit the boulder field is when the pain really starts to set in. Be prepared for a steady 1 - 2 hours of a tough uphill battle. Once hitting Little Goat Mountain, the hike to the Grouse Mountain Skyride seems easy.
The Stawamus Chief The Chief is famous for climbers tackling the face of "The Chief". The good thing is you don't have to be a climber to enjoy the views on the top. There are a number of trails that lead to various viewpoints. Stawamus Squaw, North, South and Centre Summit hikes vary in distances. Each is worth while and offer enjoyable spots to sit, relax, and enjoy the beauty of the Squamish Valley and Howe Sound. This hike is very popular and rightly so. It's a great mix of hiking terrain. Make sure you take the time to enjoy neighboring Shannon Falls.
Elfin Lakes Beyond the Tour advises that you make this a weekend trip to enjoy the spectacular views, alpine meadows, lakes, and many day hikes that await you at Elfin Lakes. There is a warm cabin up at the lakes that offers sleeping quarters (room of bunk-beds), propane heating, and propane stoves. There is also a fresh water lake nearby - make sure you filter the water accordingly. The terrain on the route is not technical at all. In fact, many people mountain bike to the lakes. It is long so do prepare yourself. Petgill Lake Mount
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