Hikes ride Parkbus in Vancouver. Photo via Parkbus
Good news – you don’t need a car to hike some of Vancouver’s most epic trails. Catch a ride to the trailheads in Garibaldi, Joffre Lakes, and Golden Ears Provincial Parks with Parkbus – no day pass required!
Parkbus started as a grass-roots not-for-profit in Toronto, connecting city dwellers with accessible transportation to parks. They expanded to Vancouver in 2017. The bus is staffed by volunteers who help provide important safety information and help the trip run smoothly.
The service departs downtown Vancouver near Burrard Skytrain Station and takes hikers directly to popular trailheads on weekends and holidays between May and October. If you book with Parkbus, your BC Parks day pass is included. Prices vary by destination and there are discounts for students, seniors, and children.
Garibaldi Provincial Park
Parkbus takes passengers directly to the Rubble Creek parking lot in Garibaldi Provincial Park. From there, hikers can tackle the challenging 18 km round trip hike to Garibaldi Lake, which includes 820 m of elevation gain and takes six to seven hours. You can also vary your route by hiking through Taylor Meadows to see wildflowers blooming in late July and August.
A hiker at Garibaldi Lake. Photo via Parkbus.
Golden Ears Provincial Park
When Parkbus drops you off at the Gold Creek trailhead in Golden Ears Provincial Park you have a few options for hikes. Lower Falls on Gold Creek is an easy 5.5 km return trip with spectacular views. Allow about 2 hours. Or follow the short North Beach Trail to a beach on the shores of Alouette Lake. The 2.6 km round trip hike takes less than an hour. If you’re up for a longer hike, try the Gold Creek Canyon Loop, a 12-kilometre-long loop hike that takes about four hours. You can also use the park map to explore lots of other trails.
Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park. Photo via Parkbus
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
The trail in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is one of the most picturesque hikes near Vancouver. Book a spot on Parkbus for the three-hour ride to the park. It stops in Whistler for a quick bathroom and snack break. The three Joffre lakes (Lower, Middle, and Upper) have incredible turquoise blue water and incredible views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Lower Joffre Lake is a short and flat five-minute walk from the trailhead. It’s a 10 km round trip hike to Upper Joffre Lake with 370 meters of elevation gain and takes about four hours. Don’t miss the short side trip to the waterfall between the Middle Joffre Lake and Upper Joffre Lake.
Middle Joffre Lake. Photo via Parkbus
More Car-Free Hikes
Looking for more hikes you can get to without a car? Check out our list of Vancouver hikes you can get to on public transit.
