Inside Vancouver

June’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Bowen Lookout

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on June 2, 2021

The view from Bowen Lookout at sunset. Photo: Taryn Eyton/ HappiestOutdoors.ca

This year Vancouver’s North Shore mountains have a heavy snowpack, which means we will have to wait a bit longer to hike some of the trails to the higher peaks. But why not warm-up for the summer hiking season with a hike to Bowen Lookout at Cypress Provincial Park? It’s a short hike to a beautiful viewpoint. In early June there will be just a few snow patches that should disappear by the end of the month.

Continue reading:
June’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Bowen Lookout

May’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Diez Vistas

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on May 3, 2021

Vew of Sasamat Lake and Burrard Inlet from the Diez Vistas Trail

View from the first viewpoint. Photo: Taryn Eyton/HappiestOutdoors.ca

May can be a tough month for hikers. It’s nice and warm in the city, but the mountains are still covered in snow. That’s where great mid-elevation hikes like Diez Vistas come in. This trail near Buntzen Lake lets you get up high enough to enjoy some views but is low enough that you don’t have to worry about snow.

Continue reading:
May’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Diez Vistas

April’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Cascade Falls

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on April 5, 2021

Cascade Falls and suspension bridge in Mission near Vancouver

Photo: Taryn Eyton/HappiestOutdoors.ca

The short and easy trail to Cascade Falls in Mission is a great hike for a spring day. The waters of Cascade Creek tumble 30 meters over a sheer cliff face into a turquoise pool. Driven by snowmelt, the falls are a spectacula torrent at this time of year. Walk across the large suspension bridge for close-up views.

Continue reading:
April’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Cascade Falls

March’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Cypress Falls

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on March 1, 2021

Photo: West Vancouver Parks and Recreation

West Vancouver’s Cypress Falls Park features a beautiful canyon and two spectacular waterfalls. Spring is the perfect time to hike here, as the melting snow turns the waterfalls into torrents. It’s a short and easy hike, perfect for hikers of all ages.

Continue reading:
March’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Cypress Falls

February’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Deas Island

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on February 1, 2021

Two people walk along the river in Deas Island Regional Park near Vancouver

Exploring the shoreline near the south end of Deas Island. Photo: Taryn Eyton

Did you know you can hike right over the George Massey Tunnel? The short and easy trail around Delta’s Deas Island Regional Park at the tunnel’s south end is a great hike for February. It’s right at sea-level, so it avoids the snow and is a great walk, even in wet weather. With fewer leaves on the trees, it’s also a wonderful place spot many types of birds, including eagles.

Continue reading:
February’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Deas Island

January’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Minnekhada Loop

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on January 4, 2021

Minnekhada Marsh. Photo: Chelaxy Designs/Unsplash

This easy loop in Coquitlam’s Minnekhada Regional Park is a great hike for January. It’s at a low elevation, so you’ll avoid snow, but it still climbs up to a great viewpoint. You’ll also walk along the edge of a marsh, which is a great place to watch for wildlife, especially birds.

Continue reading:
January’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Minnekhada Loop

December’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Velodrome Trail

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on December 7, 2020

The view of Vancouver from Burnaby Mountain.

The view of Vancouver from the top of the Velodrome Trail on Burnaby Mountain. Photo: Ann Badjura on the Inside Vancouver Flickr pool

When snow blankets Vancouver’s mountains, it can be tough to find a good workout hike. Enter the Velodrome Trail. This steep path is sometimes called Burnaby’s version of the Grouse Grind. It climbs steeply up the north side of Burnaby Mountain on a gravel trail and wooden stairs. At the top, you can enjoy views of downtown Vancouver from the Kamui Mintara (Playground of the Gods) sculpture.

Continue reading:
December’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Velodrome Trail