Inside Vancouver

November’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Whyte Lake

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on November 14, 2019

The dock at Whyte Lake in West Vancouver, an easy hike

Tiny Whyte Lake in West Vancouver makes a great easy hike for November. It’s at a low enough elevation to stay snow-free almost all year. And it has great forest cover so it’s a pleasant option for a rainy day hike. In the summer months, Whyte Lake is a popular swimming hole, but in the off-season, you may have it all to yourself. As a bonus, the canopy of douglas fir and cedar trees overhead and the carpet of ferns and moss on the forest floor are extra green this time of year.

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November’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Whyte Lake

October’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Brother’s Creek

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on October 10, 2019

Old growth cedar trees along the Brothers Creek trail in West Vancouver, BC

Old Growth cedars along the Brothers Creek Trail

The hike along Brother’s Creek in West Vancouver is a great one for October. It’s not high enough to get snowy or icy and the tree cover overhead keeps you a bit drier on rainy days. This loop route climbs steeply in places, so you need a moderate fitness level. While you won’t summit a mountain or reach an epic viewpoint, there are plenty of beautiful things to see including old-growth cedars, a waterfall, fern-lined canyons, a tiny but picturesque lake, and the ruins of an army truck.

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October’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Brother’s Creek

Heywood Park – An Urban Sanctuary

by Jane Weiss in Outside on January 30, 2018

Photo: Rob Weiss

Blink, and you might miss this little gem on the scenic North Shore. Located on the western boundary of the City of North Vancouver, Heywood Park is sixteen hectares of lush, green, rainforest awesome! Complete with a playground, washrooms, and sports fields Heywood Park is a perfect family destination. Of course, I am always on the quest for a new walking trail, and I must say the upper forested natural areas of the MacKay Creek ravine were a delight!

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Heywood Park – An Urban Sanctuary

Forest Bathing – Vancouver Style

by Jane Weiss in Uncategorized on July 4, 2017

Solitude on the Trail Photo: Rob Weiss

Recently, I read an interesting and compelling article on a new health trend called Forest Bathing. Being an outdoorsy type and nature lover, whenever I see or hear the word “forest” my curiosity peeks! Fascinated, I decided to learn more about the Japanese practice of Forest Therapy. Developed in the 1980’s, Forest Bathing or Shinrin-yoku is the medicine of simply being in the forest. Widely recognized as a pillar of preventative health care, folk around the world are seeking their nature fix.

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Forest Bathing – Vancouver Style

Be Prepared – Hiking the Baden-Powell Trail

by Jane Weiss in Uncategorized on April 18, 2017

Deep Cove Photo: Rob Weiss

Be Prepared. Long recognized as the mantra for the Boy Scouts, these two simple words have come to represent the legendary spirit of the scouting movement. Fortunately for Vancouverites, we have the opportunity to honour Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the Founder of Scouting, by tackling the wonderous Baden-Powell (BP) Trail located on Vancouver’s North Shore. Connecting Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove, winding over 40 km through fantastic, rugged coastal rain forest this scenic trail offers some of the best hiking in the region.

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Be Prepared – Hiking the Baden-Powell Trail