October’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Norvan Falls

Norvan Falls in North Vancouver

Norvan Falls in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park in North Vancouver. Photo credit: Taryn Eyton, happiestoutdoors.ca

The hike to Norvan Falls in North Vancouver is a great choice for October. The entire trail is in the Lynn Creek Valley, making it an ideal trip for cloudy days. Your objective is 30-metre-tall Norvan Falls, which is often gushing at this time of year thanks to fall rains. While this hike is not short, it’s fairly flat so it is only moderately difficult.

Continue reading:
October’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Norvan Falls

February’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Jug Island Beach

Jug Island in Belcarra Park near Vancouver

The view of Jug Island from Jug Island Beach. Photo: HappiestOutdoors.ca

This short and easy hike in the Belcarra neighbourhood follows a peninsula before emerging at a remote beach. The trail stays in the beautiful and mossy temperate rainforest the entire way, making it a great destination for a rainy or cloudy February day. A viewpoint in the middle and the beach at the end give you a close-up look at the coastline, a rarity on Vancouver’s mountain-dominated hikes.

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

January’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Lighthouse Park

Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver

A view of the lighthouse from West Beach. Photo credit: Djordje Cicovic on the Inside Vancouver Flickr pool

Does your New Year’s resolution involve more outdoor time? Kick-off 2020 with a hike. The low elevation trail network at West Vancouver’s Lighthouse Park is usually snow-free all year so it’s a great hiking destination for January. Plus the views of the ocean and downtown Vancouver are incredible.

Continue reading:
January’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Lighthouse Park

November’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Whyte Lake

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.

Continue reading:
November’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Whyte Lake

5 Vancouver Hikes for Rainy Days

Misty forest in British Columbia

Photo: Destination BC/Boomer Jerritt

Vancouverites know a thing or two about rain. And one of our little rain secrets is that hiking in it is actually pretty fun. Zip yourself into a rain jacket, then head out into the forest. It’s extra green when it rains, the waterfalls really get going, and the fog makes for some great moody photo moments. Here are our top picks for rainy day hikes in Vancouver. 

Continue reading:
5 Vancouver Hikes for Rainy Days

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

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.

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

Best Vancouver Area Hikes for Kids

Children hiking in the forest near Vancouver, BC

Photo credit: Tourism Vancouver / Hubert Kang

Vancouver has so many hiking options. Introduce your little ones to the outdoors early with one of these easy hikes. They’re short, flat(ish) and have lots of things to keep young hikers occupied along the way.

Continue reading:
Best Vancouver Area Hikes for Kids