Snowshoe and Winter Hiking Safety Tips

It is important to remember when you go snowshoeing or hiking near Vancouver, even if you start at a popular ski resort or on a busy trail, you are heading into the wilderness. Here are some tips for staying safe outdoors in Vancouver this winter. Continue reading:
Snowshoe and Winter Hiking Safety Tips

November’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Gold Creek Canyon Loop

View of Gold Creek from the bridge in Golden Ears Provincial Park

Gold Creek from the bridge. Photo: Taryn Eyton, HappiestOutdoors.ca

With snow blanketing the mountain tops, November is a great time for low-elevation valley bottom hikes. This loop route in Golden Ears Provincial Park is a great hike for a wet or cloudy day. It travels through lush forest along the banks of Gold Creek and passes by a beautiful waterfall.

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November’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Gold Creek Canyon Loop

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.

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October’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Norvan Falls

Easy End of Summer Hikes Around Vancouver

Lindeman Lake in Chilliwack near Vancouver, BC

Lindeman Lake in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park. Photo Credit: Mohammad Rezaie on Unsplash

Sadly, summer is drawing to a close. But it’s not over yet: there are still a few more weeks of warm hiking weather left! It’s the perfect time of year for one last mountain hike or one last post-hike lake swim. Here are some great ideas for easy end of summer hikes in the Vancouver area.

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Easy End of Summer Hikes Around Vancouver

COVID-19 and the Outdoors in Vancouver – What to Know Before You Go

People hiking up stairs on the Grouse Grind in Vancouver

Grouse Grind, North Vancouver. Photo credit: Tourism BC

Outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and spending time in parks are one of the best ways to get exercise and have fun during the Covid-19 Pandemic. But there are a few things you should know before you go to ensure you stay safe and respect nature.

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COVID-19 and the Outdoors in Vancouver – What to Know Before You Go

10 Vancouver-Area Hikes Perfect for Spring

Hiking the Stawamus Chief in Squamish, BC

Hiking the Stawamus Chief in Squamish. Photo Credit Tourism Squamish

Spring is a great time to go hiking. The waterfalls are pumping and the rain turns all the plants extra green. But with snow hanging around in the mountains, it can be tough to figure out where to go for a hike. Here are our picks for the 10 best Vancouver-area spring hikes. They are all closer to sea level so they are be snow-free in the spring. 

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10 Vancouver-Area Hikes Perfect for Spring

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.

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