Inside Vancouver

December’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Buntzen Lake

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on December 12, 2019

Buntzen Lake near Vancouver

The easy trail around Buntzen Lake is a great December hike since it sits a low elevation that avoids ice and snow. It’s close enough to the city to make a great nature getaway when the hustle and bustle of the holidays gets overwhelming. The trail weaves through a gorgeous rainforest with lots of ferns, moss, and mini-waterfalls. Hikers of all ages will also enjoy the novelty of crossing both a floating bridge and a suspension bridge on the same trail. And no matter what time of year you hike, the views from the lakeshore are spectacular.

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December’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Buntzen Lake

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

September’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Mount Strachan

by Taryn Eyton in Outside on September 5, 2019

A whiskey jack bird sits on top of hiker's shoes on top of Mount Strachan near Vancouver, BC

A curious whiskey jack on top of Mount Strachan. Please don’t feed them as it’s not good for their diet. (And they’ll come pose for you even without food.)

The hike to Mount Strachan in Cypress Provincial Park is a bit of a hidden gem. The open summit has great views of Howe Sound and the Lions. And in September, the alpine meadows shift from green to golden orange. There’s also an interesting Cold War-era plane crash to check out along the way. The rocky trail to the summit is moderately challenging, and often poorly marked, so it’s not a hike for beginners.

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September’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Mount Strachan