Vancouver is blessed with salty fresh air, rugged mountains, and lush temperate rainforests that make this West Coast city a hiker’s paradise. Whether you want an easy stroll among Douglas firs and red cedars or a leg-burning challenge to the local mountain peaks, these are the best trails for hiking in Vancouver.

Best hiking in Vancouver, BC

Lynn Loop

Difficulty: Easy
Hiking season: Year-round
Average hiking time: 90 minutes

Lynn Loop is a perfect introduction to hiking in North Vancouver. Starting at Lynn Headwater Regional Park's parking lot, this relatively flat hike takes you about 5km through the mossy forest before looping around to follow Lynn Creek back to the parking lot. 

If it’s a clear day, watch for the lookout sign around 2.5km into the hike, then take the 200-metre detour to the rocky point overlooking Lynn Valley and Vancouver Island. For a longer hike, Lynn Headwaters Regional Park connects to Lynn Canyon Park.

Difficulty: Hard
Hiking season: June to September
Average hiking time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours

With about 800 metres of vertical gain over the 2.5km hike, the Grouse Grind is aptly named. It's also called Mother Nature's Stairmaster, thanks to the roughly 2,800 wooden steps that you'll have to climb to reach this North Vancouver peak.

Reaching the summit of Grouse Mountain for views of Vancouver and the Georgia Strait, however, makes the next-day soreness worth it. There are signposts marking your progress along the trail, so you can keep track of each step as you huff and puff your way up.

The trail gets busy, so arrive early or on a weekday if you want to avoid the biggest crowds. Hikers can either take the Skyride Gondola back to the parking lot or hike down the BCMC trail.

Difficulty: Easy
Hiking season: Year-round
Average hiking time: Two to three hours

Stanley Park is Vancouver's very own urban oasis. Located on the peninsula near Vancouver's downtown, this 1001-acre park features 27km of accessible forest trails. Venture along the inner loop for the old-growth cedar and fir canopy, or take the 10km Seawall Walk around the park's perimeter on the paved multi-use path.

To get there, enter the park on West Georgia Street and head towards the Rose Gardens. After exploring the trails, check out popular sites like the Vancouver Aquarium and the Totem Poles.

Eagle Bluffs

Difficulty: Moderate to hard
Hiking season: June to October
Average hiking time: Three to four hours

Hiking in West Vancouver’s Cypress Provincial Park offers some of the best views of the North Shore. The 8km round-trip hike to Eagle Bluffs begins at the Cypress Mountain parking lot and takes you past Cabin Lake and Black Mountain. If the temperature allows, stop for a swim in the picturesque lake.

For a more challenging route, start at the Baden-Powell trailhead off the Sea to Sky Highway near Horseshoe Bay. Though only slightly longer, the elevation profile is much more significant, so be ready for some steep climbing on rocky terrain.

Difficulty: Easy
Hiking season: Year-round
Average hiking time: 2.5 hours

Located in North Vancouver, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the West Coast rainforest. This is a pay-to-enter park, but a ticket provides access to one of Vancouver's most iconic attractions, set amid granite cliffs and old-growth firs.

Walking (or tiptoeing) across the suspension bridge—not for the faint-hearted—it traverses 137 metres from cliff to cliff while swinging 70 metres over the Capilano River rushing below. Don't miss Treetops Adventure, a series of timber walkways and suspension bridges that weave through the ancient fir and cedar trees.

Foreshore Trail

Difficulty: Easy to intermediate
Hiking season: Year-round
Average hiking time: Three to four hours

Hiking in Vancouver doesn’t always involve interior forests and cliffside views. The Foreshore Trail is a seaside out-and-back trail on the edge of the forest. You can go at your own pace here on your preferred trails, travelling anywhere from 7km to 12km along the beaches. Check the tide charts before heading out—much of the trail is only passable during low tide.

Start at Spanish Banks Beach or the car park at Acadia Beach on NW Marine Drive. From there, you’ll walk left along the beach and follow the shoreline, watching for slippery spots on the rocky coastal path. Keep in mind that this hiking trail passes through the clothing-optional Wreck Beach in case you'd rather avoid it or avert your eyes.

There are several numbered trails that make up this Vancouver hike, so your destination depends on your stamina and sense of adventure. There are buses back downtown at the exit of Wreck Beach at the UBC stop.

Day hikes beyond Vancouver

Stawamus Chief

Difficulty: Intermediate
Hiking season: March to November
Average hiking time: Two to six hours

The Stawamus Chief is a hiking classic, with each of its three peaks offering views of Squamish, Howe Sound, and beyond. From Vancouver, rent a car and travel 60km north along the Sea to Sky Highway to arrive at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, where the trail starts.

The first peak is the most popular hiking trail at the park, with 600 metres of vertical gain over 2km of steep wooden stairs and rocky sections with fixed chains for support. If you choose to check off all three peaks, expect to travel about 11km along this challenging terrain. The Chief is a popular site for basejumping, highlining, and rock climbing, so don’t be surprised if you encounter hikers carrying a surplus of gear along the trail.

Four Lakes Trail

Difficulty: Easy
Hiking season: April to November
Average hiking time: Two to three hours

For another Squamish classic with a little less vertical, head to Alice Lake Provincial Park for the Four Lakes Trail. Alice Lake Provincial Park is a summer hot spot for camping, picnics, and more, and the Four Lakes Trail is a relaxed scenic loop that travels about 6.5km through the forest. True to its name, the Four Lakes Trail also visits Edith Lake, Fawn Lake, and Stump Lake. The trail is well marked, and you can finish your hike and cool off with a dip in Alice Lake.

Joffre Lakes

Difficulty: Intermediate
Hiking season: June-October
Average hiking time: Three to four hours

With photos of Joffre Lakes and the Gatorade-hued water all over social media, you've probably already heard about this hike just past the small town of Pemberton and about 180km from Vancouver. This 10km out-and-back trail visits all three lakes in the area, finally reaching the campsite at Upper Joffre Lake with Matier Glacier beyond.

Although this trail is easily done in a few hours, it’s a beautiful place to camp. Joffre Lakes is busy during the summer, so make sure to arrive at the parking lot early for a spot and book a campsite well ahead of your visit.

Hiking on Vancouver Island

Mount Finlayson Trail

Difficulty: Intermediate
Hiking season: Year-round
Average hiking time: 1.5 to three hours

Goldstream Provincial Park near Victoria is part of the greater Finlayson Arm, and while there are many small peaks in the area, Mount Finlayson is a local favourite. This trail is steep, gaining about 400 metres on the 2.2km, for an average grade of about 23% on a mix of dirt paths and rock faces. Getting to the top of Mount Finlayson may be challenging (and busy on weekends), but the views of Mt. Baker and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are worth the climb.

West Coast Trail

Difficulty: Hard
Hiking season: May 1st to September 30th
Average hiking time: Six to 10 days

Located in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on Vancouver Island, the West Coast Trail is one of BC's most famous backpacking routes and the quintessential coastal experience. The 75km trail ventures through the traditional territories of the Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht, and Pacheedaht nations, and its logistical and physical challenges rank it among the toughest backpacking trails in North America.

Throughout the trail, you'll cross more than 100 ladders and bridges, respectively, and take several cable cars and ferries. The trail takes you through coastal wilderness, with old-growth rainforest, tide pools, and plenty of wildlife. Bring your mud gaiters and hiking poles along—the trail is usually muddy, uneven, and slippery. Permits are required for the West Coast Trail, with reservations opening in February most years.

Gear up for the best hiking trails in Vancouver

If you’re ready for an active outdoorsy vacation, Vancouver is a top hiking destination. Use Skyscanner to find flights and hotels in Vancouver and in the surrounding southern BC area.