Vancouver Hiking Trails in South Western British Columbia, Canada

Snowshoe Trails Near Vancouver

During the winter months, Vancouver's surrounding mountains receive several meters of snow resulting in great trails for snowshoeing. The local ski resorts at Cypress, Grouse, and Seymour Mountains have a series of well maintained trails that require the purchase of a day pass. These trails are great for the beginner or for families with children who want to get out into the snowy mountains without venturing too far.

BC Parks also opens a couple of snowshoeing trails which are popular hiking trails in the summer; Dog Mountain on Seymour and Hollyburn Mountain on Cypress. Unlike the trails within the resort boundaries, these trails are free to use and on a clear sunny day, both offer spectacular views of the city and surrounding snow-covered mountains. Trails are well marked with wooden poles and it is important to stay on these trails to avoid the risk of entering high risk avalanche areas in the backcountry. The majority of the winter, the trail conditions are hard packed snow, although if it is raining in the city, there is a good change it is snowing on the local mountains. Check with Cypress and Seymour for daily weather conditions before you leave.

There are a variety of snowshoes for sale but renting is the best option for people just looking to give snowshoeing a try or for those who only plan to go a few times a year. For the hard packed trail conditions, snowshoes with metal teeth grips are the best as opposed to the old tennis raquet style meant more for deep snow conditions. Rentals at the local mountains inclue a day pass for the resort trails. Rentals can also be purchased from Mountain Equipment Co-op for a little less if you plan to snoeshoe on the BC Parks trails. In both cases, it is best to phone and reserve in advance as rentals tend to be fully booked, particularly on weekends.

There are several other options for more experienced snowshoers looking for trails outside the city. A few other popular options are:

Alice Lake - During the winter months, the area around Squamish can receive quite a bit of snow, making the trails around Alice Lake perfect for snowshoeing. There are several options including completing the four-lakes route or just creating your own route to one of the nearby lakes. Refer to the map of the park near the parking area before planning which route to take.

Cheakamus Lake - The gravel BC Forestry Road used to access the parking lot near Cheakamus Lake is inaccessible during the winter, however this road becomes a great trail for snowshoeing and cross country skiers wanting to reach lake. The road is approximately 6km long and there is an additional 3km to the southern edge of Cheakamus Lake.

Elfin Lakes - For those with more experience or wanting an overnight winter trip, Elfin Lakes is a great destination. Day users can snowshoe to the Red Heather Warming Hut and return to the parking lot that same day. Overnight adventurers can continue to the BC Parks hut at Elfin Lake. For more information, visit the BC Parks website. A note of caution that access to the parking lot can be difficult during the winter and should only be attempted with a 4-wheel drive and chains.

It is important to take all safety precautions when doing any backcountry snowshoeing, including telling people where you are going, when you expect to return, and taking adequate safety equipment such as a food, flashlights, GPS, and warm, waterproof clothing. Also check local weather forecasts and avalanche warnings before starting your trek.