{"id":2055,"date":"2017-08-04T16:43:54","date_gmt":"2017-08-04T23:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/?p=2055"},"modified":"2025-01-20T22:39:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T06:39:41","slug":"10-best-beginner-hikes-around-vancouver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/10-best-beginner-hikes-around-vancouver\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Best Beginner Hikes around Vancouver"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re new to hiking or have littles ones<\/a> with you, here\u2019s 10 of the best hikes around Vancouver and the lower mainland area for beginners. From urban city hikes to the surrounding provincial parks, you\u2019ll find something here to get you out on the trails, even if it\u2019s your very first time! Not sure what to pack for a day hike? Check out this packing list of essentials<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pacific Spirit Regional Park<\/h2>\n
\"Pacific

A beautiful forest trail in Pacific Spirit Regional Park.<\/p><\/div>\n

One of Vancouver\u2019s gems, this west side park in the city encompasses 750 hectares of forest. Numerous trails crisscross your way around the park with various entry and exit points. It\u2019s the perfect place to get \u201clost in the woods\u201d just minutes away from the city. Pacific Spirit Regional Park Trail Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Deer Lake<\/h2>\n
\"Deer

Deer Lake in Burnaby with Metrotown in the distance.<\/p><\/div>\n

Enjoy a flat easy stroll around this lake located just east of Vancouver in Burnaby. Up to five kilometres of trail circle the lake and pass by a beach area, playground, viewing tower and pier offering great scenery. A perfect place for an afternoon stroll that is accessible year round. Deer Lake Trail Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Lighthouse Park<\/h2>\n
\"Lighthouse

A view from Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver.<\/p><\/div>\n

Located in West Vancouver, Lighthouse Park is one of Greater Vancouver\u2019s most beautiful spots with some of the area\u2019s largest Douglas Fir trees and breathtaking views of the water. Stroll around the six kilometres of trails throughout the park before settling in for a picnic lunch at the beach. Lighthouse Park Trail Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Sasamat Lake<\/h2>\n
\"\"

The floating bridge that crosses Sasamat Lake.<\/p><\/div>\n

Head out to Belcarra Park to stretch your legs on this easy, year-round accessible hike that is perfect for family picnics. The trail around the lake is a flat, well-worn three kilometre path. If you\u2019re looking for a slightly longer route, you can extend the hike around the Woodhaven Swamp area for a total of eight kilometres round trip. If the weather\u2019s nice, enjoy a dip in the lake and some time at the beach when you\u2019re done. Sasamat Lake Trail Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dog Mountain<\/h2>\n
\"Dog

The view of the city from Dog Mountain.<\/p><\/div>\n

A little bit of a more challenging \u201ceasy\u201d hike, Dog Mountain has great views for a relatively short hike up Mount Seymour. At only five kilometres round trip and little elevation gain, you\u2019ll be rewarded with spectacular views over Vancouver on a clear day. Watch your footing over slippery tree routes as you make your way up and back down the trail. Dog Mountain Trail Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cascade Falls<\/h2>\n
\"Cascade

Cascade Falls in Mission, BC<\/p><\/div>\n

A long drive out to this area in Mission, but a short walk brings you to the spectacular waterfall of Cascade Falls. The waterfall drops about 30-meters and can be viewed from a suspension bridge that crosses the creek to a separate viewing platform. The trail is about half a kilometre in each direction, including some stairs, but is a great place for a family visit. Cascade Falls Trail Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cheakamus Lake<\/h2>\n
\"Cheakamus

The reflection of the clouds off of Cheakamus Lake in Whistler, BC.<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the easier hikes in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Cheakamus Lake in Whistler offers beautiful views of a turquoise lake surrounded by towering mountains and lush forests. Camp overnight, or just enjoy a day at the lake before heading back. While the total length of the trail is 16 kilometres return, you reach the lake after only three kilometres, and the campground at the four kilometre marker giving you the option of for a shorter or longer hike as desired. Cheakamus Lake Trail Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Norvan Falls<\/h2>\n
\"Norvan

Norvan Falls in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park.<\/p><\/div>\n

On the longer side of the easy hikes listed here, this 14 kilometre partial loop trail in North Vancouver, is mostly flat, well trafficked year round hike. It\u2019s a popular option with trail runners, dog walkers and families and has good parking availability and washrooms at the trail head. Norvan Falls Trail Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gold Creek Falls<\/h2>\n
\"Gold

A view of Gold Creek in Golden Ears Provincial Park.<\/p><\/div>\n

Drive east to Golden Ears Provincial Park for this short, beginner hike. The Gold Creek trail follows the creek up through the forest before coming to the falls lookout after about an hour of hiking. The 5.5 kilometre return trail makes it a good early season hike that is suitable for all ages and is dog friendly. Gold Creek Falls Trail Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Buntzen Lake<\/h2>\n

\"Buntzen<\/p>\n

Just north of Port Moody you\u2019ll find this manmade lake maintained by BC Hydro. There are several nice beach areas to enjoy and an eight kilometre loop trail around the lake which crosses over a floating bridge. Pack your bathing suit and enjoy a dip in the lake once you\u2019ve completed the hike. Buntzen Lake Trail Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Looking for more intermediate or challenging hiking trails, check out the 10 Best Vancouver Hikes<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you’re new to hiking or looking for some easier trails, here’s a list of the 10 Best Beginner Hikes around Vancouver to explore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":2069,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[178,191,4,204,187,189,185,186],"tags":[994,995,996,14,256,103,325,480,139,997,136,6,992],"class_list":["post-2055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-british-columbia-bc","category-burnaby","category-hiking-trails","category-maple-ridge","category-north-vancouver-vancouver-coast-mountain","category-port-moody-vancouver-coast-mountain","category-vancouver-vancouver-coast-mountain","category-whistler-vancouver-coast-mountain","tag-best-beginner-hikes","tag-best-beginner-hikes-vancouver","tag-best-hikes-vancouver","tag-buntzen-lake","tag-cheakamus-lake","tag-deer-lake","tag-dog-mountain","tag-gold-creek-falls","tag-norvan-falls","tag-pacific-spirit","tag-quarry-rock","tag-vancouver-hiking","tag-vancouvers-best-hikes"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/deer-lake-burnaby.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4652t-x9","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2055"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2055\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3607,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2055\/revisions\/3607"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vancouvertrails.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}