North & West Vancouver Hiking
The familiar mountains that surround the city of Vancouver are known as the North Shore Mountains. With dozens of trails that weave through forests of Douglas Firs and Western Cedars trees, past waterfalls, over wooden bridges, and up onto rocky outcrops that offer stunning views, the North Shore is a hiker's paradise.
Although several mountains ring the outer edges of the North Shore, the three main mountains that act as main access points to the others are Cypress, Grouse, and Seymour Mountains. All three operate ski facilities in the winter and have a network of trails that crisscross from all the way from across both towns of North Vancouver and West Vancouver.
The terrain around the North Shore is very mountainous and heavily wooded as dense forests line the hills from the tops of the residential areas. With the close proximity to the city, the often-challenging trails provide a good workout, excellent scenery while leaving plenty of time in ones day to schedule other activities.
Trails located in the The North Shore region:
Trail Details
Baden Powell Deep Cove to Lynn Canyon
The Baden Powell trail from Deep Cove to Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge passes through the North Shore's scenic forest and crosses numerous rivers.
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Baden Powell Lynn Canyon to Grouse
The Baden Powell trail from Lynn Canyon to the base of Grouse Mountain passes alongside the steep forest trails of North Vancouver.
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BCMC Trail
The BCMC Trail is a steep workout that is east of the Grouse Grind and runs parallel from the base to the chalet at the top.
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Big Cedar and Kennedy Falls Trail
The Big Cedar and Kennedy Falls Trail is a rugged hiking trail in North Vancouver that passes an enormous old-growth cedar tree before reaching an scenic waterfall.
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Black Mountain Cabin Lake Loop
Located in Cypress Provincial Park, the hike to Black Mountain and Cabin Lake follows the Baden Powell Trail to a scenic view and a lake that is popular for swimming during the hot summer days.
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Bowen Lookout
Located near the Cypress Mountain downhill ski area, the view from the Bowen Lookout is incredible as it looks out over Howe Sound towards Bowen Island.
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Brothers Creek Loop
A beautiful hike through a forest of western red cedars and a spectacular waterfall highlight Brothers Creek Loop.
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Capilano Canyon
Rushing water through a rocky canyon and a network of trails set in a rain forest make the Capilano Canyon a splendid hike for any time of the year.
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Capilano Pacific Trail
The Capilano Pacific Trail is a scenic hike that follows the Capilano River on the North Shore from Ambleside Beach to Cleveland Dam.
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Coliseum Mountain
The trail to Coliseum Mountain in North Vancouver is a challenging hike with incredible views of the backcountry mountain peaks.
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Crown Mountain
A difficult hike in the backcountry behind Grouse Mountain, the views from Crown Mountain of the nearby mountains are spectacular.
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Cypress Falls
A short hike through Cypress Falls Park takes you past two waterfalls and a grove of old growth Douglas Fir and Cedar trees.
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Dam Mountain
A short hike into the backcountry behind Grouse Mountain, the trails to Dam Mountain offer a good workout and scenic views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
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De Pencier Bluffs
De Pencier Bluffs on Mount Seymour is a less traveled hike that passes Mystery Lake and has incredible views of the nearby mountains.
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Dog Mountain
A spectacular view of Vancouver can be seen from Dog Mountain, a short trail that starts from Mount Seymour on the North Shore.
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Eagle Bluffs
The hike to Eagle Bluffs in West Vancouver takes you past scenic views in the Cypress Mountain area, by Cabin Lake, and over top of Black Mountain before reaching the final breathtaking view.
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Eagle Bluffs via Horseshoe Bay
A steep route starting from Horseshoe Bay, the hike to Eagle Bluffs follows the Baden Powell Trail to the incredible viewpoint looking out towards Howe Sound and the city of Vancouver.
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Fisherman's Trail
Located in North Vancouver, the Fisherman's Trail follows the Seymour River in the lush forests of the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve to the Mid Valley Viewpoint.
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Goat Mountain
A picturesque hike that starts from the top of the Grouse Mountain Ski Resort, Goat Mountain offers a great view of Vancouver as well as a full panoramic view of the backcountry terrain.
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Goldie Lake
The trails around Goldie Lake on top of Mount Seymour offer a family friendly hike that loops through the forest and around nearby Flower Lake.
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Grouse Grind
The most popular trail in Vancouver, the Grouse Grind is known more for exercise and its challenge than its scenery.
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Hanes Valley Trail
The Hanes Valley Trail is a very steep, difficult hiking route that starts in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park and ends at Grouse Mountain.
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Hollyburn Mountain
Scenic views of Burrard Inlet, Georgia Strait, Grouse Mountain, and the Lions await hikers at the peak of Hollyburn Mountain.
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Lighthouse Park
Located along the shores of West Vancouver, Lighthouse Park offers a variety of trails and scenic viewpoints of Burrard Inlet.
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Little Goat Mountain
Little Goat Mountain is located in the backcountry trails behind Grouse Mountain and can be done as a short side trip combined with other hiking routes.
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Lower Hollyburn
The network of trails around Lower Hollyburn on Cypress Mountain passes Blue Gentian Lake, West Lake, and First Lake while passing through scenic North Shore forests.
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Lower Lynn Creek
Trails connect several parks in the Lower Lynn Creek area of North Vancouver, including Inter River Park, Bridgman Park, and Harbourview Park, with views of Burrard Inlet and harbour.
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Lynn Loop
A short hike that journeys through the forest in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park and returns along Lynn Creek.
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Lynn Peak
A steep trail in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park with a great view, Lynn Peak is a great hike close to the city.
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Maplewood Flats
Maplewood Flats Conservation Area is a popular bird watching park in North Vancouver that is managed by the Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia.
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Mount Fromme
Although Mount Fromme is not as popular as nearby Grouse Mountain and Lynn Valley trails, the hike to the top passes through a network of scenic trails and there are some nice views of backcountry mountains on clear days.
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Mount Seymour
A panoramic view of Vancouver, Indian Arm, and the surrounding Coastal Mountain range can be seen from the top of Mount Seymour.
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Mount Strachan
The challenging hike to Mount Strachan includes a scramble and several technical trails but hikers are rewarded with incredible views and the unique opportunity to pass by a plane crash site from 1963.
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Mystery Lake
The hike to Mystery Lake at Mount Seymour is relatively easy but the lake is scenic, a great place for families, and a popular swimming hole in the summer months.
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Norvan Falls
A waterfall located in the lush green forests of Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, Norvan Falls is the perfect hike that can be completed just about anytime throughout the year.
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Paton Peak
Paton Peak is located in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve and has awe-inspiring views of the Seymour Lake Watershed, Cathedral Mountain, and Coliseum Mountain.
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Quarry Rock
Located near the community of Deep Cove, Quarry Rock offers a scenic view of Indian Arm and the mountains around Belcarra.
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Rice Lake
Rice Lake is a calm, quiet lake located on the edge of the Lynn Headwaters Regional Park in North Vancouver.
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Skyline Trail
The hike along the steep Skyline Trail is full of history, including following the route of the old chairlift, passing an old collapsed cabin, and passing the site of a US Airforce F-86 Sabre jet crash that occurred in 1954.
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St Mark's Summit
The first peak along the Howe Sound Crest Trail from Cypress Mountain, St. Mark's Summit offers a scenic view of Howe Sound.
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Suicide Bluffs
The Suicide Bluffs Trail is located in Mount Seymour Provincial Park and has several incredible viewpoints along the hike that look towards the city of Vancouver and the mountains to the northwest.
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Thunderbird Ridge
Thunderbird Ridge is a relatively quick hike from the top of Grouse Mountain that offers scenic views of Crown Mountain, Kennedy Lake, and the city of Vancouver on a clear day.
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Twin Falls
The popular hike to Twin Falls in North Vancouver crosses the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge and follows a scenic trail down to the waterfall before returning up the steep stairs on the other side of the canyon.
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Two Canyon Loop
Two Canyon Loops passes through the Seymour River Canyon and Lynn Creek Canyon on the North Shore.
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Whyte Lake
Whyte Lake is a peaceful lake in West Vancouver that follows Nelson Creek and passes through a forest with several old-growth douglas firs.
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Whyte Lake via Horseshoe Bay
A small scenic lake nestled in the forests of West Vancouver, the alternative route to Whyte Lake follows the Baden Powell Trail from the Horseshoe Bay area before branching off to the lake.
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Whytecliff Park
Whytecliff Park is located along the rugged coastline of Howe Sound in West Vancouver and has scenic views of the surrounding mountains and passing boats.
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