Best hikes near Vancouver, BC
I’m always on the hunt for finding the hikes that have the perfect effort to reward ratio.
What’s the effort to reward ratio, you might ask?
It’s an arbitrary designation that I give hikes based on how technical, long, steep, and challenging they are, relative to the benefits you get from doing the hike – views, unique experiences, lakes, waterfalls, etc.
Before jumping into the hikes – make sure you always carry your 10 essentials and make sure you’re prepared for the day. Here’s my go-to day hiking items that I often pack, if you are looking for inspiration.
If you aren’t local to Vancouver but want to check out some of these hikes for the day, take a look at some of the great hotel options over on Booking.com. I always book through them when traveling so I can continue to accrue points and save money along the way.
After my first year in Vancouver, these are my top 5 favorite hikes with high effort to reward:
Number 5: Mt. Seymour Peak (Mt. Seymour Provincial Park)
Why it’s awesome:
Coming in 5th place is Mt. Seymour Peak. This is a great hike because you actually can bag not 1, not 2, but 3 peaks along the route! When you’re on top of Mt. Seymour, you have 360 degree views in every direction, and on a clear day can see Mt. Baker to Garibaldi Glacier.
Stats:
- 7.7km or 5 miles
- 553m gained or 1800 ft
- Out & Back or a Loop – check the trail map to decide which way you want to go!
- Peaks along the way: Pump Peak, Tim Jones Peak
Other notes:
- You can actually camp on this trail – it’s one of the few without designated campsites near Vancouver. More info can be found here.
- Take note of the memorial to Tim Jones (for whom the second peak is named), when you start the hike. He is one of the founders of North Shore Rescue, an organization that provides vital lifesaving and rescue services to the metro Vancouver area.
- It can be a hot, exposed trail in summer – bring enough water.
- While this trail is technically dog friendly, there are many rocky technical areas which would be hard with a dog.
Number 4: Elfin Lakes Trail (Garibaldi Provincial Park)
Why it’s awesome:
The elevation gain is quite gradual, making this pleasant. You move from forest to meadow to gorgeous vistas for miles along a ridge. Once you get to the campground, you can go for a swim! Also, you can tack on some other peaks like The Gargoyles, Columnar Peak, Opal Cone or Mamquam Lake. Waking up on one of the platforms overlooking the mountains and meadows or stargazing on a clear night are some amazing things you can look forward to on this hike!
Stats:
- 20km or 12.6 mi
- 811m or 2,664 ft
- Out and back
Other notes:
- If you’re fast enough, this trail makes for a great trail run and day hike (because the trail is quite even – it’s actually also used for mountain bikers), though most people do it as a 2 day, 1 night overnight. Permits are required.
- One lake at Elfin is exclusively for water consumption, while the other is for swimming.
Number 3: Chain Lakes Loop (Mt. Baker)
Why it’s awesome:
Great views throughout, plus a loop hike can sometimes be hard to find. The trail is very well maintained, dog friendly, and you pass by a number of gorgeous lakes too. What more can you ask for?
Stats:
- 10km or 6.2miles
- 546m or 1,794 ft
- Loop!
Other notes:
- The road to Artist Point is seasonal and closes once it starts to snow (it’s a really narrow road, would be hard for plows to maintain). You could obviously snowshoe or ski in from further back but definitely keep this in mind when planning your trip – make sure the road is open!
- I wrote more about this hike in this post.
Number 2: Joffre Lakes Trail (Joffre Lakes Provincial Park)
Why it’s awesome:
It kills me a little that one of the most popular hikes (and most crowded) in BC is actually quite amazing, but alas, here we are. It’s popular for good reason – the 3 magnificent aquamarine alpine lakes you get to see, against a glacier mountain backdrop, are truly out of this world. Plus, the fact that you don’t have to hike that far to see them (in fact, the first lake is only about 100ft from the trailhead!) gives this hike a rock solid effort to reward ratio.
Stats:
- 8km or 4.6 miles
- 463m or 1522ft of elevation gain
- Out and back
Other Notes:
- You need a day or backpacking permit to hike this trail most of the year. You can hike it in the off season, however, if doing this, be aware of snow and ice on the trail and the fact that the parking lot may not be plowed – DONT park on the highway!
- It’s a really crowded hike – so either get there very early, or show up in the late afternoon (only if you can hike fast and have enough daylight!) and try and go against the crowds.
- Most people turn around at the last lake, but you can keep going around the lake and up to the waterfalls on the other side for some extra adventure and even better views of the lake from above!
Number 1: Panorama Ridge (Garibaldi Provincial Park)
Why it’s awesome:
I nearly cried at the top when I saw the view. Garibaldi Lake with Garibaldi glacier beyond, Black Tusk, and other smaller alpine lakes dot the skyline. On a clear day, it’s 360 degree views from the heart of Garibaldi Provincial Park. Plus, depending on the snowpack and the time of year, you can glissade off the summit!
Stats:
- 28km or 17.6 mi
- 1609m or 5282ft
- Out and back or a loop, depending on the route you select
Other notes:
- You need a day or backpacking permit for this hike.
- It’s a popular hike (for good reason), so if you can go during the week you can avoid the crowds!
- Don’t let instagram fool you – this is a really challenging hike, mostly because it’s long and there’s a lot of elevation. Bring enough water, food, and layers (especially for the windy and exposure ridgeline and summit). There are tons of places to filter water along the trail if you bring the right equipment (iodine or a filtration system).
