With some spring weather finally upon us, it is finally time to get out of the house and start enjoying the beauty that BC has to offer. One of my favourite activities in sunny weather is hiking! From beginner hikes to more challenging climbs, here are some of the best trails around the Vancouver area:
1. Dog Mountain
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Mount Seymour
Dog mountain is the perfect trail for a beginner hiker, or someone looking for an easier climb but still a beautiful view! I hiked this trail in the winter in snowshoes, and it was absolutely beautiful. Once you reach the peak, there is a large open space to sit and relax or take pictures of the view. I would definitely recommend checking this one out!
2. Jug Island
Difficulty: Easy – Medium
Location: Belcarra Park
The Jug Island hike is not very long, but there are a lot of steep ups and downs. It is definitely a great workout, and well worth the climb. At the end of the trail, you reach an awesome, secluded beach area, where you can walk around, have a picnic, and enjoy the view of Jug Island in the water.
3. Crystal Falls
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Coquitlam
Crystal falls is a pretty easy and relatively flat hike. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a nice walk in the forest without a steep climb. At the end of the hike, you reach Crystal Falls, a large, beautiful waterfall. It’s perfect on a warm day to wear a swim suit under your hiking clothes and dip your feet in the water.
4. Lindemann Lake
Difficulty: Medium
Location: Chilliwack
If you’re hiking to get an Instagram-worthy photo, Lindemann Lake is picture perfect. The hike is nice, not too steep, but uphill most of the way. At the top, Lindemann Lake is so beautiful. The water is so clear and the brightest shade of blue, but beware it is glacier water, so even in the summer it is pretty cold. If you’re more of an expert hiker, you can keep walking past Lindemann Lake and reach Greendrop Lake (in about another hour – hour and a half), and then Flora Lake (about eight hours to hike total). Greendrop Lake is equally as beautiful as Lindemann, and I have never made it to Flora Lake, but I hear it is also beautiful.
5. The Stawamus Chief
Difficulty: Medium – Difficult
Location: Squamish
The Chief is an awesome hike with an amazing view. If you’re looking for a shorter hike, the first, south peak takes about 1.5 hours to reach and has an incredible view, but if you’re a more advanced hiker, you there are two more peaks to hike to if you want to extend your hike. The difficulty will increase the longer you extend your hike. Out of all the trails listed above, The Chief is the one I would most highly recommend. It’s a nice climb, but not too challenging. At times there are ladders and ropes used to climb some steeper parts. Overall, the view makes up for the climb!