Bluffs Park - Easy Hikes
17 Mar 2016

5 Best Easy Hikes Near Vancouver

by | Posted in: Step Outside Blog | 45

By Hayley

There is no shortage of easy hikes near Vancouver. Whether you want to go to the North Shore, the Sunshine Coast, the Gulf Islands, or elsewhere, you don’t need to hike the equivalent of the Grouse Grind to get some spectacular views. Here are five easy hikes without the elevation gain but with some rewarding views that make it all worthwhile.

Bowen Island (Killarney Lake and Dorman Point)

3 hours, 12 km, 100m elevation gain

Bowen Island is just a short 20 minute ferry ride away from Horseshoe Bay but upon setting foot on this island, you feel instantly transported to a totally different world. Lush forests surround the main street, which is lined with cute shops and restaurants. Walk up this street a bit and then take a right on to Cardena Drive and head over to Crippen Regional Park. Pass the fish ladder and follow the trail to Killarney Lake, where you can do a two hour loop. This is one of my favorite easy hikes. On this trail, you will cross over boardwalks and bridges while enjoying the view of the lake and the cedar stumps jutting up from below the water.

Next, head back into town and over to the Dorman Point trail, where you hike up a short trail to a rocky bluff. From here, you get a great view of Howe Sound and the North Shore Mountains. Be sure also to note the arbutus trees here. It’s then back to the ferry for a scenic boat ride to the mainland. For more information about this hike, see our Bowen Island Tour.

Deep Cove / Quarry Rock

1.5 hours, 3.8 km, 100m elevation gain

Quarry Rock is a short but sweet hike at the eastern end of the Baden Powell Trail. The trail starts near Panorama Park in the town of Deep Cove. On your way to Quarry Rock, you will pass a series of stairs and bridges, all the while being surrounded by a dense forest of Douglas Fir and Hemlock trees. Eventually, you reach a rock outcropping, where you have a spectacular view of Indian Arm, a 20km long fjord, and the mountains of Belcarra. Chances are you won’t be the only ones enjoying this vista as this is one of the most popular easy hikes in Vancouver. Back in Deep Cove, make sure you stop at Honey Doughnuts and Goodies, where you can sit outside and enjoy a delicious honey doughnut!

Jug Island

2.5 hours, 5.5km, 100m elevation gain

Located in Belcarra Regional Park near Port Moody, this easy hike begins from the park’s picnic area. Initially an old road, the trail eventually becomes more rough and narrow. At one point, there are a set of wooden stairs you have to climb. Make sure you have good hiking boots or shoes as the trail can be quite slippery at times. After about 45 minutes, you make a steep descent down to a pebble beach, where you should have a great view (even in poor weather) of Indian Arm and Jug Island, a small island a stone’s throw off shore. You may even see some eagles on the island’s tall trees.

Gibsons (Soames Hill)

1.5 hours, 5km, 250m elevation gain

Not generally on the radar of hikers, Soames Hill (also known as Knob Hill) is on the Sunshine Coast and definitely worth a visit. As a bonus, you are only a short walk from the town of Gibsons.  To get here, you first take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale. This scenic ferry ride takes you past numerous islands and offers spectacular views of the Sunshine Coast.

Once at Langdale, we usually take our tour groups up the road and on to the Soames Hill trails from Bridgeman Road. The trails in this park total over 5km, although we take a more direct route to the top, which includes a number of steps.  Once at the top, you have various viewpoints to choose from. Coming down, we usually exit on to Esperanza Road and walk into Gibsons, where the long running TV show “The Beachcombers” was filmed. Have lunch on the waterfront, sample some olive oils and balsamic vinegar from a local shop, and then take a bus back to Langdale for another beautiful ferry ride. For more information on this hike, see our Gibsons Hiking Tour.

Bluffs Park (Galiano Island)

2.5 hours, 8km, 150m elevation gain

Located on beautiful Galiano Island, a 50 minute ferry ride from Tsawwassen, Bluffs Park is a short hike from the ferry terminal. The oldest wilderness park on the island, Bluffs Park offers high cliffs surrounded by arbutus and Garry Oak trees. Savour incredible views from the edge as you look towards Mayne and Salt Spring Islands, among other islands in the region. You also get a great view of Mt Galliano, which is where you can head next if you have the stamina (and time) to climb up to the top. If you do decide to hike up to this panoramic view point, add an extra 350km in elevation gain and another 8-12km to the total distance. Just make sure you don’t miss the ferry! For more information on this hike, see our Galiano Island HIking Tour.

Other Easy Hikes

Some other easy hikes to consider include Cheakamus Lake by Whistler, Capilano Canyon in North Vancouver, and Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver.

Happy hiking!

45 Responses

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    Definitely worth extending the Bluffs Park hike to Mt Galiano. Extra hour up to the top but you can see all the way to Salt Spring Island.

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    Yes, the view is incredible up there. Depending on the year, you have a good chance to see some bald eagles circling above or below.

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