Greater Vancouver

Greater Vancouver
There are plenty of trails in the mountains surrounding Vancouver, too many in fact as it can seems like a confusing mess to a first time visitor. All of the north shore mountains have basically the same view and its less inspiring than your average hiking destination. At Cypress Provincial Park the trailheads are higher, the ocean is nearer the mountains are slightly more interesting.
The most famous trail is the Grouse Grind, 1.8 miles 2800ft, a well groomed route that parallels the Grouse Mountain gondola. Its not all that scenic and appeals more to trail runners than hikers.
The relentlessly advertised Capilano Suspension Bridge is interesting but not really worth the price of admission. There is a similar free option nearby in Lynn Canyon Park.
Right: The Laiity pumpkin patch in Maple Ridge

Downhill Skiing The skiing near Vancouver is typical of urban resorts. Cypress Mountain is the best of the bunch but all three are relatively small and over crowded. Like Cypress Mount Seymour is in a provincial park so commercial embellishments are minor. Grouse Mountain is a zoo, literally and figuratively. They also have a movie theatre, a skating rink, all manner of tours and much more including their latest addition, a giant windmill. Out in the Fraser Valley near Mission is the small, severely under developed Hemlock Valley Ski Resort. Our local favourite ski resort is Mt. Baker, just past the border in Washington State. *lifts represent the minimum required to reach all the terrain, secondary lifts, lateral lifts and bunny hill lifts are not counted.		Cypress Mountain	Grouse Mountain	Mount Seymour		Hemlock Valley	Manning Park	Mt. Baker	Whistler Blackcomb
	Skiable Terrain	600 acres	212 acres	200 acres		300 acres	250 acres	1000 acres	8000+ acres
	Vertical Drop	1655ft	1252ft	945ft		1108ft	1080ft	1464ft	5234ft
	Quad Lifts	3	3	1				6	11
	Triple Chairs					1
	Doubles	1		2		1	2		1 T-Bar

	The Fraser Valley
	When it comes to local hiking trails, we prefer the trails in the eastern suburbs like Anmore's Buntzen Lake. This three mile lake has a barrier free, year round trail, and starting in April you can hike the ridges above the lake on the Diez Vistas trail. 8 mile loop, 1490ft
	A little farther out is Pitt Lake, a great birding area with a connected series of dykes than can be hiked in a variety of loops. Grant Narrows Park rents out canoes, most taking the trip across to the Widgeon Slough and the short hike to falls (3.7 miles return)This same trail continues onward to Widgeon Lake, which is usually snow free by early summer. 11.5 miles return, 2673ft
	The longer summer trails like Alouette Mountain in Golden Ears Provincial Park are just a tangled mess of roots, mud and ankle biting rocks. (14 miles 3660ft) The trail to the top of the Ears themselves left is a blistering 15 mile round trip with over 5000ft of elevation gain. However the first part of the later trail is worthwhile year round as far as Gold River Falls, 3.4 miles return.
	Left: Pitt Lake from the Summit of Golden Ears

Other notable waterfalls in the valley include Cliff Falls in Kanaka Creek Park, a pair of waterfalls in Rolley Lake Provincial Park, Steelhead Falls, at the Hayward Lake Reservoir and Cascade Falls, which is featured in its own Regional Park out past the town of Mission.

Right: Rolley Falls

	While the Fraser Valley is generally bypassed on the way to more exciting destinations, there are a few worthy stops along the way.
	The most dramatic photographic composition takes place every April during the annual Tulips of the Valley Festival in Agassiz. The backdrop for the bright colourful flowers is 6903ft Cheam Peak, the highest in the Fraser Valley.
	Left: Tulips of the Valley

Cheam Peak is a good spring climb that has a nice glissade The approach road is long, rough and not for the faint of heart, but that is typical of all the peaks in the area. 6 miles return, 2000ft
One worthwhile spring option is Lindeman Lake in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park. It's an easy hike to a lovely lake however there is also a distressing level of human impact present. The trail continues further to Greendrop Lake and hardcore trekkers can make a loop of it and connect to Flora Lake.
Return distance to Lindeman Lake: 3.1 miles, 700ft To Greendrop Lake: 8.1 miles 1312ft
Right: On the road to Cheam Peak

	Mt. Slesse, is an 8000ft Cascade Peak, located just outside of Chilliwack, near the US border.
	"Well, the road approach is not pleasant that is for sure. This road would be the first time I have ever bottomed out in my high clearance truck which I have been driving on rough roads for 11 years. The water bars are that huge and brutal."
	"The approach hike is pleasant but viewless until you break out of the trees at the plaque honouring the lives lost in a plane crash in 1956. An hour or so farther up the ridge takes you to up close views of the mountain and the propeller cairn, surrounded by wreckage from the crash."
	To the Commemorative Plaque: 5 miles return, 1427ft To the Propeller Cairn: 8 miles return, 3084ft
	Left: Mt. Slesse

Manning Provincial Park
This park has a good little ski resort however in summer, there really isn't one particular objective that really inspires passion.
Right: Skiing at Manning Park
"We came to Heather Meadows one August in search of the legendary flower meadows, however the exceptionally dry summer had killed off most of the annual bloom before it even had a chance to get going. The namesake heather was non existent and only a few stalwart soldiers were left of what is normally an army of lupines. " 13+ miles, 1200+ft
We had similar luck one October when looking for golden larches on Frosty Mountain 13.6 miles, 3800ft
Right: The Heather Trail

	Vancouver Island
	Long expensive ferry rides and 2nd tier alpine scenery has discouraged us from hiking here. Research suggests that the most scenic hiking destinations are Flower Ridge and Cream Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park. Our one visit to this park was in early summer.
	"The Elk River Trail was highly entertaining with several waterfalls spread out evenly along the way. Landslide Lake made a worthy destination." 13.6 miles, 2000ft
	"The Crest Mountain Trail had nice 360-degree views but was extremely steep!" 7 miles 4000+ft
	Invariable once people find out we are backpackers they ask us about the famed West Coast Trail. We looked into it once but just couldn't justify trudging through muck & rain for a week when BC has so many other superior hiking options.
	Left: Landslide Lake