BEAUTIFUL HIKES IN THE CANADIAN MOUNTAINS

Are you going to Canada? Hooray! Canada is one the most underrated beautiful countries you will ever visit! The people are friendly, the cities are diverse, and the mountains are spectacular. If you are into hiking, Canada is the right destination for you. Beginner or advanced, Canada has trails for every type of hiker. If you haven’t tried hiking before, here is two reasons why to get started right away:

It’s a fun workout you can do with friends or family
You are very often rewarded with breathtaking views at the end of the hike!

There are endless options of different kinds of hikes you can do. You might know the feeling of wanting to go for a hike, but you are unsure whether it is going to be worth the effort. Many hikers have tried so many hikes where the effort required was way to high compared to the reward achieved. Listed below are some favourite hiking-trails worth ticking off the bucket list.

A general tip when hiking in Canada is to bring a bear spray or some bear bells to attach to your belt/backpack. You might not see a bear, but in case you do it is good to be prepared! Also, remember to never leave any food out if you are camping somewhere and always throw your garbage in a garbage can. Otherwise you will attract the bears to the area!

1. Joffre Lakes

This hike is one of British Colombia’s most beautiful hikes! You will be hiking towards not just one, but three beautiful blue glacier lakes. If you go in the summer and are not scared of the cold, you can even go for swim! If you physically are not able to go hiking or you just do not feel like going on a long hike, you can spare yourself the whole walk and just walk to the very first glacier lake you will meet on the trail. It is only a 10 min easy walk from the parking lot.

Where: Pemberton, BC
When: Summer (June – September)
Elevation: 370 m
Distance: 10 km roundtrip
Approximately time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Cellular service: No
Washrooms: Yes
What to bring: A pair of sneakers, your camera, a lunch pack, water and snacks

2. The Grouse Grind

Why? It is a great hike for a workout! This hike is just a lot of steps (2,830 to be exact) and therefore it is popular to go work out your legs and cardio in these beautiful surroundings instead of being inside a gym for hours.

Tip: Do not do this hike for enjoyment. It will make you sweat! If you want to enjoy yourself take the gondola to the top instead of hiking. On the other hand, the view feels a lot better when you’ve worked hard to get to it.

Where: Grouse Mountain
When: Summer (June – September)
Elevation: 853 m
Distance: 2,9 km (This is a one-way-only trail going up)
Approximately time: 1,5 – 2 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Cellular service: Yes
Washrooms: There are no washrooms on the trail, so make sure to use the washroom facilities at the parking lot of the base of the trail.
What to bring: A good pair of sneakers or light hiking boots, a lot of water and a few snacks such as nuts, chocolate and fruits in case you need to boost your energy.

3. Buntzen Lake

Buntzen Lake is a trail that goes around the lake and offers different points of views along the way. The terrain is easy and it is a beautiful hike despite no gain of elevation. During the hike you will cross a floating suspension bridge and pass through a nice and quiet beach at the north end where you might want to enjoy a swim in the cold refreshing water if you are hiking on a hot summer day.

Where: Port Moody
When: All year
Elevation: 110 m
Distance: 10 km
Approximately time: 3,5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Cellular service: No
Washrooms: Yes
What to bring: Water, a swimsuit and a towel (In case you decide to go for a swim)

4. Sasamat Lake

This is the cutest little lake you will find near Port Moody! It is accessible both by car, public transport and by bike. The hike has gorgeous views of the mountains, and you do not even have to be physically fit to go there! How great is that? At the end of your hike you can chill at White Pine Beach and go for a swim if you like. The temperature of the water is perfect in the summer!

Where: Belcarra Park, near Port Moody
When: All year
Elevation: Minimal
Distance: 3,2 km
Approximately time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Cellular service: No
Washrooms: Yes – At White Pine Beach
What to bring: Water, swimsuit and towel

5. Othello Tunnels

Othello Tunnels is an easy and interesting hike. You walk through a series of very old train tunnels and get some beautiful waterfall views on the way. Whether you are interested in history or just enjoy a different kind of hiking trail, this is the one for you.

Where: Coquihalla Provincial Park, near Hope
When: All year
Elevation: Very minimal
Distance: 3,5 km roundtrip
Approximately time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Very easy
Cellular service: Yes
Washrooms: Yes – At the parking lot
What to bring: A flash light for when you go through the tunnels. There is no light in there except from the daylight at the end of the tunnels.

6. Rocky Point Park

If you are not a huge hiker or just want to take it easy and enjoy a scenic walk along the water, this hike is perfect for you! There is not any elevation gain, so if you are a runner, it is an easy trail for running as well. When you reach Rocky Point Park there is this famous ice cream place called “Rocky Point Ice Cream” which is definitely worth a visit!

Where: Port Moody
When: All year
Elevation: None
Distance: 6 km roundtrip
Approximately time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Very easy
Cellular service: Yes
Washrooms: Yes – At Rocky Point

What to bring: Money for ice cream at Rocky Point

7. Lighthouse Park Trail

Lighthouse Park is a cute little park in West Vancouver. If you find your way to the rock on the shore, you will have a beautiful view of the lighthouse with the view of Vancouver in the far distance. This spot is very quite and peaceful since it can be a little tricky to find the tiny path that leads here. This is a perfect place to go if you are in the mood of just listening to the relaxing sounds of the waves hitting the rocks.

Where: West Vancouver
When: All year
Elevation: Very minimal
Distance: 6 km roundtrip
Approximately time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Very easy
Cellular service: Yes, but it’s weak
Washrooms: Yes
What to bring: A good pair of sneakers, a blanket and some snacks

8. Sunwapta Falls

Sunwapta Falls is the most beautiful waterfall you’ll find around in Jasper National Park. It has the shape of a Horseshoe, and the effort you need to put into this hike to get to the falls is very little! So, if you are looking to see a breathtaking waterfall and you are not too big of a hiker, this is the place you need to go! If you then wish to do further hiking, the trail continues around the park.

Where: Jasper National Park
When: All year
Elevation: 134 m
Distance: 3,1 km
Approximately time: 1-hour roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
Cellular service: No
Washrooms: Yes – At the parking lot
What to bring: Camera, camera, camera! And water..

9. Quarry Rock

Quarry Rock is a fairly short and somewhat easy hike that gets your pulse up. The view at the top of the huge rock is breathtaking! On a clear day you cannot only see the different shores of Deep Cove, but also the skyline of Downtown Vancouver in the distance.

Where: Deep Cove, North Vancouver
When: All year
Elevation: 100 m
Distance: 3,8 km roundtrip
Approximately time: 1,5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Cellular service: Yes
Washrooms: Yes – In Panorama Park at the bottom of the hike
What to bring: Water, snacks and a good pair of sneakers

10. Lake Agnes Tea House

Why? Is that even a question? First of all you will start off on the shores of Lake Louise, which is a lake you absolutely must see. Second of all you will pass by the mirror lake, which is a very stunning lake with a huge cliff in the background reflecting its image in the water. Lastly you will reach Lake Agnes that has the cutest little wooden Tea House you can visit during the months of June to October.

Where: Lake Louise, Banff National Park
When: Summer/Autumn (June to October)
Elevation: 400 m
Distance: 3,6 km
Approximately time: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Cellular service: No
Washrooms: Yes – At Lake Louise
What to bring: A good pair of hiking shoes, a backpack containing a lot of water, a lunch pack and some change if you wish to purchase something at the tea house

11. Mt. Seymour

Mt. Seymour is one of the best moderate hikes around Vancouver with absolutely stunning views for each peak you reach on your way if you go on a clear day.

Tip: If there is snow when you’re going, rent some snowshoes. It will make your hike a lot easier.

Where: North Vancouver
When: Summer/Autumn (July – October)
Elevation: 450 m
Distance: 9 km roundtrip
Approximately time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Cellular service: Intermittent cell service
Washrooms: There are no washrooms on the trail, but there are some located at the parking lot at the base of the hike.
What to bring: A lot of water, a lunch pack and some snacks for quick energy (Example: almonds, dark chocolate, energy bars, trail mix..)

12. Dog Mountain

Hiking Dog mountain is rewarding! Have you ever seen Downtown Vancouver from above? If you have not you can cross that off your bucket list after finishing this hike.

Where: North Vancouver
When: Summer/Autumn (June – October)
Elevation: minimal
Distance: 5 km
Approximately time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Cellular service: Yes
Washrooms: Yes. At the base of the hike
What to bring: A good pair of sneakers, water and snacks

13. Gold Creek Falls

Gold Creek Falls is a beautiful hike as you will be walking along the lively river and will take you to both the lower falls and the upper falls. Here you will feel the water sprinkles on your skin and see the huge amounts of water that runs down the cliffs.

Where: Golden Ears National Park
When: All year
Elevation: Minimal
Distance: 5,5 km
Approximately time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Cellular service: No
Washrooms: Yes – At the parking lot
What to bring: Water and snacks

ENJOY YOUR HIKES!

BEAUTIFUL HIKES IN THE CANADIAN MOUNTAINS

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