9 epic transit-friendly hikes in Metro Vancouver
9 epic transit-friendly hikes in Metro Vancouver
(updated on June 10, 2022)
Metro Vancouver is regularly coined one of Canada’s most livable cities, with sprawling mountain ranges, picturesque views, and a public transit system that’s leading the country when it comes to growth in proportion of ridership. Statistics Canada’s latest report noted that Vancouver’s proportion of public transit commuters grew by 6.1% to 20.4% between 1996 and 2016. In contrast, during the same period, Toronto only saw a growth of 2.3% while Montreal experienced an uptick of 2.5%.
With many Metro Vancouverites living an active and outdoorsy lifestyle, we’re sharing 9 epic transit-friendly hikes in Metro Vancouver
1. Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
Serviced by Route 144, Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area consists of a network of 26 multi-use trails covering 28 kilometres, crisscrossing 576 hectares. Enjoy a vigorous hike, a leisurely stroll, or a heart-pumping bike ride just a short transit trip from the city.
2. Baden-Powell Trail
The Baden-Powell Trail is a rugged but well-maintained 48 km hiking trail, that traverses from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to Deep Cove in North Vancouver with trailheads scattered throughout. Two sections of the trail are easily accessible by transit, Grouse Mountain to Lynn Canyon, and Lynn Canyon to Deep Cove. Grab more information on the Baden-Powell trail here: trailpeak/baden-powell, and plan your trip here: translink.ca/tripplanner
3. Quarry Rock
Serviced by Routes 211 and 212, the Quarry Rock trailhead is located at the easternmost section of the Baden-Powell Trail, just off of Panorama Drive in Deep Cove. Offering scenic views of Indian Arm and the mountains around Belcarra this hike is densely forested with many bubbling creeks, bridges and picturesque bluffs. Plan for a 30-45 minute ascent and don’t forget to stop for a legendary Roly Poly from Honey’s Doughnuts before you leave The Cove.
4. Grouse Grind
Routes 232, 236 and 247 will get you to the base of “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster” better known as the Grouse Grind. This 2.9-kilometre trail up the face of Grouse Mountain is a popular Metro Vancouver leg burner that hosts over 150,000 people annually. On average the Grind takes up to an hour and a half to complete, but plan for two hours just in case. Relax and enjoy the scenic gondola ride from the top to the base après hike.
5. Lynn Headwaters Regional Park
Serviced by Routes 210 and 228 Lynn Headwaters Regional Park is a popular gateway to the North Shore wilderness. The largest of Vancouver’s regional parks, a variety of hiking trails for all skill levels of hiker awaits. How do I get to the Lynn Loop trailhead? This trail begins at Lynn Headwaters parking lot.
Plan your hike here before you head out to make the most of your day.
6. Mundy Park
Serviced by Routes 151, 152, 153 and 156, Mundy Park is a beautiful 178 hectare park and rare urban forest located in Coquitlam. The park’s 5.5 km multi-use community pathway encircles the park and can be completed on foot within an hour. Shorter walks on the interior trails will guide visitors on a scenic loop around Mundy Lake or to the viewing benches at Lost Lake. Also at Mundy park is a brand new, expansive children’s play area, sports fields, a bike trick park, and an off-leash dog park!
View this post on Instagram
7. Crystal Falls Trail
Serviced by Routes 188, 191 and 174, the Crystal Falls trail head is located at the top of Shaughnessy Street in central Coquitlam. This is an easy 6 km hike in Coquitlam which travels up alongside the Upper Coquitlam River, ending at the scenic Crystal Falls waterfall on Pritchett Creek. Pack a bathing suit for this one as shallow waters and canyon pools make for a great swim.
View this post on Instagram
8. Lighthouse Park
Take Route 250 to one of Greater Vancouver’s most beautiful parks. Located along the shores of West Vancouver, Lighthouse Park boasts some of the largest Douglas Fir trees in Greater Vancouver as well as breathtaking views of the ocean. A variety of trails to choose from mean this is an excellent choice for hikers and walkers of all abilities.
9. Killarney Lake Loop
If you’re looking for the perfect day trip, hop on the ferry and take Routes 280 and 281, to peaceful Bowen Island. Home of Killarney Lake, and a 4km loop trail that circles the tranquil Lake. Stop in at the visitor centre in Snug Cove for a trail map before you head out to ensure you hit each picturesque look-out point.
So grab your Compass Card and your favourite pair of hikers and hit the trails this weekend.
Did your favourite transit accessible hike make this list? Hit us up in the comments with your go-to trail.
Sarah, should you really be promoting private businesses, like that donut shop? If so, then how do we get you to promote other businesses?
Hi Eugene!
We don’t typically promote specific businesses unless we have an official agreement with them however we’re more than happy to raise awareness and spread the love for businesses that benefit our customers and are easily accessible via transit. Hope that helps! :)
Sarah
The seasonal 179 makes trips up to Buntzen Lake, with trails including the Diez Vistas lookouts and the old BC Electric powerhouses (built to provide power for the BC Electric Railway’s streetcars and interurbans)
The new 741 bus in Maple Ridge brings you close (but not right to the gate) of the UBC Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, with a variety of trails ranging from leisurely walks to longer hikes.
Similarly, the 733 brings you close to some horse trails that can be followed into Golden Ears Park. I’ve still got my fingers crossed for a seasonal extension of the 733 providing service into the park.
Thanks for these Darryl! I love Buntzen lake but haven’t ventured out the Maple Ridge/Golden Ears Park way much. I’ll definitely have to look that way for future editions of this post! :)
Thank you so much for this post!
As a Vancouver’s lover (I’m from France and visits every summer), I only use public transportation so this takes away the hassle of finding new areas which I can access with transit.
Only problem is that now I need to add more days in parks but I’ll managae as I never get tired of walking in and around beautiful Vancouver.
Great job :D
Thanks for the kind words! Glad to hear you find this post useful. :)
For your day trip to Bowen Island the 257 express from in front of the Bay gets you to Horseshoe Bay so quickly. The 250 is very scenic along Marine Drive
Thanks Sarah for these great Transit suggestions! Tried the Coquitlam River trail to Crystal Falls, however we had to turn back due to a bear, but then easily went on to Rocky Point Park Shoreline Trail, a very enjoyable walk.
Yesterday had a wonderful day trip to Bowen Island, walking the Killarney Lake trail. It’s amazing that we can access these beautiful places via Transit!
Forgot to add our trip to Lighthouse Park! Lovely day out and so easy on the 250 bus from Georgia at Granville.
don’t forget bout the seymour regional greenway that starts at capilano university where you can see where your water comes from and u use the new rapidbus
Thanks for posting this for hikers. As seniors, we also do walks and easy bicycling around the city. There are many scenic walking trails, paths and safe bicycle routes accessible by transit too. This past week, we did the Fraser River Bank from Vancouver to Burnaby, and we rode our bicycle around the beautiful UBC campus and from South West Marine Drive down to Granville Island along the Abutus Greenway. Vancouver is a beautiful city to explore.
In life, where there is a winner, there is a loser.
Dorman point in bowen island is right by the ferry terminal and is much more beautiful and short hike! I think killarney lake is rather simple lake you can find elsewhere too
Dorman point in bowen island is right by the
And you think that some random people from the internet really care about it? They don’t and I can’t even blame them for it.
Keep an eye on my updates as well please, I have awesome articles and you will love them.
I was able to detect problem and cause of all your troubles, but fixing it will be hard as hell.
All of us believe in different superstitions, some superstitions are not harmful and they are even funny while others can actually create a lot of problems.
I know what I’m saying, you have to delete that exact file if you want to remove soft fully, otherwise it won’t work.
It changes nothing actually, we still have so many things to do, it will take the whole day.
In life, the winner wins.
This is the best application for Sports and Dofu Sports fans:
Keep up with all the live scores and ongoing Soccer, Soccer, Hockey, Baseball and many other sports games.