7 Fun Beginner Hikes in Vancouver

With mountains, forests, and ocean all around, Vancouver is a great city for hiking. If you aren’t ready to tackle the mountain summits, you can still see some beautiful scenery on these beautiful beginner hikes around Vancouver.

Safety First: AdventureSmart recommends bringing a backpack with essential safety and first aid gear on every hike. Check the forecast and pack extra clothing for the weather. Leave a trip plan so someone knows where you are going and when you will be back. Check out our season-specific tips for safe fall, winter, spring, and summer hiking in Vancouver for more advice.

Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Vancouver

Make an easy loop through the maze of trails at Pacific Spirit Regional Park in Vancouver’s Point Grey neighbourhood. Use our Pacific Spirit Regional Park trail guide to follow a 9 km route that takes you past giant trees, a unique bog ecosystem, and one of the city’s remaining salmon spawning streams.

Stanley Park, Vancouver

Most visitors to Stanley Park focus on the aquarium, seawall, and beaches. But there are gorgeous hiking trails through the forest in the center of the park. You can hike an easy 8-kilometre loop that visits several viewpoints and travels through lots of picturesque rainforest. Get the details in our Stanley Park hiking guide.

Whyte Lake, West Vancouver

The 5 km round-trip hike to Whyte Lake follows a creek gently uphill through old-growth forest. Your destination is tiny Whyte Lake, a great place for a swim in summer or quiet contemplation the rest of the year. Our Whyte Lake trail guide has all the info you need.

Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver

The oceanside trails at West Vancouver’s Lighthouse Park are perfect for hiking at any time of year. Follow a 6 km loop around the park that includes views of the lighthouse and downtown Vancouver, plus lots of gorgeous coastal rainforest. For complete directions, see our Lighthouse Park hiking guide.

Bowen Lookout, West Vancouver

The short hike to Bowen Lookout in Cypress Provincial Park has a steep finish, but it is manageable for beginners. The view of Bowen Island, Howe Sound, and the Sunshine Coast from the top is well worth the effort. Get directions for this 4.5 km round-trip hike in our Bowen Lookout hiking guide.

Quarry Rock, North Vancouver

The forested trail to Quarry Rock in North Vancouver’s Deep Cove neighbourhood is a locals’ favourite. The 4 km round-trip path winds across bridges and stairs through the forest and finishes at a bluff with spectacular ocean views. See our Quarry Rock trail guide for tips and directions.

Rice Lake, North Vancouver

The flat 3 km loop around Rice Lake is one of Vancouver’s easiest hikes, but also one of its most scenic. Located in North Vancouver’s Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, the trail includes a floating dock and dozens of lakeside rest stops where you can admire the serene reflections. For complete directions, see our Rice Lake hiking guide.