Capilano River Regional Park is a fantastic spot to visit, especially if you are already in the…read morearea after checking out the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The trails here are beautiful and take you through lush, stunning rain forests with incredible scenery along the river. It is right next to the Capilano River Hatchery, which is also a nice and informative stop to add to your walk. Overall, it has great, well-maintained trails, and I would definitely recommend stopping by if you are spending time in North Vancouver!

This park is great. Visited on a gloomy rainy day and it qas still great. There are steep paths to…read moreget down to the river and back up. There are tons of hikes once you pass the dam. The paths are well taken care of and there are plenty of signs. The 2nd look point is great and so is the path to the hatchery, just beware of the steep route.

Very nice leisurely hike (~1.5 km each direction) from the Mount Seymour parking lot. This hike is…read morelike a flatter version of Quarry Rock. Parking is plentiful here during the summer months, which is nice. To get to the trail, just go towards the chair lift (bear hut), and down the road N of the parking lot. There is a gentle dip where the trail begins. There is also a trail map at this point. The walk is actually quite leisurely, without much of an elevation change. Great for socializing, and not strenuous at all. The trail can be a bit narrow for large sections (only room for single file), so traffic jams are unfortunately quite common. This is probably the single biggest downside to the trail. There is a random lake (large puddle?) about halfway along the trail, with a viewpoint dock. The view from the peak is pretty nice. On a clear day, one can see Vancouver and SFU. There are lots of birds (whiskey jacks and ravens) who like human food. Bring a granola bar or other suitable food and they'll eat the food right out of your hands if you stick your arm out. Makes for some great photos if desired. Great place to bring friends from out of town if they want to sample the West Coast lifestyle.

After my friend and I hiked Mystery Lake, we decided to hike the Dog Mountain trail. I had never…read morehiked Dog Mountain before, and while my friend has snowshoed up Dog Mountain, he had never hiked it when there wasn't snow, so it was a new experience for him. Once again the trail was marked as "easy", but it was far from it. While "only" a 5km round trip, the trail was NOT easy. (Length of trail does not dictate the difficulty, in my opinion.) The first 15 minutes or so of the trail are deceptively easy -- smooth, flat ground that is suitable for all abilities. A literal walk in the park. But shortly before getting to First Lake (which is at the 1km mark), there are some inclines and roots and rocks, which, while not difficult for an experienced hiker, someone with mobility issues would likely have to turn back at this point. From First Lake to the peak of Dog Mountain, it's another 1.5km. Not a far distance, but it took us about an hour just to hike from First Lake to the peak, as the terrain was quite a challenge. There were a lot of inclines, and we had to do a lot of scrambling over rocks and roots (while on the inclines) as well as walk along several logs crossing over creeks. Not impossible by any means, but not easy. Definitely not appropriate for someone's first hike. To add to the difficulty of the terrain, I am only five feet tall, so hiking is a lot more difficult for me than for a taller person, as I can't just step down or step over a log/rock/root, as my legs are shorter. My inability to easily step down or over something has nothing to do with my ability, but with my physical stature, and due to this, it puts a lot of pressure on my knees, and it just takes me longer to complete a hike. (I really need to invest in hiking poles!) While a taller person can just step over something, I have to scramble on all fours, or instead of just stepping down from a rock, I will have to step sideways or, like a toddler, sit down and then scoot down on my butt, in order to avoid falling and twisting my ankle. So because of the terrain and my height, the hike was slow going, and the entire hike, there and back (including a brief 15 minute stop at the top for a snack and photos) took about 3 hours, while the website and signs, which must have been written by a 6'5" man, says it is an easy two hour hike (NOT TRUE!). All in all it was a fun and challenging hike, and there was a lovely view at the top, but it it is NOT easy, and people with mobility issues would not be able to complete it. Walking to First Lake and back would make a nice little hike for a beginner hiker, though. My friend, who had only snowshoed up Dog Mountain, was surprised at the terrain -- covered in snow, he wasn't aware of all the roots and rocks. Things to note: there were fewer bugs than on the Mystery Lake trail, and dogs are allowed, although they must be on a leash. [Yelp collections: Hiking]

If you're looking for a hike that ends with a swim, Mystery Lake is hard to beat…read more The lake itself is incredibly clean. I was expecting the water to be absolutely freezing, but it was surprisingly comfortable once you got in. It still has that hidden locals' spot feeling, which is becoming harder and harder to find. If you're visiting on a warm summer day, don't forget your swimsuit. There's nothing better than cooling off in the lake after the hike, and that's what makes this place stand out from so many other trails around Vancouver.

Beautiful lake but can't swim cause the water is murky! The…read moretrail was beautiful would say it's a beginner trail since you can finish within 30mins

At first, the steps at the beginning had me a bit worried. I was winded and my legs were a bit…read moreunsure, but once you get past those stairs, the beauty of this trail takes over. I went hiking on the Baden Powell Trail the day after a huge rainstorm and it was quite dry and in good condition. I loved the many waterfalls and gullies. The walls of ferns and mossy trees are just breathtaking. And of course, the view from the top is just spectacular. On my hike I saw lots of people with dogs of all sizes, and people with babies in carriers and kids too. I went on Memorial Day weekend so Quarry Rock was pretty busy when we got up there. From the cute shops in Deep Cove to this wonderful trail, this is a perfect spot for any tourist or local looking for a relaxing day out.

This hike was very manageable and had many boarded paths throughout. It is also quite popular so…read moreI'd recommend coming early to get parking. The view at the top is nice but it's not completely nature as you can still see boats, homes, and the surrounding urban landscape.

Norvan Falls is the perfect hike for those wanting a longer, but not too difficult a hike. Round…read moretrip is 14km and it takes about 5 hours, but don't let the distance scare you -- the first (and last) 4km is a walk on nearly flat ground, with only the last 3km being moderately challenging. I have hiked to Norvan Falls a couple of times, and yesterday was the first time in five or six years. Norvan Falls is located in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, and the first 4km of the hike consists of half of the Lynn Loop Trail and the Cedars Mill Trail*, which are classified as easy. The Lynn Loop Trail and Cedars Mill Trail are flat and people with mobility issues would have little trouble, although there are some boardwalks and a couple of steps. It took my friend and I an hour to walk these two trails at an unhurried pace. After 4km, you get to a clearing where the Cedars Mills Trail meets up with the Headwaters Trail. You can either turn around and walk 4km back to the park entrance via the Lynn Loop and Cedars Mill Trail, making for a nice two hour walk (or you can take the more challenging Headwaters Trail instead of the Cedar Mills Trail), or you can continue for 3km up the Headwaters Trail to Norvan Falls. While the Headwaters Trail is classified as "intermediate", it is on the easier side of intermediate. It's not a walk in the park (as is the Lynn Loop and Cedars Mill Trail), as there are some steep parts, rocks, and flowing water to walk through, which requires a little bit of scrambling (someone with mobility issues could not do this hike), but it's not extremely difficult. It took us just over an hour to hike the 3km and reach the falls. Once we got to Norvan Falls, we stopped for a quick lunch and to take some photos of the waterfall. On our way back, once we got to the clearing, instead of taking the Cedar Mills Trail, we continued along the Headwaters Trail for a more challenging hike, connecting back up with the Lynn Loop Trail. (See the map for our route.) The Headwaters Trail was a nice challenge, and a great workout, with several stairs and some steep parts I had to scramble up. Including a 20 minute stop for lunch, the hike took five hours, and despite being an easier-intermediate hike, I was exhausted after! (My legs are feeling it today!) Norvan Falls is a good hike for someone who is transitioning from easy hikes to intermediate hikes and who is starting to do longer hikes -- over the years I have been on several five or six hour hikes, and this is one of the easiest. I look forward to doing this hike again to get some much needed exercise and to work towards more challenging hikes. *Instead of going along the Cedars Mill Trail, you can take the harder Headwaters Trail, which we took on our way back. [Yelp collections: Hiking]

This is a beautiful beach walk in West Vancouver. Take in views of the west side of Vancouver,…read moreLionsgate bridge and the shores of West Vancouver. There are a variety of child friendly areas with playgrounds and sandy beaches. There are several washrooms located along the beach walk. If you are looking for a dog friendly area, there is a large area on the south east section of the park along the waterfront. There is a mini golf course nearby and The Boatshed, a great concession stand with a variety of breakfast, lunch or snack items. A must visit!

Ambleside Beach has that quintessential Vancouver mix of ocean, mountains, and community. You can…read morepaddle board and play volleyball during the summer or enjoy a quiet and peaceful stroll during the winter. One of my favourite little spots is the pond along the edge of the beach, where I've spotted beautiful swans. It's the opposite of the busy seawall and a perfect place to watch nature. I especially love the nighttime here where you get to take in all the glory of the Lions Gate Bridge and the sparkling lights of the city. Ambleside Beach is a rare place that somehow still manages to make you feel peaceful in the middle of a very busy city.

Great Park along the Bérard Inlet in North Vancouver British Columbia Canada…read more Pickleball Courts x6 tennis courts x2. Excellent all around family area!!!

I love Cates Park now that I have been here many times during the non-peak period. The first time I…read morecame here, it was super crowded and there were no parking spots at all. That was at the height of summer on a weekend. Now I only come here on weekdays and weekend outside of summer. It is a fairly big park with a pier at one side, and walking trails and beach on the other. I much prefer the walking trails area with little cove areas where you can put your beach blanket or mat down and chill. Washrooms are available between the two areas. You can swim, kayak and fish/crab from here. Paid parking is near the pier and for those taking their boats out. Otherwise it is free parking in the other areas.

A beautiful lake not far from downtown Vancouver. There are various easy walking trails surrounding…read morethe lake. Suitable trails for all ages including your fur baby. Fishing is allowed with a limit of 2 fishes per day. Tip: no bikes, boating and swimming. Enjoy the calm scenery.

Located in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, Rice Lake is an easy, 2km loop that takes under…read morean hour to complete. Anyone can do the Rice Lake loop -- it's actually wheelchair accessible! There are benches scattered around the lake, as well as an outhouse. You can access it from Dempsey and Lynn Valley Road (by The End of the Line General Store), near the entrance of Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, or from the park itself. Because it's a short, easy walk, I sometimes add it on after I hike Lynn Loop to make it a longer hike. [Yelp collections: Hiking]