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Capilano Suspension Bridge – Great Tourist Attraction for Locals
With an abundance of outdoor options all around Metro Vancouver, we have avoided visiting Capilano Suspension Bridge due to its pricey entry fees ($62.95 for adults for a day ticket, which is the same price as an annual pass for BC residents). To us, it felt more like a tourist destination. Why pay $136 when…
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Mystery Creek Hike
Quick Facts: This hike is a great example of the lush temperate rain forests we are blessed with on the BC Coast. Towering trees cover most of the hike, with a small Mystery Creek running alongside a steep, rocky section. The Hyannis Trail starts in a quiet North Vancouver neighborhood where parking is limited but…
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Moodyville Park
Moodyville Park is a small urban park in North Vancouver that features a paved pump track and a playground. It’s tucked away behind apartment buildings, and the entrance is not well marked. My GPS had a hard time pinpointing where parking spots are, so we had to circle back both times we visited. Navigate to…
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Toddler Skiing Update – Grouse Mountain
Building on the success of 2020-21 skiing season, where Junior finally got into skiing after 15 visits to the ski hills, we got a season pass to Grouse Mountain this year. At first we were weary about the Skyride Tram being risky during the COVID19 pandemic, but we were relieved to find out that Grouse…
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Lynn Canyon Park
Before we went all out with exploring the outdoors during the pandemic, we only knew a few spots that we frequented around Metro Vancouver. Lynn Canyon Park is one of these go-to destinations of ours for many years. It features a great suspension bridge (a smaller but free alternative to the famed Capilano Suspension Bridge)…
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Mahon Park
Quick Facts: 2.8km walk Difficulty: easy, but not stroller friendly Traffic: light to moderate Facilities: free parking View: forest, creek side views Overall score: 6/10 Mahon Park is a sizeable municipal park in North Vancouver, featuring a very pleasant forested walk beside a loud Wagg Creek and a more mellow Mission Creek. There are 10…
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Rice Lake Hike
Quick Facts: AllTrails link: Rice Lake via Rice Creek Loop Trail, 3.1km with 26m elevation gain Difficulty: very easy, stroller friendly Traffic: heavy Facilities: flush toilet at parking lot, picnic tables, pit toilet at Rice Lake View: beautiful lake surrounded by lush forest Overall score: 8/10 This is a great little 3.1 km stroller friendly…
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Norvan Falls Trail – Lynn Headwaters Regional Park
Quick Facts: AllTrails link: Norvan Falls, 13.8km with 345m elevation Difficulty: moderate to challenging, 5 hour hike Traffic: moderate Facilities: pit toilet at the parking lot View: Lynn Creek, Norvan Falls Overall score: 8/10 This is Hike #5 on Stephen Hui’s 105 Hikes in and Around Southwestern British Columbia, which he rated as ‘easy’ with a…
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Lynn Creek Sea to Sky Trail
Quick Facts: AllTrails link: Sea to Sky Trail, 11.9km with 235m elevation gain Difficulty: moderate, but many flights of stairs make it strenuous Traffic: heavy in the urban parks in Lower Lynn and near the suspension bridge, light to moderate in between Facilities: flush toilets at Lynn Canyon Cafe and Bridgman Park View: Twin Falls,…
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Dog Mountain Snowshoe
Quick Facts: AllTrails link: Dog Mountain Trail Difficulty: green snowshoe trail (took us 3 hours to complete) Traffic: very busy on weekends Facilities: flush toilet in the ski resort View: spectacular views of Metro Vancouver Overall score: 8/10 Dog Mountain Trail is one of the most popular, beginner-friendly snowshoeing trails around Vancouver. It is very…