26 Best winter hikes in Vancouver BC

Winter hiking in Vancouver, British Columbia can be a truly magical experience. With its towering mountains, snow-covered forests, and crisp, clean air, winter hikes in Vancouver are the perfect way to enjoy the beauty of the winter season

I lived in Vancouver for 6 years and one of my favourite things about Vancouver was how you could go hiking all year round. There are so many awesome winter hikes in Vancouver both snow-free and snowy ones and getting out on a winter hike is one of the best things to do in Vancouver in winter.

While you do need to take some extra preparation and precautions for winter hikes in Vancouver, they’re so worth it! Since Vancouver has a mild climate, you can find winter hikes both with and without snow. I’ve included both options below so you can pick what you fancy!

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a beginner, there are plenty of winter hikes in Vancouver that offer breathtaking views and a chance to get some exercise while surrounded by nature.

There’s also a huge list of transit accessible hikes in Vancouver if you don’t have a car.

What to know before going on winter hikes in Vancouver

• Trail conditions: You can check trail conditions before going on hikes either by asking in Facebook groups, checking recent reviews on AllTrails or, if the hike is within BC Parks, they often have trail conditions posted online.
• Avalanche training: Check Avalanche Canada before going out on your hike. If it’s moderate or above you should reconsider your plan if you don’t have avalanche training.
• Leave no trace: Always remember to leave no trace when you’re
• Be AdventureSmart: trip plan, train, and take the essentials
• Hiking in the snow is more tiring and takes longer than these hikes do in the summer. Give yourself plenty of time and start early to avoid hiking in the dark.

Map of the best best winter hikes Vancouver

Click the image below to open up an interactive map of Vancouver winter hikes.

AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.

Best snow free hikes in Vancouver

Not a fan of the snow? No worries! There are plenty of Vancouver trails in winter that stay snow-free (almost) the whole year round. Of course, if it’s snowed in Vancouver, or you can see snow over in North Vancouver, then these hikes will be snowy too.

And, just because they’re not snowy doesn’t mean they’re not icy. I strongly recommend taking your microspikes with you in your backpack on this list of the best hikes in Vancouver BC as you never know when you’ll hit some slippery sections even on these snow free hikes Vancouver has!

Quarry Rock

Update March 2023: Quarry Rock trail is now open again

Quarry Rock is one of the most popular easy hikes in Vancouver. The trailhead for Quarry Rock is in Deep Cover and the hike takes 1-2 hours depending on how long you spend enjoying the views at the top.

You’ll walk through the forest with some gentle uphill sections over roots and rocks before coming out to a large rock (Quarry Rock!) with views of Deep Cove, Indian Arm and over to Belcarra.

This is one of the best easy winter hikes in Vancouver and you should check out these other things to do in Deep Cove (including doughnuts!) after your walk.

Quarry Rock is also one of the Vancouver hikes that can be accessed by public transit so you don’t even need a car.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 3.8 km
• Duration: 1-2 hours

Diez Vistas

Over in Buntzen Lake Regional Park is the Diez Vistas Trail. This is one of the most popular trails in the area.

Though its name suggests there are 10 views, there are really fewer now with all the tree growth. But, hiking Diez Vistas in winter means you will get a few more views than normal since there are fewer leaves blocking your views!

In peak winter in Vancouver you may find snow on the upper parts of the trail, so always have your microspikes. However, the majority of this hike is snow-free year-round.

To start, you’ll walk along the side of Buntzen Lake before heading up and walking the Diez Vistas trail.

One of the nice things about this winter walk in Vancouver is that it’s a loop trail so you won’t be retracing your steps.

Once you’ve left the lake behind the trail can be quite tricky to walk on, especially if there’s no snow. There are some steep sections and plenty of tree roots and rocks to navigate which can slow down your pace.

Given that, I would expect this hike to take you longer than you originally think.

You will get some incredible views of the Indian Arm and Deep Cove though. And, if you’ve already done Quarry Rock you can revel in having seen the same view from two different angles which is pretty cool! You’ll also get views out towards downtown Vancouver in the distance.

• Difficulty: Moderate/hard
• Distance: 13 km
• Duration: 3 – 4 hours

Buntzen Lake

The Buntzen Lake trail is an easy winter walk in the same areas as the Diez Vistas trail. This is a popular choice for easy winter hikes Vancouver has to offer.

On this hike, you’ll walk all the way around beautiful Buntzen Lake on a 10 km, well-maintained and easy-to-follow trail.

There are small sections uphill but it’s minimal and makes for a great winter walk that’s almost always snow free.

Along the way are several viewing areas and benches where you can sit and soak in the views. For this reason, I like to pack a hot drink on this hike and have a cup of tea (so British!), or hot chocolate part way through.

• Distance: 10 km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: 2-3 hours

Belcarra Bluffs Lookout

Belcarra Bluffs Lookout is a pretty quiet trail that takes you through the forest and out to a beautiful viewpoint.

The hike begins from the Belcarra Regional Park parking lot and can be done as a loop or an out and back. If there’s a loop trail available, then I’m always going to choose the loop!

At the viewpoint, you can see downtown Vancouver and some of the North Shore as well as Deep Cove and the Indian Arm.

Once you get to the viewpoint at Belcarra Bluffs, you can head down along the ocean for some more lovely views, before looping back to the parking lot.

While this hike does have snow if it’s snowy in the city, for most of the winter in Vancouver it’ll be snow free.

• Distance: 6.5 km
• Difficulty: Easy/moderate
• Duration: 2-3 hours

Whyte Lake

For winter hikes in West Vancouver, you can’t beat Whyte Lake. Whyte Lake is another easy hike in Vancouver during winter.

The trail to Whyte Lake has minimal elevation and goes through the forest of West Vancouver before coming out to the lake.

At the lake, there’s a wooden dock and some boardwalk.

In really cold winters people skated on this lake! That’s a pretty rare occurrence, but super cool if you get to see it. Most of the season the ice won’t be very frozen over and the trail will be snow free.

You can also continue from Whyte Lake up to West Knob but this trail gets steeper and has a greater chance of snow. There are also routes towards Eagle Bluffs along the Baden Powell Trail. But, again, this will be snowy in winter.

• Distance: 5 km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: 1 – 2 hours

Tunnel Bluffs

The ever-popular Tunnel Bluffs hike is a great Vancouver hike all year round.

The trail starts from Lions Bay (since the Sea to Sky trailhead is no longer accessible due to parking restrictions).

The trail from Lions Bay is much easier than it was from the highway (I’ve hiked it both ways). After the initial climb and switchbacks on the logging roads, you’ll come to a turn-off before heading across to Tunnel Bluffs.

Here, there are long sections of flat trails and a couple of river crossings before you get to the main viewpoint.

At the viewpoint you get amazing views of the Howe Sounds, and over to Bowen Island and the Sunshine Coast.

There can be snow on this hike so make sure you’ve checked trail conditions before heading out, and always pack your microspikes.

Before hiking Tunnel Bluffs: Please note that you are not allowed to camp on Tunnel Bluffs. Always take your rubbish with you, the last time I visited there was so much left up there. Parking at Lions Bay can be very difficult though it is easy for winter hikes than summer ones.

• Distance: 11.5 km
• Duration: 3-5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Lighthouse Park

Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver is a very popular park that combines forest trails with oceans, rocky outcrops and, of course, a lighthouse.

The lighthouse at Lighthouse Park looks all the way back to downtown Vancouver and Stanely Park. Also nearby there’s a hidden bunker that’s one of the top Vancouver secrets to find!

Lighthouse Park is popular with both climbers and walkers and it’s dog friendly too! If you’re looking for somewhere for a winter walk in Vancouver then this park is a great spot.

There are numerous trails that cross over each other and some take you down to the waterfront.

From here, you can watch the climbers top out at the arbutus trees on the rock, or keep your eyes open for seals and sea lions down in the water below (I’ve seen plenty here!).

It’s also a great place for winter hiking trails in Vancouver, BC with children since there’s not much elevation on any of the routes.

• Distance: varies, can be 0.5 km to 5 km
• Duration: 30 mins – 2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy

Kennedy Falls

Kennedy Falls is one of the best hikes in North Vancouver is a great hike through the forest that ends in a pretty spectacular waterfall. this is another awesome Vancouver hike that’s accessible on public transit.

Though the waterfall isn’t the tallest one in the area, it’s still pretty impressive and well worth hiking to in winter.

Along the way, you’ll also go past the Big Cedar tree which is a massive Red Cedar tree that’s estimated to be over 600 years old! There’s also some old logging equipment that’s been left behind in the forest to look out for.

There’s some elevation gain along the route, but nothing super steep.

At certain times throughout the winter season, this route will have snow on it. However, it remains snow free well into winter and becomes mostly snow-free earlier than the ‘snowy’ winter hikes in Vancouver mentioned below. Either way, make sure you pack your microspikes.

• Distance: 10 km
• Duration: 3-4 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Rice Lake

Rice Lake is one of my favourite places in North Vancouver for trail running or easy winter walks. It’s one of those Vancouver hiking trails that doesn’t take up much time but is perfect to clear your head.

The path around Rice Lake is just over 2 km long with virtually no elevation gain (bar a few metres here and there where you go uphill a bit). You can easily combine a walk or run around Rice Lake with a walk over to the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge or towards Norvan Falls.

Rice Lake is a perfect winter walk in Vancouver for families and the lake itself is very picturesque. It’s one of the best and most accessible easy hikes in North Vancouver.

• Distance: 2.2 km
• Duration: 30 mins
• Difficulty: Easy

Pacific Spirit Regional Park & Stanley Park trails

Don’t discount the two beautiful parks within the city as an option for winter walks in Vancouver!

Pacific Spirit Regional Park and the inner trails in Stanley Park are beautiful during the winter. The pine forests are a relaxing place to be and they look super cool when the mist rolls in.

These two parks are some of the best places to walk in Vancouver without a doubt.

If it’s raining you get a peaceful sound as the droplets come through the trees. Plus, if you’re a dog fan, you get to say hello to plenty of dogs on the off-leash trails in Pacific Spirit!

• Distance: Varies, can be several km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: 1 -2 hours

Murrin Loop Trail

One of the most popular hikes in Squamish with great views is the Murrin Loop trail. Fortunately, since you’re doing this in winter, it’s a bit quieter and much easier to get a parking spot in the parking lot.

The trail starts just off the highway at the parking lot for Murrin Lake and takes you up through the forest before coming out to the Quercus Viewpoint.

This is one of the best hikes around Vancouver to watch the sunset as it’s such as short and easy trail. You’ll also get incredible views of the Howe Sound as the sun goes down and you can also see the Sea to Sky highway.

If you want to make it tricker, you can walk along the Jurassic Ridge trail which has some more technical sections.

• Duration: 1 hour
• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 2 km

Brohm Lake and Tantalus Lookout

Brohm Lake is a super popular lake in Squamish but most visitors don’t hike up to the Tantalus Lookout which I think is a mistake!

The Tantalus Mountain Range is my favourite mountain range in the area and from the Tantalus Lookout at Brohm Lake, you get such a good view of it.

The hike takes you from the parking lot around the lake and then through the forest before heading up to the viewpoint. You can loop back down a different way and cross over a small wooden bridge at the other end of Brohm Lake to where you started.

While you might find snow on the higher elevation sections as you reach the viewpoint, this trail will be majority snow free for most of the winter.

• Distance: Varies depending on the route you take, usually under 5 km
• Duration: 2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy-moderate

Norvan Falls

Norvan Falls is a long winter hike in Vancouver that has minimal elevation. It goes through some of the most beautiful forests in North Vancouver so it’s perfect for a rainy day hike. Or, you can take the flat gravel trail along the river for some of the route before heading into the forest.

One of the cool things about Norvan Falls is that if there’s been a week or so of cold temperatures, Norvan Falls actually freezes! It’s rare for the waterfalls near Vancouver to freeze so if you get the chance, definitely go check it out

The first time I saw Norvan Falls was when it was frozen. I then returned a second time a few years later and ran the trail to see it when it wasn’t frozen.

It’s such a great option if you’re looking for North Vancouver walking trails. It’s also one of the top hikes in Vancouver during the fall.

While you should expect there to be snowy or icy patches at certain times during winter, this is one of the trails that stays and becomes snow-free earlier than others.

• Duration: 5 hours
• Distance: 14 km
• Difficulty: Moderate

Jug Island Trail

This was one of the first Vancouver hikes I did and I still think it’s a great one. Especially if you’re looking for winter walks in Vancouver.

Jug Island is a small island just off the northern tip of Belcarra Regional Park to the east of Vancouver. While you can’t walk out to the island, you can walk to the beach which sits just across from it.

At the beach, you’ll get great views of the Indian Arm too.

One thing to note is that the beach can either be barely there or relatively wide, depending on the tide times. If you’re planning to sit on the beach, it’d be a good idea to check the tide times before your hike.

The trail begins to climb from the parking lot quite quickly but soon flattens out. It’ll then get a bit wider and heads ever so slightly downhill, through the gorgeous forest and comes out at the beach and Jug Island.

This winter trail in Vancouver BC is transit accessible and allows dogs too!

• Distance: 5.5 km
• Duration: 2-3 hours
• Difficulty: Easy-moderate

Stawamus Chief – The Chief

One of the most well-known hikes in Squamish is the Stawamus Chief or the Squamish Chief trail.

The Chief is the name given to the huge granite rock that looks down over Squamish and can be seen from pretty much anywhere in the town.

The first section of the trail is predominately on a wooden staircase that gets your legs burning from the get-go. Then you have the option of going to 1, 2 or 3 of the peaks on the Chief.

The most popular peak is the first peak which gives you that classic view down of downtown Squamish. To get to the first peak you’ll have to navigate some ladders and steep areas where chains are used to help you get up.

Once you reach the top, you’ll also be able to see some of the Tantalus Range as well as the Howe Sound. the views are spectacular!

There are some other great winter hikes in Squamish that gives you views of the Chief too. Such as the hike to Mt Crumpit and the Slhanay Trail.

Sometimes you will find snow on the Chief and the rocks can get icy so be sure to check trail conditions and pack accordingly.

• Distance: 4-6 km
• Duration: 4 – 6 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Hunter trail

A trail that’s become super popular in recent years is the Hunter Trail near Mission.

This is quite an easy winter hike in Vancouver and takes you along a forestry service road for most of the way. At the end of the hike, you’ll come out to a beautiful viewpoint of Stave Lake.

The hike itself isn’t the most interesting, it’s really all about the views at the end, rather than what you see along the way. Having said that, you can still admire the forest as you walk along the logging road.

This trail can be snowy at certain times during winter so be sure to check trail conditions or recent reviews on AllTrails before heading out. If it’s snowed overnight, you may need snowshoes.

• Distance: 7.7 km
• Duration: 2-3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Best Hikes With Snow in Vancouver

If you’re looking to go hiking in the snow, here are some hikes that stay snowy long into winter and are usually some of the first to get snow too. These winter hikes are magical if you’ve prepared and brought the right great with you!

Bowen Lookout

Bowen Lookout up at Cypress Mountain Ski Area is the hike near Vancouver that I’ve done the most. It’s perfect for a little after-work walk in spring and fall, or for weekend winter walks in the winter. It’s easily one of my favourite hiking spots in Vancouver.

Bowen Lookout sits above the base of Cypress Mountain ski area and is snowy quite early on in winter (early December, or late November varying from year to year) and the snow lasts into spring.

The hike is short but does manage to fit in some steep climbing on a couple of switchbacks before you head downhill slightly and come out at the viewpoint.

The view from Bowen Lookout is beautiful and you can see where Bowen Island is, the Sunshine Coast and the Howe Sound. It’s particularly pretty at sunset when you can watch the sun sink into the Pacific.

Quite often in the winter, it can be super cloudy in Vancouver but, if you check the Cypress Mountain webcams and see it’s sunny at the top of the chairlifts, it’ll be sunny at Bowen Lookout too and you can see a cloud inversion! It’s super cool to get above the clouds like this.

Since this is a popular hike and the trail is well-trodden, you’re usually okay with just microspikes here. However, if it has snowed a lot recently or is snowing heavily when you do this hike then I recommend packing snowshoes.

• Distance: 5 km
• Duration: 30 mins – 1.5 hours
• Difficulty: Easy

Brockton Point and Pump Peak on Mount Seymour

Brockton Point will always hold a special place in my heart as I got engaged just past Brockton Point in one of my favourite places for free camping in Vancouver.

Brockton Point is a short winter hike on Mount Seymour that takes you alongside the ski area and uphill to some fantastic views over downtown Vancouver and out towards Grouse Mountain.

You can continue the hike up to the First Peak on the Mount Seymour Trail, Pump Peak if you wish.

However, you should be aware that this passes through avalanche terrain. Do not try and cut the hike shorter by taking the direct line up to Pump Peak as this is where avalanches can happen. Instead, take the marked winter route and reconsider this hike if the avalanche conditions are higher than moderate.

From the peak of Pump Mountain, you not only get great views of downtown Vancouver, but you get 360-degree views all around you. It’s one of my favourite views from hikes on the North Shore.

Though I have done this hike both towards the start and tail-end of winter. I’ve never been to Pump Peak in mid-winter. However, when I’ve been to Brockton Point, I’ve usually been grateful to have snowshoes with me (whether I used them the whole way or not).

Brockton Point and Pump Peak are also super popular for ski touring near Vancouver and great options if you’re looking for hikes to do in winter in Vancouver.

• Distance: 7 km (to Pump Peak)
• Duration: 4 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Dog Mountain

An easier hike with great views at Mt Seymour is Dog Mountain.

Dog Mountain is a short walk without much elevation that takes you past a couple of lakes (though they’ll be covered in snow in winter) and out towards a rocky area with some great views of downtown Vancouver and Burnaby.

This trail gets a lot of visitors, and you will usually only need microspikes for this winter hike near Vancouver.

• Distance: 5 km
• Duration: 2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy

For the 23/24 winter season, you will need a day-use pass to access Mount Seymour and Brockton Point. Passes can be booked from 7 am, two days before your planned visit. Cancelled passes are added back to the list to book so you could book a cancellation. You can only book one AM/PM/All-day pass per day. you do not need a pass if you have a ski ticket for Seymour. Book your pass here.

Hollyburn Mountain

One of my favourite winter hikes in Vancouver is Hollyburn Mountain. Hollyburn Mountain up near the Cypress Ski Area is a popular route that offers great views of The Lions as well as some views of downtown Vancouver as you hike back down.

It’s a popular route for snowshoeing and ski touring in Vancouver. You need to take care to start from the small trail off the road to the Nordic Ski Area, rather than from the base of the Nordic area. If you start from the Nordic area you will need to pay the trail fee for this hike.

There are quite a few false summits along the way but you’ll know when you’re at the top as you simply can’t go any further and you get incredible views!

• Distance: 7 km
• Duration: 3-4 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Black Mountain & Eagle Bluffs

Yet another winter hike at Cypress is the Black Mountain and Eagle Bluffs Trail. This hike is popular with ski tourers and both skiers and hikers use the same trail on the way up.

This hike starts out very steeply while you climb alongside (not on) the ski trail. Once you’ve reached the top of the ski trail and Black Mountain, the trail flattens out significantly.

While you do get some views from Black Mountain, they’re not as good as from Eagle Bluffs so I recommend continuing to Eagle Bluffs.

You’ll then walk deeper into the forest before descending to a rocky outcrop which is known as Eagle Bluffs.

From Eagle Bluffs, you get great views of the Howe Sound and down towards Horseshoe Bay.

• Duration: 8 km
• Distance: 3-4 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

Snowshoe Grind at Grouse Mountain / Dam Mountain

The Snowshoe Grind at Grouse Mountain is the resort’s answer to the Grouse Grind for the winter season.

This steep winter hike is definitely a workout (especially in snowshoes) but is a great replacement for the Grouse Grind which is closed in winter.

Start by taking the Grouse gondola up to the top and then when you arrive look for the orange SSG markers.

You’ll see a timer chip where you can track your time if you wish. Then, it’s simply a case of just following the markers as you make your way up the snowshoe grind and the summit of Dam Mountain.

If you’re doing this hike before or after the ski area has closed for the season, you can also link up Dam Mountain with a hike over to Thunderbird Ridge which is another awesome viewpoint.

• Distance: 4.3 km
• Difficulty: Easy-moderate
• Duration: 1 hour

Elfin Lakes

A classic winter hike in Vancouver, Elfin Lakes is one of the best trails near Squamish for snowshoers or ski tourers. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the best day hikes from Vancouver.

The trail is long and will take all day, but the views once you get past Red Heather Hut are well worth the effort.

Elfin Lakes is in Garibaldi Provincial Park and the road up to the parking lot is a logging road which is super snowy in winter. You’ll likely need snow chains to make it up the road and a 4×4 or good AWD vehicle. At certain times during winter, BC Parks staff will be checking to ensure you have snow chains on you.

While this trail is 22 km long, there aren’t any super steep sections. You can also just go as far as Cowboy Ridge past Red Heather Hut if you don’t want to go all the way down to the lakes.

Snow on the Elfin Lakes trail lasts into summer and so you should pack your micro spikes if you’re doing this hike any time before July.

When I hiked Elfin Lakes in late April, the trail was mostly covered in snow from Red Heather Hut and the campsites were buried under snow. The lakes were just starting to thaw out and were the most incredible glacial blue colour! It’s still one of the best winter hikes in BC that I’ve done!

If you want to start winter camping, camping at Elfin Lakes is a good place for it. The Elfin Lakes shelter hasn’t been in operation for several years and it’s unclear whether it will reopen.

If you’ve previously hiked Elfin Lakes in the summer, the trail in winter is different, so don’t rely on your previous map or route finding. This is a trail I suggest you always have snowshoes for during winter, even if you don’t need them the whole way.

• Distance: 22km
• Duration: 6-8 hours
• Difficulty: Difficult (due to length, not elevation)

Garibaldi Lake

Another full-day winter hike near Vancouver is Garibaldi Lake. A super popular hike in the summer (and one of my favourites!), Garibaldi Lake is also a great winter hike where you’ll feel as though you’re in a magical winter wonderland.

The walk on the switchbacks through the forest isn’t always the most exciting, and you’ll have to watch for skiers coming down, but you can get some great views from the Barrier Lake lookout.

Depending on exactly when in winter you’re doing this hike, Garibaldi Lake will most likely be frozen over so you won’t see that beautiful blue colour.

However, you can still enjoy views of the surrounding mountains all covered in snow.

Also, be aware that Rubble Creek Road is not always plowed and may require snow chains to drive up it.

You should also have experience in winter hiking and avalanche training as conditions up at Garibaldi Lake can be dangerous.

This is one of those options for a winter hike Vancouver has that you can also do as a guided hike from Vancouver.

• Distance: 18 km
• Duration: 6-8 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate, but long

Windy Joe in Manning Park

For something a bit further away, you could try a snowshoe hike to Windy Joe in Manning Park which is one of the best winter hikes near Vancouver.

This is another long hike with a fair bit of elevation gain, but you get amazing views at the top of Windy Joe. Plus, there’s a cool fire cabin there which you can go inside to enjoy your lunch and enjoy the views all around.

This is a winter hike near Vancouver that you’ll definitely want snowshoes for as it’s not super trafficked and you’ll probably find some soft patches where snowshoes will help.

There are lots of snowshoeing trails in Manning Park and Manning Park Resort but this has to be one of the snowshoeing and winter hiking trails in Manning Park with the best mountain views.

For something easier, take a snowshoe around Lightning Lakes.

• Distance: 15.8 km
• Duration: 4-6 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous

Artist’s Point in Mt Baker

Fancy a trip across the border? One of my favourite winter hikes near Vancouver is actually in Washington near Mt Baker!

The Artist’s Point snowshoe is such a beautiful winter hike and easily one of the best winter hikes in Washington.

It’s not too difficult, though there are some uphill climbs, and you get incredible mountain views pretty much the whole way.

When you reach the top, you’ll get views of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan in front of you.

It’s a busy trail since it’s neither too hard nor too long. But you’ll still be able to find a spot near the top of Artist Point to enjoy the views in peace.

• Distance: 6.3 km
• Duration: 2-3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

What to pack for winter hikes in Vancouver Canada

• Check out my day hike packing list here.
• For Vancouver hikes in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
• You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in (mine is also my ski touring backpack!).
• You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
• Hand warmers: I always take a pair of hand warmers with me on winter hikes since my circulation is rubbish and my hands always get cold. I prefer Little Hotties over other brands as they seem to last the longest and get the warmest.

When it comes to things to do in Vancouver in the winter, winter hikes are always fun. However, it can be hard to know whether to pack microspikes, snowshoes or crampons. Here is some more detail on when each of these traction devices is most useful for winter hikes in Vancouver.

Microspikes

Microspikes are best for walking or running on hard-packed snow or in icy conditions and are super useful for the winter hikes Vancouver has. These feature small spikes, or coils, that are kept together by chains or rubber.

They slip onto your boots or shoes and give you more traction on slippery surfaces. My favourite models have a velcro strap that goes across the top of your foot and keeps them in place better.

Some of the best options for microspikes are:

• Yak trax: these are what I use and have used in Canada, while winter hiking in Lofoten, Norway and while exploring Scotland in winter.
• Kahtoola microspikes: These are very popular and tend to be a bit more durable than microspikes. However, I get more use out of my microspikes since I can use them running when cities are snowy too.
• Hillsound microspikes: Hillsound is a local Vancouver brand that gets great reviews. If you’re looking for something reliable that does the job, they’re a solid option.

Snowshoes

If there is fresh snow on the trail, or you’re hiking somewhere which doesn’t see much traffic then you’re going to want snowshoes. Snowshoes help keep you on top of the snow (rather than sinking through it) when there is deep, powdery snow that hasn’t been compacted yet.

For some of the longer winter hikes in Vancouver such as Elfin and Garibaldi Lake and Windy Joe, I would recommend taking snowshoes just in case you need them. They can usually be secured easily to most hiking backpacks.

The best snowshoes have a heel lifter which can help you get up steeper sections of the trail which can be useful when doing some of the winter hiking Vancouver routes on this list.

MSR snowshoes are a great option for longer, steeper hikes but can be expensive. If you’re just getting started and don’t plan on doing longer, steeper hikes, these snowshoes are a good option too.

You can also rent snowshoes in Vancouver from MEC and other stores including Busy Bees Bike Rentals on Burrard Street. You can often get really good deals on second-hand snowshoes too.

Crampons

Crampons offer more traction than microspikes.

They’re mostly used by mountaineers when travelling over glaciers, scaling icy rocks, or on ice fields. You will not need them for the winter walks in Vancouver on this list.

Many people use the term ‘crampon’ and ‘microspike’ interchangeably but they’re pretty different devices.

FAQs on the best Vancouver hikes in winter

Last Updated on January 5, 2024 by Hannah