Looking for a family-friend winter hike to do in Vancouver? The team at Symmetrix has picked their top 4 best winter hikes in Vancouver that everyone can enjoy! So bundle up and get your winter boots out and get outside.
1. Cypress Mountain Snowshoe Trails
Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver is host to 11km of safe, in-bound self-guided snowshoe trails that the entire family can explore. Tickets and rentals are $18 for children aged 6 to 12, $28 for ages 13 to 18, and $36 for adults.
Cypress is home to some of the best winter hikes in Vancouver and has family-friendly trails.
It’s just a short trek (30 minutes or less) to their historic Hollyburn Lodge where you the kids can cozy up with a mug of hot chocolate and Mum and Dad can enjoy an adult beverage. They also have a great selection of hot and cold food.
You can visit during the day and catch stunning views of the lower mainland, or go at night where the trail is lit with lights. This experience is called Lights to the Lodge and is more expensive than going early in the day.
If you’re looking to do a free activity on Cypress Mountain, you can try and summit Hollyburn Mountain and take in the spectacular view. This trail is free as it is owned and maintained by BC Parks. It is an intermediate trail, so you may need to leave the little ones at home. The trip can take roughly 3 to 4 hours and be sure to check the avalanche warning for the day which is located at the trailhead. We suggest arriving early to guarantee parking.
2. Lighthouse Park
Lighthouse Park has lovely year-round trails where you get fantastic views of the Salish Sea, downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park. The park is located in Caufield in West Vancouver and is situated between the Howe Sound and Burrard Inlet.
There are many trails to discover in the park but you can take the Beacon Lane Trail to go directly to the lighthouse viewpoint. If you are hiking in the winter and it is below zero, be careful of black ice that can cover the rocks by the shoreline, otherwise, this is a great winter hike to do in Vancouver!
3. Dog Mountain Trail
Dog Mountain is a trail located on Seymour Mountain in North Vancouver. It is an easy 5km trail that offers a breath-taking view at the end. If you are looking for a long winter hike to do in Vancouver with minimal elevation gain, this is the trail for you.
You may need to get out the snowshoes for this one but when the snow stops falling in March/April and it gets packed down, you can get away with using microspikes on this trail.
Bring a packed lunch and take in the beautiful sights as you wind through the old-growth Douglas fir trees and Western Red Cedar. Keep a watchful eye out for the Whisky Jack birds also known as the Canada jay, that are no stranger to people on the trails.
4. Capilano River Regional Park
If you don’t fancy paying $60 for an adult ticket to the Capilano Suspension Bridge but your family would still like to do a winter hike in Vancouver, you can drive a couple more minutes further and check out the Capilano River Regional Park.
This park is located in North Vancouver and has an extensive trail system.
Here you can see BC Hydro reservoir that sits peacefully below The Lions, the pair of pointed peak mountains. Originally named Ch'ich'iyúy Elxwíkn by the peoples of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), it translates to “The Two Sisters”.
These mountains represent two daughters of a Chief who brought together conflicting nations for a celebration and feast and created peace among the Coast Salish people. They were immortalized in the mountains to ensure that peace will be kept forever.
On your way to some of the trails in Capilano Park, you can stand over the huge Cleveland Dam. You can also check out the Capilano Salmon Hatchery (unfortunately closed currently due to COVID restrictions), as you make your way through the park.
If you are feeling sore after your hike you can come to Symmetrix for a free consultation. Symmetrix is home to a team of professional and registered kinesiologists who specialize in exercise therapy, personal training and ergonomics.
Hiking in the winter can be tough on your body as the ground can be hard, rocky and icy. We can help you rehab any injuries or maintain your physical health with personal training.
If you're stuggling with knee pain while hiking, make sure to read our most recent blog: Using Kinesiology to Overcome Knee Pain While Hiking
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