12 Dog-Friendly Backpacking Trips near Vancouver

June 27, 2026June 26, 2026 / Maria / Leave a comment

Welcome to the final post in my dog walking series! My last two posts focused on dog friendly hiking trails, both easy trails and epic (not so easy) trails. For this blog, I want to highlight some trail options for backpacking with your dog. There’s a mix of trails on this list, some of which are easy and some of which are more challenging. Remember, when camping with your dog, be prepared to meet all of their needs, as well as your own. Please make sure to follow all park rules, including keeping your dog on leash and picking up after them. Dog poo is not natural and carries lots of harmful bacteria that has been proven to lead to e.coli in waterways.

Here’s some of my favourite backpacking trails to do with my dog!

Three Brothers Mountain / Heather Trail

Location: E.C. Manning Park (East of Hope)
Season: July – September
Terrain: 3 Brothers (21km, 500m gain), Heather Trail (40km, 850m gain)
Leash rules: on-leash
Permits: Reservation required. $25pp, per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Book 3 months in advance.
Description: This is a great trail for 1-night or multi-night trips. If you’re just doing 3 brothers mountain, stay at Buckhorn Campsite for a night. If you want to do the entire Heather Trail, stay at Kicking Horse or Nicomen Lake Campsites.

Poland Lake

Location: E.C. Manning Park (East of Hope)
Season: July – September
Terrain: 16km, 500m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Permits: Registration required. $5pp, per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Book 2 weeks in advance.
Description: I’ve only hiked this trail in the winter, but it’s a great camping option year round and is one of the less popular trails in Manning Park. Park at Strawberry Flats for this hike. In the winter you will need to hike up along the edge of the ski resort, as you’re not allowed to hike across it.

Lightning Lakes Chain Trail

Location: E.C. Manning Park
Season: May – October
Terrain: 14km, flat (22km if you go all the way to Thunder Lake)
Leash rules: on-leash
Permits: Registration required. $5pp, per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Book 2 weeks in advance.
Description: This would be a fairly easy trail since it’s mostly flat, but it’s not well maintained and there is a lot of blowdown. Be prepared to be climbing over trees fairly regularly. The campsite is located just past Strike Lake at 7km. It can be busy in the Spring and Summer, but there are a lot of tent pads and room for overflow camping. Continue another 4km to visit Thunder Lake, which is the end of the trail.

Falls Lake

Location: Coquihalla Summit Rec area
Season: year-round, but snowshoes are required in the winter
Terrain: summer (2km, 70m gain); winter (4km, 100m gain)
Leash rules: on-leash
Permit: None required
Description: This is a short trail that can be completed in the winter with snowshoes. However, the access road is not plowed in the winter, making the approach twice as long. There is a small campsite located on the back of the lake.

Tikwalus Heritage Trail

Location: North of Hope, off Highway 1
Season: May – October
Terrain: 12km, 750m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Permit: None required
Description: Tikwalus Heritage Trail is an easy but steep trail located just past Hells Gate on Highway 1. Most of the hike is in the forest, but there’s a nice view from the campsite.

HBC Heritage Trail

Location: Hope to Tulameen
Season: July – September
Terrain: 80km, over 3000m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Permits: None required
Description: This is an advanced trail for advanced hikers and dogs. This is not a trail that you try backpacking on and your dog should have lots of backpacking experience before attempting this trail as well. If you regularly hike challenging trails together, this is a great multi-day thru hike option. There are very few hikers are this trail and you’ll likely have it all to yourself. There are several campsites along the trail that you can choose from.

Lindeman Lake / Greendrop Lake

Location: Chilliwack Park (Chilliwack)
Season: year-round to Lindeman Lake, spikes are needed in the winter
Terrain: Lindeman (4km, 200m gain); Greendrop (12km, 400m gain)
Leash rules: on-leash
Permits: Registration required. $5pp, per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Book 2 weeks in advance.
Description: This is a short but steep trail to a beautiful lake and campground. It is very busy year-round and the parking lot has been targeted for theft, so plan accordingly. If you want to continue on to Greendrop, it is a much longer hike and the view from the campsite isn’t as nice, but there will be less people.

Viewpoint Beach / Half Moon Beach

Location: Golden Ears Provincial Park
Season: June – October
Terrain: Viewpoint Beach (9km, 150m gain); Half Moon (20km, 350m gain)
Leash rules: on-leash
Permits: Reservation required. $25pp, per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Book 3 months in advance.
Description: This is a popular trail near Vancouver with lots of space for camping. The trail to Viewpoint Beach is fairly easy, but the trail to Half Moon Beach is much more technical, so be prepared for a longer hike.

Semaphore Lakes

Location: Semaphore Lakes Rec Area (west of Pemberton Meadows)
Season: July – September
Terrain: 5km, 350m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Permits: None required
Description: This is a short hike, but it is fairly steep. The trail has become very popular in recent years for its easy access to beautiful alpine landscapes and two lakes. The trail is primarily in the forest until you reach the lakes, from there you can explore further around the surrounding alpine. I believe this site has an outhouse, but I’m not sure if it has a bear cache, so plan accordingly.

Sunshine Coast Trail

Location: Upper Sunshine Coast Trail
Season: June – October
Terrain: 180km, thousands of metres of gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Permits: None required
Description: This trail is easy than the HBC Heritage Trail, but substantially longer. This trail is for experienced backpackers and dogs only. Dogs do not have the same endurance as humans to hike day after day, so training is essential. However, there are lots of options to do shorter sections of the trail with your dog, such as the fairview loop or Manzanita Bluffs. Dogs are not permitted in the huts, so bring a tent.

Landslide Lake

Location: Strathcona Provincial Park (Vancouver Island)
Season: July – September
Terrain: 10km, 500m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Permits: Registration required. $5pp, per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Book 2 weeks in advance.
Description: This is a nice forested hike up to a beautiful alpine lake. You cannot camp at the lake, but there are two campsites along the way, Butterwort Flats and Upper Gravel Bar.

San Josef Bay

Location: Cape Scott Park (Vancouver Island)
Season: year-round
Terrain: 6km, flat
Leash rules: on-leash, highly recommended due to the presence of wolves
Permits: Registration required. $5pp, per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Book 2 weeks in advance.
Description: This is the only part of Cape Scott Trail where dogs are permitted. It’s a short flat walk to the beach where you can camp or explore the sea stacks. Check the tides and visit at high tide to walk around the sea stacks to the second beach. It’s a beautiful place to camp and you can tent right on the beach.

12 Epic Dog-Friendly Hikes near Vancouver

May 30, 2026June 10, 2026 / Maria / 1 Comment

My previous post covered 12 easy hikes to explore with your dog near Vancouver, but if you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, there are lots of epic hikes to do with your dog too! Remember, while all of these hikes are dog-friendly, they have varying on/off leash rules, please make sure to respect them, they exist for many reasons. In addition, please also make sure to pick up after your dog. Dog poo is not natural and carries lots of harmful bacteria that has been proven to lead to e.coli in waterways. Here’s some great trails within a few hours drive that make for a fun hike with your furry friend!

Three Brothers Mountain

Location: E.C. Manning Park (East of Hope)
Season: July – September
Terrain: 21km, 500m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: Skip the climb by driving all the way to the top of Blackwall Road. From there, it’s a scenic hike through alpine meadows, culminating with a ridge walk to the peak of First Brother Mountain. This is a popular trail, be prepared for it to be busy, especially when wildflowers are in peak bloom.

Snow Camp Mountain

Location: E.C. Manning Park (East of Hope)
Season: July – September
Terrain: 18km, 900m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: The trail leaves from Strawberry Flats on the Skyline II Trail. Start with a 5km hike uphill through the forest before arriving at the most scenic viewpoint of the trail looking towards iconic Hozomeen Mountain. Continue on to climb to the top of Snow Camp mountain, a great place to see wildflowers. This trail is less well known than Three Brothers Mountain, but gaining popularity.

Flatiron

Location: Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area (north of Hope)
Season: July – September
Terrain: 10km, 850m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: This is a steep hike through the forest until you reach the junction for Needle Peak. Needle Peak has several rope sections and is not recommended for dogs, but continue past it to the small lake below the Flatiron and climb up to the large plateau with phenomenal views.

Zoa Peak

Location: Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area (north of Hope)
Season: Year round
Terrain: 8km, 650m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: This is a great trail to explore all year round. In the summer, drive to the parking lot for Falls Lake and follow the trail up an old forestry road and then through the forest to views at Zoa Subpeak and Peak. In the winter, park at the highway pullout and snowshoe the road to Falls Lake. Continue up the forestry road, but follow the winter trail through the woods. Do not go past Zoa Subpeak without avalanche safety training and equipment, as the final peak is in challenging avalanche terrain.

Zupjok Peak / Ottomite Peak

Location: Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area (north of Hope)
Season: Zupjok: July – September; Ottomite: Year round
Terrain: 10km, 700m gain; 8km, 350m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: Zupjok is a steep climb through the forest in the summer, but offers fantastic views from the summit, where you can continue along the ridge to Llama and Alpaca Peak, if desired. Zupjok Peak is not recommended in winter due to challenging avalanche conditions, but Ottomite Peak can be accessed year round. Follow the trail at the branch for an easier day of hiking or snowshoeing.

Elk / Thurston Mountain

Location: Chilliwack
Season: June – October
Terrain: Elk: 8km, 800m gain; Thurston: 16km, 1100m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: This is a popular trail located east of Chilliwack. Hike uphill through the forest until you reach the fabulous viewpoint at the top of Elk Mountain. From there, you can continue along the ridge to Thurston. The trail dips in and out of the forest, with some of the best views before the peak. There is no view at the actual peak.

St. Mark’s Summit

Location: Cypress Provincial Park
Season: June – October
Terrain: 10km, 550m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: One of the most popular trails on the list, this hike attracts locals and tourists. Park at the main Cypress lot and get a free backcountry tag from the lodge to attach to your pack. Hike through the forest to an incredible view of Howe Sound from the top of St. Mark’s. It is essential to keep your dog on leash at the summit as there are very dangerous drops. Some people do this hike year round, but avalanche safety training and equipment is highly recommended.

Mount Strachan

Location: Cypress Provincial Park
Season: June – October
Terrain: 7km, 550m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: Park at the main Cypress lot and get a free backcountry tag from the lodge. This is a nice loop trail that circles around the ski resort. The trail hikes up Collins run to the top of the Sky Chair, and then you can take the trail down Christmas Gully to merge onto the Howe Sound Crest Trail back to the parking lot of the ski resort.

Diez Vistas

Location: Belcarra Regional Park and Buntzen Lake Rec Area
Season: Most of the year
Terrain: 14km, 650m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: Hike to the top of the Diez Vistas trail from the Buntzen Lake parking lot to get *up to ten* views of Indian Arm, then hike back down to Buntzen Lake and circle back on one of the lakeview trails on either side of the lake. You will need a free parking pass for Buntzen Lake, which release 2 days in advance.

Crooked Falls

Location: Sigurd Creek Conservancy (northwest of Squamish)
Season: April – November
Terrain: 6km, 450m elevation gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: This is a forested trail north of Squamish that hikes up to a large waterfall. Best viewed in the Spring when run-off is high. Make sure to keep dogs on-leash near the waterfall as they could easily be swept away.

Brandywine Meadows/Mountain

Location: Whistler
Season: July – September
Terrain: Meadows: 6km, 550m gain; Mountain: 16km, 1500m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: These hikes are accessible from the end of the Brandywine FSR, west of Whistler. They are both incredibly scenic, however, they do involve a very steep trail up through the forest to access the meadows. If you have 4×4 and high clearance, you can cut 400m of gain from the trail profile. Camping is no longer permitted at this location. Just hike to the meadows if you want an easy day, but if you want a challenge, head up towards the peak.

Semaphore Lakes

Location: Semaphore Lakes Rec Area (west of Pemberton Meadows)
Season: July – September
Terrain: 5km, 350m gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: This is the shortest hike on the list, but no less epic than the others. This trail has become very popular in recent years for its easy access to beautiful alpine landscapes and two lakes. The trail is primarily in the forest until you reach the lakes, from there you can explore further around the surrounding alpine.

12 Easy Dog-Friendly Hikes near Vancouver

April 25, 2026June 8, 2026 / Maria / 2 Comments

I hike a lot, but something I haven’t focused on much on this blog is dog friendly hiking. I have a 6 year old Australian Shepherd named Sadie. She sometimes features on my posts, but she’s always a consideration when I’m planning a hike, sometimes coming with me, sometimes staying behind. Unfortunately, she is a reactive dog, which for her, means that she is afraid of other dogs and will usually “react” if forced into close proximity with them. Her reactions mostly look like barking and pulling at her leash, unless we can successfully distract her.

We’ve spent a lot of time training her to focus on us when presented with other dogs, and if we see the dog in advance, we can usually be successful at this by stepping off the trail and giving her with treats. For this reason, we stick to on-leash trails because it’s very hard to control her reaction when off-leash dogs approach her. If you’re taking your dog to dog-friendly trails, please make sure to respect the on/off leash rules. I personally don’t fault people for letting their dogs off-leash when there’s no one around, but please don’t let your dog approach any person or dog off-leash if you are on an on-leash trail. And please don’t let your dog off-leash if they do not have good recall or you cannot get them to go back on-leash when required.

Please also make sure to pick up after your dog. Dog poo is not natural and carries lots of harmful bacteria that has been proven to lead to e.coli in waterways. We live in a very populated city and these trails all see frequent use. If people don’t clean up after their dogs, it is death by a thousand cuts and it will impact the experience. So those are my PSA to dog owners, thanks for respecting trail rules! Here’s some great trails within a few hours drive that make for an easy hike with your furry friend!

Brandywine Falls/Nairn Falls

Location: Brandywine Falls Park/Nairn Falls Park (Whistler/Pemberton)
Season: April – November
Terrain: 1.5km, flat
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: These are both flat and easy trails located off the Sea to Sky highway around Whistler and Pemberton. Great if you love waterfalls. Do not try to hike to the base of Brandywine Falls, it is not permitted.

Starvation Lake

Location: Starvation Lake Rec Site (Squamish)
Season: most of the year
Terrain: 6km, 130m elevation gain
Leash rules: recommended to keep on leash
Description: This is a nice trail to a beautiful lake, fantastic for swimming in the summer. It doesn’t get a lot of visitors and can be accessed from Paradise Valley Road or the Sea to Sky highway.

Brohm Lake

Location: Brohm Lake Forest (Squamish)
Season: most of the year
Terrain: 6km, 200m elevation gain
Leash rules: a mix of on and off leash trails
Description: This is a great trail for a forest walk in gloomy weather, or for a swim on a hot and sunny day. It is very popular in the summer and the parking lot fills up quickly. You cannot park on the road, so plan accordingly.

Jug Island/Admiralty Point

A photo of Jug Island and Indian Arm on a sunny day in Belcarra, BC.

Location: Belcarra Regional Park (Belcarra)
Season: year-round
Terrain: 5km, 150m elevation gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: This is a great year round hike along the ocean. Both trails leave the parking lot in opposite directions. They are similar in length, but Admiralty Point is the easier trail with scenic views along the way, while Jug Island has a beautiful beach at the end of the trail.

Woodland Walk

A photo of a forested trail in Pinecone Burke Provincial Park on a sunny day near Coquitlam, BC.

Location: Pinecone Burke Park (Coquitlam)
Season: most of the year
Terrain: 7.5km, 250m elevation gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: This is a lesser known park that is very close to the city. It attracts a lot of mountain bikers, who share the uphill access trail, but otherwise, you won’t encounter a lot of people. There is a shooting range nearby if your dog is bothered by loud noises. Access from the top of Harper Road.

Hunter Road

Location: Mission
Season: most of the year
Terrain: 8km, 250m elevation gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: This is the only trail on the list that’s not in a park. The trail follows an old logging road to a scenic viewpoint of Stave Lake and it isn’t very busy in the off-season.

Lindeman Lake

Location: Chilliwack Park (Chilliwack)
Season: year-round, spikes are needed in the winter
Terrain: 4km, 200m elevation gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: This is a short but steep trail to a beautiful lake and campground. It is very busy year-round and the parking lot has been targeted for theft, so plan accordingly.

Falls Lake

Location: Coquihalla Summit Rec area
Season: year-round, but snowshoes are required in the winter
Terrain: summer – 2km, 70m elevation gain; winter – 4km, 100m elevation gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: This is a short trail that can be completed in the winter with snowshoes. However, the access road is not plowed in the winter, making the approach twice as long.

Lightning Lakes

Location: E.C. Manning Park
Season: year-round, but snowshoes are needed in the winter
Terrain: 5-8km, flat
Leash rules: on-leash on trail, but off-leash at the dog beach
Description: This is an easily customizable trail where you can hike around one or two of the lakes. In the winter, it is usually possible to snowshoe across the lake, but return to the trail near the bridge as the river usually doesn’t freeze.

Skookumchuck Narrows

Location: Skookumchuck Narrows Park (Sunshine Coast)
Season: year-round
Terrain: 9km, 150m elevation gain
Leash rules: on-leash, especially near the rapids!
Description: This is a forested trail to the Skookumchuck Narrows, a natural phenomenon that occurs during certain tides as the water funnels in and out of the channel. Check the best timing before your visit so you can watch adventure enthusiasts playing in the rapids.

Lower/Upper Myra Falls

Little Myra Falls cascades over bare rock and into Buttle Lake on a sunny day in Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Location: Strathcona Park (Vancouver Island)
Season: April – November
Terrain: Lower – 1km, 50m elevation gain; Upper – 8km, 150m elevation gain
Leash rules: on-leash
Description: These are two separate trails with different access points, but both are located at the far end of Strathcona Park. Lower Myra Falls is the more scenic and easier trail, but the Upper Falls makes for more of a hike.

San Josef Bay

Location: Cape Scott Park (Vancouver Island)
Season: year-round
Terrain: 6km, flat
Leash rules: on-leash, highly recommended due to the presence of wolves
Description: This is the only part of Cape Scott Trail where dogs are permitted. It’s a short flat walk to the beach where you can camp or explore the sea stacks. Check the tides and visit at high tide to walk around the sea stacks to the second beach.