12 Easy Dog-Friendly Hikes near Vancouver

April 25, 2026May 1, 2026 / Maria / Leave a comment

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.

8 Spring Backpacking Trips near Vancouver

May 19, 2025May 9, 2025 / Maria / Leave a comment

Earlier this season I posted a list of some of my favourite Spring day hikes. As much as I love day hiking, backpacking is my favourite activity and I’m always excited to start camping once the weather gets nice. Spring is tricky for backpacking because the alpine is still full of snow until at least late June, but if you pick the right trail, Spring can be a really nice time for hiking because it’s not too hot and there’s usually not a fire ban in effect. Every year is different and just because a trail is generally snow-free in a previous year, doesn’t mean it will always be snow-free. Make sure to do real time research before heading out to the trail to confirm the conditions. Make sure to Leave No Trace and always be respectful of the land and indigenous territories through which you are hiking. Here’s a few of my favourite Spring backpacking trips!

Lindeman Lake

Located in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park, this is a really popular hike. There’s somewhat limited space for tents, so I advise going early in the day or on a weekday if you want one of the tent pads. The hike to Lindeman Lake is less than 2km, but it is quite steep, with 350m of elevation gain. The parking lot is often targeted by thieves, so make sure you don’t leave anything valuable in your car. There is a bear cache and outhouse, but it’s only a throne-style toilet, meaning there are no walls. Due to the high volume of crowds at this location, I think it could use a little TLC from BC Parks. Get a backcountry permit for $5pp per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Campfires are NOT permitted, so enjoy a swim in the clear, but cold, lake instead!

Viewpoint Beach/Half Moon Beach

A photo overlooking Gold Creek and Golden Ears Mountain from Viewpoint Beach on a sunny day in Golden Ears Provincial Park in BC.

Viewpoint Beach is located very close to the lower mainland, in Golden Ears Provincial Park, and as a result, it’s also very popular. The nice thing about this location is that it’s an easy 4km hike and there’s lots of space for tents. There is an outhouse and bear cache, but the bear cache is severely undersized for the number of visitors, so be prepared to hang your food. Some people cross the river to access Hiker’s Beach, but be careful doing this when the river is running high. Also, be aware there’s no cache or outhouse on that side. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can hike another 6km to Half Moon Beach, but this trail isn’t in great shape, so be prepared for a slower, muddy hike. Get a backcountry permit for $5pp per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Campfires are NOT permitted.

Tikwalus Heritage Trail

A cute red merle Australian Shepherd dog poses on a dirt trail with a large dog backpack, with green forest in the background while hiking on the Tikwalus Heritage Trail in British Columbia, Canada.

The first two trails on this list are very popular, so if you’re looking to avoid the crowds, Tikwalus Heritage Trail is located near the Fraser Canyon on Highway 1. It’s a 6km hike to get to the campsite, but the challenge with this trail is an elevation gain of 750m, so be prepared for a climb! This trail is mostly forested, but has lovely views of the backcountry from the campsite. These are all first-come-first-serve sites, but there’s a fair amount of space and in my experience, it’s not that busy. There is an outhouse and bear cache, but there’s no water source immediately at the campsite, so fill up at the river located 1km before camp. There are no permits for this campsite and campfires are permitted if there’s no fire ban.

Levette Lake/Hut Lake

Two women sit in swimsuits on a dock with a dog, looking out at the forest and blue water of Hut Lake Recreation Site, Northwest of Squamish in British Columbia, Canada.

Levette Lake and Hut Lake are free rec sites located in the backcountry near Squamish, off Paradise Valley Road, but the vibe is very different at each lake. Levette is popular among locals and depending if the road is open, you can generally drive right up to the lake to camp. If you want to avoid the crowds, it’s a 5km hike from Levette Lake to Hut Lake. The trail is along rugged road and some hardcore off-roaders will drive all the way to Hut Lake. There’s not a lot of space for tents at Hut Lake and there’s no bear cache or outhouse, but we were the only people at this campsite when we visited on a weekend in mid-July. It’s a great option for a rainy weekend and we enjoyed swimming in the lake. There’s no permit for this site and campfires are permitted if there’s no fire ban.

Juan de Fuca/West Coast Trail

A photo of Mystic Beach on a sunny, blue sky day with the forested cliffs in the background and the waves washing up on the beach on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail on Vancouver Island, BC.

The Juan de Fuca Trail is a great option for Spring as it’s located along the coast of Vancouver Island and is open year round. However, it’s closed in 2025 due to damage from winter storms, so I’ve opted to include the West Coast Trail as an alternative. The WCT opens May 1 for the season and is extremely popular, so be prepared to book your permit from Parks Canada when they release in Jan/Feb. Both trails are long, multi-day hikes, though it is possible to do shorter trips along the Juan de Fuca trail. If you’re hiking the Juan de Fuca, backcountry permits are required for $10pp per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Both trails are recognized for their coastal beauty and campfires are permitted when there’s no fire ban.

San Josef Bay/Cape Scott Trail

A photo of San Josef Bay on a cloudy, moody day, with the forest lit by the sun and the waves crashing onto the sand in Cape Scott Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, BC.

Given the challenges with the Juan de Fuca Trail this year, visiting San Josef Bay or Cape Scott on the northern part of Vancouver Island is a great alternative! San Josef Bay is recognized as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and is only 3km from the trailhead along well maintained trail. If you’re more ambitious, there’s a fully developed trail that travels 25km each way to the historic lighthouse at Cape Scott. This trail is more challenging, but still relatively well maintained, with several campsites on beautiful beaches. All campsites have an outhouse and bear cache and you can get a backcountry permit for $10pp per night from camping.bcparks.ca. Campfires are permitted when there is no fire ban. Be prepared to drive along 65km of gravel road to access the trailhead – any car can make the trip, but be prepared to drive slow.

Sunshine Coast Trail

The Sunshine Coast Trail is a 180km trail through the wilderness of the upper Sunshine Coast. The entire trail will not be accessible until summer, but there are a few options for Spring hiking in the first 50km of trail between Sarah Point and Powell River. You can do the entire 50km section, or you prioritize one of the shorter trail options, such as Manzanita Bluffs, Appleton Canyon, Rieveley Hut, or Little Sliammon Lake. This is a very well maintained trail with facilities at every site. It is free to hike, but I recommend a donation to qPaws if you’re using the huts. The trailhead at Sarah Point is along rugged road, so I recommend booking a trip with the Sunshine Coast shuttle to access the trailhead. Be aware that not all campsites have a reliable water source (or any water source) and plan accordingly.

Cheakamus Lake

Cheakamus Lake is a popular campsite near Whistler. I include this option with a caveat to check the trail conditions before going. I’ve hiked the trail in May when it’s been completely clear of snow, but I’ve also had to cancel a June trip when the snowmelt was particularly late. It’s a great option for beginners as it’s a mostly flat trail. There’s two campsites on the trail, the first is a 4km hike from the trailhead and the second is a 7km hike. Reservations are required to stay at these sites and release 4 months in advance of your date from camping.bcparks.ca for $10pp per night. Campfires are NOT permitted, but there is an outhouse and bear cache.

8 Great Hikes for Swimming

June 16, 2021June 7, 2021 / Maria / Leave a comment

I love to swim! I’ll hike any trail, but I find hikes with somewhere to swim to be some of the most rewarding trails, especially on a hot summer’s day! A lot of the lakes in BC are fed by glaciers or snow-melt, which makes for a really cold swim, but over the years I’ve become a big fan of those quick, cold dips and will swim in almost any lake from May to October. That said, I’ve tried to focus my list on some of the warmer swimming spots, but we do live in Canada, so to be honest, they’re still all quite cold.

Just a few things to remember before you swim in any body of water. Practice Leave No Trace principles, which means don’t swim in lakes that are also used for drinking water and don’t alter the site in any way or move rocks to create pools. Remove sunscreen, fly spray, moisturizer, etc, before entering the water.

Without further ado, here’s some of my favourite swimming hikes!

Brohm Lake

Brohm Lake is an awesome place to visit in the summer because there’s access to a ton of hiking trails and you can opt to go around the lake, up to the Tantalus viewpoint, or hike through the interpretive forest, finishing each hike with a dip in the lake. The only downside to this hike is that the lake is located right next to the highway and is popular for picnicking – so if you want to make sure you get parking on a hot day, arrive early!

Buntzen Lake

Located in Anmore, Buntzen lake is a popular attraction for hikers, boaters, and picnickers. This is another location you need to get to early, but it’s a much bigger lake, so there’s more room to spread out. My preference is to hike down to the far side of the lake where there’s a smaller picnic area and wharf with a lot less people. You can either take the lakeview trail, which has minimal elevation, or the Diez Vistas trail, which climbs up over the lake and has beautiful views of Indian Arm. This is definitely a colder lake, but refreshing after a day of hiking!

Deeks Lake and Brunswick Lake

Both lakes are located on the north end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail and are best done as an overnight trip. You can do them in a single day, but it does make for a lot of walking. Deeks is the first lake and a great place to swim, but if you’re willing to walk a few kilometres farther, Brunswick Lake is really the shining gem of the trail. Both are cold, but when the sun hits the water on Brunswick Lake, it turns the most brilliant shade of blue and looks like a tropical paradise!

Elfin Lakes

I feel like most people don’t think about Elfin Lakes for swimming because they’re so small and completely fed by snow melt, but the last time I visited in the summer was a scorching day and I couldn’t get enough of lazing around in the water. Of the two lakes, swimming is only permitted in one – the other is solely for drinking water and swimming is not allowed. I recommend later in the season for this hike because the lake will heat up a lot by the end of the summer.

Alice Lake

When I think of Alice Lake, I tend to think of it more as a frontcountry campground rather than a good place for hiking, but if you’re looking for a shorter hike that can end in a swim, this is a great one! It’s only a few kilometers to walk around the lake, but if you’re looking for something longer you can also extend it to do the four lakes trail loop. Similar to Brohm and Buntzen, get here early to secure a parking spot as you will be sharing the lake with picnickers.

Lightning Lakes

This is another one that might surprise a few people because Lightning Lakes isn’t one of the warmest lakes, but on a nice day, I really love this lake. Definitely make sure it’s going to be sunny before driving out to Manning Park because it can be really cold and windy on an overcast day, but this is a great place for boating, swimming, and hiking on a hot day. Hike around 1st lake or 2nd lake (or both) and then finish with a dip in the water!

Cheakamus Lake

I’ve only swam in Cheakamus Lake in May, so it was quite cold, but I imagine it probably warms up later in the summer. I decided to include it because it’s a great lake for either day hikes or overnight trips. There are two campsites, one at the foot of the lake and another halfway up, and both have beaches from which you can swim. It’s a big body of water, so it’s always going to be cold, but a great place to hang out and dip in and out of the water.

Lindeman Lake

Lindeman Lake is another one I’ve only swam in May, but I really love this lake. It’s a short, but steep, hike in Chilliwack Provincial Park and you can swim at both the foot and head of the lake. It’s tempting to swim right when you arrive at the lake, but I prefer to hike up to the back of the lake and jump of the rocks into the water from there. It’s definitely another cold one, but has the most gorgeous views!