The North Shore Mountains are home to some of the best hikes in Vancouver. This mountain range acts as an alpine playground for so many. Since downtown Vancouver is roughly a quick 30 minute drive away, the easy access make this a popular spot for Vancouverites and visitors alike.

I have visited the North Shore Mountains many times over the last decade, especially when living in North Vancouver and downtown Vancouver, so I’m excited to share my favourite spots with you!

When enjoying the outdoors, it’s essential to follow the Leave No Trace principles to help protect our natural landscapes for future generations. By packing out everything you bring, staying on designated trails, and respecting wildlife, we can all contribute to keeping nature pristine and beautiful. Learn more about LNT here.

Table of Contents:

• About the North Shore Mountains
• Cypress Mountain
• Mount Seymour
• Grouse Mountain

About the North Shore Mountains

The North Shore mountains are accessed from West and North Vancouver. They are separated from the rest of Vancouver by the Burrard Inlet and are some parts run alongside the ocean.

They can be seen from almost everywhere when in Vancouver which is one of the reasons why they are so iconic.

There are three peaks that make up the North Shore Mountains—Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain and Mount Seymour. Each are different in they’re own way.

All three mountains have ski resorts that run during the winter. During the summer, there are a plethora of trails—which is what I will be sharing with you today.

Cypress Mountain – Best Hikes in Vancouver

Cypress Mountain is my favourite out of all the North Shore mountains. The park holds some of the most popular trails in Vancouver—probably because of the stunning views of Howe Sound (a gorgeous fjord). The sunsets here are unbelievable!

What I love about Cypress Mountain:

• Gorgeous views of Howe Sound
• A lot of different trails to choose from
• Sunsets are beautiful
• Home of the Howe Sound Crest Trail

1. Saint Marks Summit

Length: 10km round trip | Elevation Gain: 570m | Difficulty: moderate

This is one of the best hikes in Vancouver and is one of the most popular. You start from the Cypress Mountain parking lot and hike through the trees to reach views of Howe Sound.

You’ll encounter other people on this trail so I suggest avoiding popular times of the day.

Find trail info here.

Read next: HIKING IN THE DARK

2. Mount Strachan

Length: 7.2km round trip | Elevation Gain: 590m | Difficulty: moderate

This is my new favourite hike in Vancouver. It is stunning and isn’t as busy as the other trails on Cypress Mountain. You get views of Howe Sound, the iconic Lions and nearly a 360 ocean, mountain and city view.

You can also get the Sky Chair(lift) up to the top of this peak so it’s accessible for all ages. Be sure to check the times that it runs.

Every Thursday in August (2024) there is live music at the top of the trail which sounds like a great night. On these nights, the last ride down on Sky Chair will be at 9:30pm so you can enjoy sunset.

If you’re going to hike, find trail info here.

3. Tunnel Bluffs

Length: 7.4km round trip | Elevation Gain: 689m | Difficulty: moderate

This trail is a really popular trail (which I now try to avoid because of the crowds) but is still worth doing if you haven’t before. The trail starts off steep but then is quite flat for a good chunk of it. You’ll get unobstructed views of Howe Sound at the top of this bluff making it one of the best hikes in Vancouver.

Find trail info here.

4. Hollyburn Peak

Length: 7.9km round trip | Elevation Gain: 432m | Difficulty: moderate

I love this trail because you are surrounded by mountains and have a great view of the city. It is not as much elevation gain as the other hikes so it’s a good one if you’re new to hiking.

Find trail info here.

Read next: WHAT TO BRING DAY HIKING

5. Unnecessary Mountain

Length: 15km round trip | Elevation Gain: 1,122m | Difficulty: hard

Unnecessary Mountain is a less-busy trail on Cypress Mountain so if you’re looking for solitude, this is a great option.

It’s one of the best hikes in Vancouver because you get a view of Howe Sound but also are right beside the Lions so the view is incredible!

You’ll have to work for this one though because there’s quite a bit of elevation loss and gain.

Find trail info here.

You may need…

A few more trails that are worth the hike are:

• The West Lion – A hard hike that takes you to the base of the iconic Lions. People have died summiting the actual summit so please be cautious.
• Deeks Lake – Perfect hike if you’re looking for somewhere to swim.
• Bowen Lookout Trail – One of the easiest hikes on Cypress Mountain with a good view of Howe Sound.
• Eagle Bluffs – A great hike if you’re looking for a moderate hike with partial city views
• Howe Sound Crest Trail – If you’re looking for a challenge try this route over one long day or on a multi-day trek. It is on my bucketlist!

Mount Seymour – Best Hikes in Vancouver

Mount Seymour is a bit more quiet compared to the other mountains on the North Shore. It has a lot of trails that have stunning views of the city.

There’s everything from family-friendly trails to rugged, challenging trails.

What I love about Mount Seymour:

• Mountain and city views
• Quieter than Cypress Mountain

1. Mount Seymour

Length: 8.2km round trip | Elevation Gain: 564m | Difficulty: moderate

Conquer the summit of Mount Seymour with this trail and get 360 views of the city and surrounding mountains.

There are three summits along this trail—Pump Peak (first peak), Tim Jones Peak (second peak) and Mount Seymour (third peak).

Brockton Point is also along this route which is a great option if you’re looking for a shorter and easier trail.

Find trail info here.

2. Dog Mountain

Length: 4.8km round trip | Elevation Gain: 162m | Difficulty: easy

This trail is a very popular trail on Mount Seymour and is one of the best hikes in Vancouver. It’s one of the easier trails but you still get an incredible view of the city and mountains

Find trail info here.

Read next: BEST HIKES IN CHILLIWACK

3. Elsay Lake

Length: 17.5km round trip | Elevation Gain: 1,116m | Difficulty: hard

This challenging hike in Mount Seymour Provincial Park takes you to a gorgeous secluded lake. There is a cabin on the lake that can be a fun place to also hang out.

Find trail info here.

A few more trails that are worth the hike are:

• Mystery Lake – A quick hike if you want to get your legs moving and go for a dip.
• Mount Elsay – A challenging hike that is suited for experienced adventurers.
• Three Chop Trail Loop – Great trail if you’re wanting one that is within a stunning forest.

You may need…

Grouse Mountain – Best Hikes in Vancouver

Grouse Mountain is an iconic mountain in BC and is often referred to as the “Peak of Vancouver”. It is the only mountain on the North Shore that has a gondola to get up to the top of it. In the summer, they offer fun activities like Movies on the Mountain, $25 gondola rides after 7pm in the summer (for sunset), and access to a Mountain Coaster and Mountain Bike Park.

What I love about Grouse Mountain:

• Beautiful views of the city
• Great trails if you want a workout
• Skyride, the gondola, and the accessibility to nature
• Two resident grizzlies you can visit

1. Grouse Grind

Length: 1.9km one way | Elevation Gain: 780m | Difficulty: hard

The Grouse Grind is one of the best hikes in Vancouver if you want a workout. It is a iconic trail that people like to do at least once, and then maybe never again. I don’t recommend this as a nice hike but would recommend it if you’re looking for an outdoor workout. Think of it like a stairmaster in nature.

It is super popular trail so I recommend arriving early to beat the crowds. You aren’t allowed to go down this trail so be prepared to take the gondola down or use the BCMC trail. The trail is closed during the winter.

Find trail info here.

READ NEXT: Ten Must-Do Hikes In Beautiful British Columbia

2. BCMC Trail

Length: 2.4 km one way | Elevation Gain: 791m | Difficulty: hard

This is a great alternative to the Grouse Grind but it still is in the similar realm in terms of difficulty. It is a bit less trafficked than the Grouse Grind, but you’ll still encounter people.

This would be a great trail if you want a good workout and be in the forest. You pop out at the top of Grouse Mountain and can either hike back down or take the gondola down (to save your knees).

Find trail info here.

3. Flint and Feather Trail

Length: 3.4km round trip | Elevation Gain: 770m | Difficulty: hard

If you’re looking for a fun, hands-on hike, the Flint and Feather trail is perfect. I loved this trail and would do it over the Grouse Grind or BCMC. It’s more of a scramble then the others, is in the trees but has views of the city along the way.

Find trail info here.

4. Crown Mountain

Length: 9.2km round trip | Elevation Gain: 866m | Difficulty: hard

This hike has been on my bucketlist for a while. It is a prominent peak on Grouse Mountain and can be seen from all over the city. It’s a tough hike that goes up and down elevation along the trail.

It starts at Grouse Mountain Peak Chalet so if you want you could take the gondola up and down if you’re not feeling the entire trail.

Find the trail info here.

You may need…