I grew up in beautiful British Columbia and I consider myself lucky because I’ve always been surrounded by the mountains and ocean with many hikes at my doorstep, including these ten must-do hikes in British Columbia. After hiking for years, I’ve been able to explore a lot of the trails and provincial parks near Vancouver. All of the following hikes are within a few hours driving distance from Vancouver. I’ve listed them from easy to difficult, enjoy!

When hiking, and generally any time you’re outside, it’s important to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. They are seven things you can do to help preserve the environment for generations to come. Take only photos, and leave only footprints.

Joffre Lakes

This trail is a BC classic and will bring you to three spectacular lakes—Lower, Middle, and Upper Joffre Lakes. Get ready to be mind-blown by the towering mountains and vibrant turquoise-coloured water at all three.

The color of the water is due to the glacial silt that comes from the surrounding glaciers. The trail is open all year round which makes this provincial park both a summer and winter destination.

If you’re brave enough, you could take a dip in the water in the summer months (but be warned… the water is very, very cold).

If you’re keen on camping, check out the ‘Reservations’ section of the BC Parks’ website to snag a permit. Campsites are situated at Upper Joffre Lake and are epic.

2024 update: you now need a day-use permit to access Joffre Lakes. You can get one here. You’ll need one from May 16 to October 31, 2024. If you have a valid reservation for overnight camping, you do not need a day-use pass.

Length: 7.7km | Elevation gain: 491m | Route Type: Point to point

Find trail information here.

Mount Seymour

If you’re looking for a hike that is close to Vancouver, this is a great option. It’s 30-45 minutes from Downtown Vancouver and offers epic views of the city and the surrounding mountain peaks—which is why it’s one of the must-do hikes in British Columbia.

The trail starts at the Mount Seymour Ski Resort so there is loads of parking. Along the trail, there are three peaks that you can hike to—my favorite is First Peak (which the stats below reflect) but I definitely recommend checking them all out.

Length: 8.2km | Elevation Gain: 577m | Route Type: Point to point

Find trail information here.

Saint Marks Summit

This is another classic hike in the Vancouver area is located on Cypress Mountain, another local ski resort.

The well-marked trail will lead you to epic views of Howe Sound. This is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset and take photos.

If you decide to stay and watch the sun go down, please be cautious when hiking back in the dark. Bring a satellite phone and/or offline map so you know where you’re going and always look out for your group.

Length: 10.8km | Elevation Gain: 605m | Route Type: Point to point

Find trail information here.

Lake Lovely Water

This trailhead is a bit harder to reach… but I wanted to add it to the list because it’s one of the must-do hikes in British Columbia.

The parking lot is on the west side of the Squamish River which means that you’ll need to cross the river in order to start the hike. I chartered a helicopter to get to the lake. The flight is incredible but pricey.

If you’re keen on flying via helicopter, check out the ‘Location’ section of the BC Parks’ website for more information and the ‘Reservations’ section to learn more about camping.

Length: 10.1km | Elevation Gain: 1140m | Route type: Point to point

Find trail information here.

Sea To Sky Gondola

You’ll find the Sea To Sky Gondola along the Sea To Sky Highway (aka Highway 99) between Vancouver and Squamish.

While you’re able to take a gondola up and down, there’s a hike that’ll get you up top as well! The trailhead is at the parking lot/base of the gondola and weaves up the mountain.

Once you get to the top, you’ll be welcomed with beautiful views, a restaurant to buy food/drinks, access to other trails and the backcountry. I recommend hiking up and taking the gondola down (for a small fee).

Length: 13km| Elevation Gain: 918m elevation gain | Route Type: Roundtrip

Find trail information here.

Watersprite Lake

For this classic hike in British Columbia, you’ll need a vehicle with high clearance to get to the trailhead.

The hike is a bit challenging but it’s a must-do hike in British Columbia. Once at the lake, you’ll be rewarded with epic mountain views and a beautifully coloured lake.

Be sure to bring your swimsuit and go for a polar plunge. There’s a cabin that sleeps 10 people and tent camping available. Check out this website to snag a spot in the cabin.

Length: 17.2km | Elevation Gain: 736m | Route Type: Point to point

Find trail information here.

Wedgemount Lake

I’ve been here almost ten times because it’s one of the must-do hikes in British Columbia.

It is a tough hike and takes me about 4 hours to get up to the lake with my overnight backpack on. The steepness of the hike is pretty relentless but once you reach the top you’ll be rewarded with epic views.

If you’d like to camp, which I definitely suggest you do, check out the Camping/Overnight Stay section of the BC Parks’ website. If you’re brave enough, you can take a dip in the water in the summer months but beware—the water will take your breath away (literally and figuratively).

Length: 14km | Elevation Gain: 1,200m | Route Type: Point to point

Find trail information here. Note: the AllTrails link will take you past Wedgemount Lake to Tupper Lake so the stats are longer than they are just to Wedgemount Lake.

Mount Brunswick

If you’ve done a few of the hikes above or have trained a bit, you’re ready to take on Mount Brunswick—the tallest peak in the North Shore Mountains.

This hike is steep, relentless, and exposed for the last hour or so. Be prepared for scrambling near the summit and earn your views. You really feel like you’ve conquered a mountain when you stand on the peak looking down at Howe Sound, Vancouver, and the surrounding peaks.

This is one of my favourite hikes, ever and one of a must-do hikes in British Columbia.

Length: 12.6km | Elevation Gain: 1,556m | Route Type: Point to point

Find trail information here.

Panorama Ridge

This is an iconic hike in British Columbia and is one of my all-time favorites. It is long, especially if you decide to day hike it—but it’s worth it.

There are two trailheads for this hike so I’ll explain each. One is at the Garibaldi Lake/Rubble Creek trailhead, which is the most popular, and the other is at the Cheakamus Lake trailhead.

After doing both trails, I recommend starting at the Cheakamus Lake trailhead because it’s just as scenic and you’ll see a fraction of the people.

The stats below reflect this trail. That said, if you’re wanting to visit Garibaldi Lake on the way to Panorama Ridge (there is a slight detour so it’ll make your hike longer), definitely start at the Garibaldi Lake/Rubble Creek trailhead.

If you’d like to camp, check out the Reservation section of the BC Parks website.

Length: 30km | Elevation Gain: 1,615m | Route Type: Point to point

Find trail information here.

Golden Ears

This hike is iconic and is one of the must-do hikes in British Columbia. The trail has a lot of exposed roots and is very steep after Alder Flats so be prepared.

If you’re a seasoned hiker and want to tackle this trail with an overnight backpack, I suggest heading up there early so you can take your time hiking, chill at the top and grab a tent pad.

Campsites are situated just below the summit. The tent pads are claimed on a first come first serve basis and you need to get a backcountry permit here. This may change in the future, as this spot gets more popular, so please do your research.

Length: 22.5km | Elevation Gain: 1,700m elevation gain| Route Type: Point to Point

Find trail information here.

*These images were taken just below the peak at camp.

That’s it for now! I hope you found a couple of hikes you want to crush this summer. I will be sharing more hikes in my beautiful home province of British Columbia soon, so stay tuned. Any questions? Pop them in the comments and let’s chat.