Where to start? It's impossible to short list my favourite hikes in stunning BC. I've put some of my highlights below, there wasn't space to add them all. Perhaps I'll write a second post! You can see some of the inspirations behind the hikes I chose to feature in deck of wander~ Spectacular Hikes in Southern BC. Let me know if you have any questions.
MOUNTAIN LAKE
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Mountain Lake hut is owned by the B.C. Mountaineering Club. We went with a BCMC group who had the key to the access gate so we didn't have to drive up the 10km logging road. If you don't have access to the key we saw some people mountain bike this section. After a cosy sleep in the hut we woke to glorious weather and meditated with the morning sun on our face. We sat for hours drinking steaming hot coffee and feeling incredibly blessed before descending.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOWE SOUND CREST TRAIL
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We hiked from the car park on cypress mountain to Porteau Cove. camping tucked behind the Lions. It was a profound moment tucked behind the Lions. Camping underneath the stars next to colossal rock formations, that you see from afar in the city. The hike is hard and technical with no water source along the way. Your pack feels pretty heavy.The views are astonishing as you scale the crest of the mountains.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
DELLA FALLS
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The only way to access Della Falls is across Great Central Lake which is 35 km long and the second-deepest lake on Vancouver Island. We took a water taxi to the start of the trail head, camping near the falls. The following day we enjoyed a steep hike to Love Lake which has high views of the falls. We ate our lunch and enjoyed the views whilst a few jumped into the ice cold lake surrounded by Mount Septimus and Mount Rosseau. Swim from the dock whilst waiting for your water taxi to take you back across the lake.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
BADEN POWELL
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The hike from Horseshoe Bay up to Eagle Bluffs is one of my local favourites on the North Shore. Its a very quiet trail and the terrain is extremely varied with magical bubbling creeks rushing over white stones.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
BRUNSWICK MOUNTAIN
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brunswick Mountain is the highest of all the North Shore peaks. Its a slog up to the top but a work out and the panoramic views of the Howe Sound are breathtaking.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
HIGH FALLS CREEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stunning waterfall filled with rainbows and deafening sounds. The hike leads you to gorgeous views of the Squamish Valley and Tantalus Range. We made a weekend of it and camped off a logging road on the way up to Tricouni Peak.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ELK MOUNTAIN
~~~~~~~~~~~~
This lovely trail is in the Fraser Valley. It has incredible views, beautiful wild flowers and its not too strenuous. Great if you only have half a day to spare.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
BREW HUT
Love this hidden little gem. There are many access points to this trail we chose an easy route and wish we had gone for the harder option as it was a little too short at 6km. The lake is breathtaking and the wildflowers were out in full force when we went for my birthday weekend in August. We camped by the hut and my boyfriend surprised me with a carefully carried birthday cake deep inside his backpack protected by a colander! Bunting strung to trees, a burrito potluck, perfect birthday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
CROWN MOUNTAIN
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I LOVE this hike! It is a killer especially if like us you hike up grouse grind and descend BCMC! My recommendation would be to take the gondola down as the BCMC was a bridge too far, lots of moaning with our calves trembling on the steep decent! The views across to Vancouver will blow your mind and the scramble up to the final peak is really fun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
LONE CONE
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I do this hike every time I visit Tofino as the stunning views across the archipelagos and white surf beaches facing the Pacific Ocean take my breath away. Located on Meares Island the towering mountain rises from the ocean in the Clayoquot Sound. The hike is strenuous as the trail climbs more than 700-meters in just over 1.5km and is best done by those who are fit. I've had friends give up along the way so you have been warned! If Tofino is fully booked I would recommend camping at Lone Cone hostel, with beach views and a regular water taxi to Tofino.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ELFIN LAKES
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A really lovely high alpine hike to small lakes located in Garibaldi Provincial Park near Squamish, British Columbia. We managed to book camp pads which can be hard to snag on summer weekends, so book early. I love this trip as a ski tour, much quieter in winter and you can enjoy the comforts of the warm backcountry cabin by camping close by.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
RUSSET LAKE
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Russet Lake is a dream like paradise that lays at the base of The Fissile in Whistler. We hiked up Singing Pass trail to our camp spot next to the lake. We had planned to descend the next day via Musical Bumps but a certain someone, who will remain nameless, decided to do a 'SHORT' morning walk to see a glacier, enlisting a ill prepared companion. 'We will be no more than 20mins' he shouted as he left the camp. 3 hours later they arrived back at the camp, sun burnt out of water to a very chilly reception. We ended up descending back down Singing pass as we were too late to make the gondola. All was forgiven as we were rewarded with a stunning array of alpine flowers and whistling Marmots that gives Whistler its name!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
PANORAMA RIDGE
~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was one of our first backcountry hike, a good one for beginners. Although one of our crew really struggled on the switchbacks and we ended up carrying a lot of his gear. It is well marked and easy to find. We camped at Taylor meadows which is quieter than Garibaldi lake backcountry campsite. Beware the dreaded hikers with tinny stereos blasting really bad music along route. It's probably the busiest hike in the region but for good reason. The hike to Panorama Ridge is gorgeous. We loved Black tusk too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you have enjoyed reading this and feel as passionate about British Columbia and hiking as me check out deck of wander!
