Cypress Falls hike starts in Cypress Falls Park in West Vancouver. The trail is pretty easy, but there are numerous off trails and it is very easy to go in the wrong direction. There are two main falls and one third one which I don’t think most people get to.  The first waterfall you reach is named the lower falls and is less than 500 m from the start. The upper falls are another 600 m or so. After the upper falls, you can continue on a more rugged trail to reach what I dub as the twin falls, which are quite spectacular. I did the hike in a loop, which is also something I don’t think most people do.

The stats:

Distance: 3.2 km (loop return)
Time: 2 hours (with lots of photog breaks)
Low point: 193 m
High point: 312 m
Elevation gain: 119 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 200 m
Trailhead: 49° 21’ 7.5” by  123° 14’ 27” (Google Map)

The route…

The photos…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★

This is a great trail with two points of interest. First, is the big cedar tree, which has been estimated at over 600 years old; the second is Kennedy Falls. Don’t let the length and elevation gain of 170 m fool you for this hike. There are many ups and downs on this trail making the cumulative elevation gain 750 m. The length of the trail is 5 km, so the return total is 10 km. The trail traverses the west slope of Lynn Valley and you will find the big cedar tree 3.3 km from the start; also of note – the big cedar tree is less than 100 m from Lynn Creek. The cedar tree is massive and the only reason I think why it was spared from the saw in the early 1900s, when the whole area was logged, is that there was no saw large enough ! The end of the trail marks Kennedy Falls, which is spectacular and fills the air with wind, mist and rainbows. There is a new parking lot at the trailhead on Mountain Highway, which fills up fast, so get there early. This is a very popular mountain biking area.

The stats:

Distance: 10 km (return)
Time: 5 hours (many breaks)
Low point: 300 m
High point: 470 m
Elevation gain: 170 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 750 m
Trailhead: 49° 21’ 31” by  123° 2’ 7.5” (Google Map)

The route…

Here are some photos from today
My complete photo set can be seen on Flickr

Here is the Big Cedar Tree…

Kennedy Falls…

Crossing creeks…

Relics of the forestry era…

Old wooden boardwalk planks…

Rainbow…

Roots for steps…

There we are !…

Trail pics…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★

Quarry Rock hike is a very popular hike in North Vancouver. It is relatively easy for regular hikers and you will see many people on the trail, including families and runners. The trail starts just off Panorama Drive in Deep Cove, North Vancouver; and it traverses through Cove Forest. There are many steps, boardwalks and bridges, which make the trail family-friendly. On my route today, I took the regular trail to the viewpoint at Quarry Rock, but then on my return, I took a trail north to Indian River Drive, where it then turns west. Most people will follow the same path back and that is just fine. The trail I took on my return is not very busy and less marked.
Overall, this is a great little hike, especially for families. The parking and crowds would be the only problems I see with this hike.

Here are the stats for the loop (which I took) and the back and forth on the same trail route…

Same Trail Return / Loop
Distance: 4 km / 5km
Low point: 9 m
High point: 130 m / 222 m
Elevation gain: 121 m / 213 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 325 m / 411 m
Trailhead: 49° 19’ 48.4” by  123° 56’ 59.4” (Google Map)

Here is the loop route…

Here are some photos from the viewpoint…

Bridge and Boardwalk…

Bridge over creek…

Stairs…

Steps on Trail

Trail pics…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★

This is my second post for a hike in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. The first was for a hike to Norvan Falls. Lynn Peak is a much different hike than the Norvan Falls hike. The Lynn Peak hike is uphill pretty much all the way – it’s more of a workout. I found the trail well marked with some bits quite rocky, but overall the trail was very manageable. Compared to the nearby Grouse Grind, this trail is much easier and much less crowded. The trail offers the occasional flat area to catch your breath. Once at the top, there is a large rock bluff at which to have a snack and take in the views looking south. Today, it was overcast, but Mt. Baker was still visible !

NOTE: The access road for vehicles is now closed indefinitely. You will have to hike park on the street somewhere and hike into the park.

Here are the stats starting from the second parking lot…

Distance: 9.1 km (return)
Time: 3 hours moving time
Low point: 192 m
High point: 942 m
Elevation gain: 750 m
Trailhead: 49° 21’ 40” by  123° 01’ 41.5” (Google Map)

Here is the route…

Photos…

Great view from the top…

Another view…

View of Mt. Baker…

Sun fighting through the trees…

Mushrooms…

Notch in blow down…

Rocky section…

Steam on dead tree…

Trail pic…

Trail pic…

Wooden stumps at a sometimes swampy section…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★

This hike is also known as Tunnel Point.

This hike starts just north of Lions Bay, about 15 mins north of Horseshoe Bay. For this hike, it is best to have someone drop you off in the parking lot on the ocean side of the highway (HERE). This is a 30 minute max parking lot. If coming from Vancouver, you cannot directly access this parking lot; however, after another 1.7 km there is a gravel pull-out alongside of the highway, where you can safely turnaround. (If you miss this pull-out, there is a proper turn-around location 2 km further. Once you’re back at the parking lot, you must make your way across the highway (be careful) and look for the big yellow highway sign that reads “Rockfall Hazard Area – No Stopping” – This sign is right by the trailhead. The hike starts uphill immediately and continues so until about the 600 m elevation mark – at this point you travel on an old logging road until you reach the end. On the way up, there are 3 viewpoints, but none are near as good to what you’ll see at the end. The trail is in good shape and is not technical – there are a couple of ropes, but they aren’t really needed. There is one small creek (at 640 m) and a few monster trees. The view from the bluff is quite spectacular – you see Howe Sound, Bowen Island, Gambier Island and Anvil Island, among others.

NOTE: Cars have been towed from the parking lot for illegal parking. If you see a bunch of cars parked on the side of the entrance or exit driveway, don’t think that’s ok – there is a good possibility you’ll be towed.

Distance: 7.3 km (return)
Time: 3-5 hours
Low point: 64 m
High point: 708 m
Elevation gain: 644 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 850 m
Trailhead: 49° 29’ 5.3” by  123° 14’ 52.1” (Google Map)

The view from the top bluff…

A short video from the bluff…

View from first viewpoint (100 m elevation)…

Steel wire left over from old logging days…

Old wooden barrel…

Another relic left over from the logging days…

The only stream on the trail…

The old logging road…

Nice notch step cut in tree…

The trail was well marked…

Some Arbutus trees on route…

Trail pic…

Trailhead…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★