100+ Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver: Trails You Can Hike Year Round

Posted on January 13, 2018

Log bridge on the Norvan Falls trail near Vancouver, BC. One of over 100 snow-free hikes near Vancouver

While summer is the prime season for hiking, dedicated hikers know that with a bit of preparation and research, you can hike all winter long. Sometimes you just want a bit of nature time in the winter, and quick hike or nature walk is way easier than gearing up for snowshoeing. (Although if you want to do that, I’ve got some great snowshoeing guides for you). It can be tough to figure out where to hike in the winter though, since the mountains are blanketed in snow. But no worries, I’ve done all the research for you. I’ve put together the an absolutely enormous list of snow-free hikes in Vancouver for you. These are trails that you can hike year round… and there’s over 100 of them! I’ve got snow-free hikes for every part of the Lower Mainland from West Vancouver out to Hope. I even stretched up to Squamish and over to Bowen Island to give you even more options.

Table of Contents

But First, Be Prepared

Winter hiking requires more preparation than summer hiking: the weather is cold, the trails are often in poor condition and there are less people on the trails to help you if you get into trouble. Make sure you leave a trip plan with a friend or family member before you go. Always bring the 10 essentials and check out my tips for winter hiking to make sure you keep warm and stay safe. Some of these trails might get a dusting of snow a few times of year (especially if it snows down at sea level), but none of them will get enough snow to require snowshoes. They can still be icy though, so microspikes are a idea. Check trail conditions ahead of time so you know what to expect. I’ve got a great list of Vancouver-area resources for finding trail conditions info. These trails are located in sensitive wilderness areas. Learn how to Leave No Trace before you go to keep the wilderness wild.

Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver

Wreck Beach at sunset on the Foreshore Trail in Pacific Spirit Regional Park

1. Stanley Park: This is one of the best short and easy hikes in Vancouver.

2. Pacific Spirit Park

3. Point Grey Foreshore Trail (This trail passes through Wreck Beach, a nudist beach. While there are far fewer nude sunbathers in the winter than the summer, be prepared to see naked people any day of the year.)

Snow-Free Hikes in North Vancouver

The suspension bridge in Lynn Canyon.

Deep Cove

4. Quarry Rock: This is a great hike to do in the winter. In the summer the trail is REALLY busy since Quarry Rock is pretty Instagram-famous.

5. Baden Powell Deep Cove to Lynn Valley

Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve

6. Seymour Valley Trailway: Consider taking a side trip onto the Figure 8 mountain bike trail to walk through a huge hollowed out cedar tree. It’s one of Vancouver’s most unusual hikes.

7. Rice Lake

8. Fisherman’s Trail: Watch for the hidden tunnel part way along.

9. Homestead/Twin Bridges Loop

READ NEXT: How to find trail conditions in Vancouver

Snow-Free Hikes in West Vancouver and Lions Bay

Lighthouse Park, one of over 100 snow-free hikes in Vancouver that you can hike all year long.

The lighthouse at Point Atkinson in Lighthouse Park

Capilano Valley

16. Capilano Pacific Trail

17. Capilano Canyon Trails

British Properties

18. Brothers Creek Forestry Heritage Walk (The Brothers Creek trail continues further up the mountain, but this loop stays low to avoid the snow.)

19. Lawson Creek Heritage Walk: Make sure you take a moment to enjoy the Hollyburn Fir, a 1000 year old tree.

Horseshoe Bay

20. Cypress Falls

21. Whyte Lake

22. Lighthouse Park: This hike is really scenic, which is why it’s on the list of Vancouver’s most Instagrammed hikes AND Vancouver best easy hikes.

23. Whytecliffe Park

Lions Bay

24. Lions Bay Loop

Hey! Do you want every single hike on this list in one easy to navigate google map? I made one for you! Sign up to get access to the Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver Map, downloadable PDF trail guides and more exclusive subscriber content!

Snow-Free Hikes on Bowen Island and the Sunshine Coast

25. Mount Gardner (The summit of Mount Gardner is at 719m so the top of the trail can sometimes get some light snow.)

26. Dorman Point

27. Killarney Lake

28. Langdale Falls

29. Soames Hill

30. Cliff Gilker Park

31. Skookumchuck Narrows

Snow-Free Hikes in Squamish

Crooked Falls in Squamish, one of over 100 snow-free hikes in Vancouver that you can hike all year long.

Crooked Falls in the Squamish River valley

Despite being at sea level, Squamish gets more snow than Vancouver and there may be snow on these trails during sustained cold weather.

32. Murrin Park Trails

33. Shannon Falls

34. Upper Shannon Falls (This trail continues on to the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola via the Sea to Summit Trail. If you climb higher than Upper Shannon Falls you will certainly encounter snow.)

35. Smoke Bluffs Park

36. Crumpit Woods

37. Estuary Trails

38. Alice Lake

39. Brohm Lake Interpretive Forest

40. Crooked Falls

41. Sea to Sky Trail (Squamish to Cheakamus Canyon section)

Snow-Free Hikes in Burnaby

42. Burnaby Mountain Trails

43. Burnaby Lake

44. Deer Lake

Snow-Free Hikes in the Tri-Cities

Jug Island in Belcarra Regional Park

Belcarra Regional Park

45. Jug Island

46. Admiralty Point

47. Bedwell Bay

48. Woodhaven Trail

49. Sasamat Lake

50. Sugar Mountain Trail

51. Buntzen Ridge

Buntzen Lake

52. Buntzen Lake

53. Lakeview Trail

54. Academy Trail

55. Swan Falls Viewpoint (The trail continues up past the viewpoint to the Falls and to the crest of the ridge, but if you venture further than the viewpoint in the winter, you are likely to encounter snow.)

Port Moody

56. Bert Flinn Park

57. Shoreline Trail

Coquitlam

58. Coquitlam Crunch

59. Mundy Park

60. Crystal Falls

61. Woodland Walk/Sawblade Falls

Port Coquitlam

62. Poco Trail

63. Colony Farm Regional Park

64. Minnekhada Regional Park

READ NEXT: Most Instagrammed Hikes in Vancouver (Updated for 2019)

Snow-Free Hikes in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge

Widgeon Falls near Pitt Lake, one of over 100 snow-free hikes in Vancouver that you can hike all year long.

Widgeon Falls in Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, reached after canoeing across the mouth of Pitt Lake.

Pitt Meadows

65. Pitt River Regional Greenway

66. Pitt Lake Dykes

67. Widgeon Falls (This hike starts with a canoe trip. There is a canoe rental place at Grant Narrows, but they may not be open in the winter. Call them at (604) 836-7117 before you go to avoid disappointment.)

Maple Ridge

68. Malcolm Knapp Research Forest

69. Kanaka Creek/Cliff Falls

70. Kanaka Creek Riverfront Trails

Golden Ears Provincial Park

Note that the gate at the entrance to Golden Ears Provincial Park is sometimes locked in the winter if it has snowed or the roads are icy. Always check the park website for gate opening info before going.

71. Mike Lake

72. Alouette Valley Trail

73. Menzies Trail

74. Lookout Trail

75. East & West Canyon Loop

76. Gold Creek Falls