The best hiking trails near Vancouver (BC)
BC is a destination that has always caught my attention. The West Coast (and its Rocky Mountains) is very well known across the country for its amazing sceneries as well as its famous ski resorts. Unfortunately (and if you have a rational explanation for that, please feel free to share), flights to Europe are actually cheaper than flights to Vancouver. So I ended up not going to the West Coast until very recently.
Garibaldi Lake, BC
I personally think it's a shame that people don't travel more across Canada. We have an amazing country with so many natural gems. Hopefully one day we'll have high speed trains, or prices will go down drastically to encourage local tourism.
Anyhow, I've found a way to buy a ticket to Vancouver last June (thanks to credit cards travel points), and decided to visit a friend there! Ever since I moved to Toronto, I realized that I miss the countryside a lot (isn't it always like that, craving what we don't have), so it made sense to spend my three days in BC in the middle of nature. Moreover, I recently found myself a real interest for hiking so I chose three different trails to explore during my stay.
1. Stanley Park
Ok, this one isn't a tough hike, but it was very rainy that day and I still wanted to get out and do something. Located in the heart of Vancouver, this park is filled with centuries-old trees everywhere. That place also turned out being really cute under rainy weather, and more importantly, almost empty.
The starting point of this trail is located approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes (by car) from downtown Vancouver. My initial plan was to hike up until the top of the mountain to get the breathtaking view on the lake. However, there are multiple view points located all around this park, and for some reason, I mixed them up while doing my research. For a one-day trip, it's best to go to the lake only. The round trip took us approximately 8 hours (we stayed at the lake to chill and take pictures for at least an hour). If you wish to explore further and hike up until the top of the mountain to reach Panorama Ridge, it is recommended to camp there, and separating the adventure in two parts. The hike itself isn't THAT hard, but it is extremely long. You will feel like you're never going to get there. Bring lots of water, snacks, and stay focused. It's worth it :)
3. Joffre Lakes
Last but not least, I don't know where I found the motivation to do that hike (the day after hiking Garibaldi trails), but I decided to drive passed Pemberton and see Joffre's picturesque Lakes. It takes almost 3 hours by car to get to the trailhead from Vancouver. Once you arrive, the Lower Lake is easily accessible from the parking lot (5-10 min). However, that's not the view you'll want to see. If you feel a bit more adventurous, I suggest starting your way up to reach the Middle and/or Upper Lakes. Warning: there's a part that's basically just a never-ending stairway (1 km), and if you're like me you'll feel like you're dying every 15 seconds, because it gets STEEP! I still managed to get there within 1.5 hours, and every drop of sweat was worth it. Seriously, the view is out of this world!
Hopefully, that'll make you want to visit the Canadian West Coast. I will for sure go back, there's just so much to see!