Recommendations for short hikes (day hikes)?

[Holly Taylor]

It's been 2 years since I went hiking, and I'm feeling the urge to get outside!

Can anyone recommend any good trails or areas? I'm in good shape, and I've done multi-day hiking/backpacking trips before. I'm just not familiar with all my options, and figured there would be some outdoorsy people here on perb who could help out. I can search online, but I'd love to get personal recommendations.

I want to go on some hikes that take about 5-6 hours to do, and that are within 1-3 hours driving distance from Vancouver (each way).

I'm interested in hikes that are a good workout, but that are also in beautiful locations.

 

[tokugawa]

It's been 2 years since I went hiking, and I'm feeling the urge to get outside!

Can anyone recommend any good trails or areas? I'm in good shape, and I've done multi-day hiking/backpacking trips before. I'm just not familiar with all my options, and figured there would be some outdoorsy people here on perb who could help out. I can search online, but I'd love to get personal recommendations.

I want to go on some hikes that take about 5-6 hours to do, and that are within 1-3 hours driving distance from Vancouver (each way).

I'm interested in hikes that are a good workout, but that are also in beautiful locations.

Lions Hike: http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-New-Lions-near-Vancouver-BC-271

Rainbow Lake Hike but be prepared for the bugs!: http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Rainbow-Lake-Trail-near-Whistler-BC-449

 

[badbadboy]

With that driving range you can make it to Manning Park easily and there are about half a dozen awesome hikes in that Park.

Golden Ears Park and Black Tusk are two others that I recommend within the area.

 

[ReluctantPooner]

Hike the Squamish Chief - in Squamish! I've heard hiking all 3 peaks and back to your car takes about 6 hours. Amazing views from up there.

 

[Oldfart]

Lynn Canyon in North Van is wonderful with many, many options.

 

[MissingOne]

Lynn Canyon in North Van is wonderful with many, many options.

How does your walker, the one you traded the Ferrari for, handle the trails?

 

[*emmanuelle]

With that driving range you can make it to Manning Park easily and there are about half a dozen awesome hikes in that Park.

And it's full of quite possibly the cutest animals in the world - marmots!!!! :clap2: :clap2:

 

[Frank Dux]

The Chief is good, but totally nuts on the weekends. 2500 people a day on the trail on the long weekends last year.

Dog Mountain on Seymour is an easily accessible day hike, but not that long. Great snowshoe trail in the winter, too.

Garibaldi Lake is great once you get to the lake/Taylor Meadows, but the first 2/3 are boring switchbacks in 2nd growth forest. It's also extremely busy on weekends.

Diamond Head/Elfin Lakes just outside of Squamish is 28km round trip, but an easy grade. It's an old forest service road the whole way up because it used to be a ski resort back in the 50's. You can do it in a day if you start early. You can also bike it if you're feeling adventurous.

Diaz Vistas at Buntzen Lake is a nice day hike and you can go for a dip in the lake once you're done. The views aren't spectacular, but you can do it pretty much year round if you don't mind the rain.

My favourite hike is Joffre Lakes, but it's a 3.5 to 4 hour drive one-way. Awesome hike, but you have to travel past Mount Currie and half way to Lillooet.

Stay far, far away from The Grind unless you like walking up scrubby stairs with thousands of tourists, only to find a tourist trap at the top. Then it's $10 to take the gondola back down.

Need any company? ;P

 

[bcneil]

I love the black tusk........do it each year. With a traditional nude swim on the way down in the ice cold lake.
Just dont sleep on the tusk, it gets freezing cold.

 

[Avarice]

Shannon Falls was beautiful. It's about 4-6 hours. Not for the novice, but I know you're not novice so you'd be fine.

 

[tokugawa]

Great book on hikes in BC: 103 Hikes In Southwestern British Columbia

 

[MissingOne]

Great Thread! Since I moved from Victoria (the land of amazing hikes) I have found it hard to find places to hike. ...

What are your favourite hikes around the Victoria area? We spend several weeks every year there. We're there mostly to work, but I'd be interested in knowing of some good half-day or day hikes that are easy to get to from the Western Communities.

 

[Holly Taylor]

Thank you so much for the suggestions, everyone! I really appreciate you taking the time to share this information with me.

I'll be trying to get outside as much as possible this summer, and this is a really great list to work with.

 

[Avarice]

Thank you so much for the suggestions, everyone! I really appreciate you taking the time to share this information with me.

I'll be trying to get outside as much as possible this summer, and this is a really great list to work with.

And btw, it's good to see you Holly. Just yesterday I was talking about you and it was all good.

 

[MissingOne]

If your looking for something ...

Kisses Melina*

Gosh Melina, thanks for taking the time to write a nice detailed reply! We'll take some of your advice next time we're in the Victoria area for a while.

 

[WWTDD]

One of the best books I have ever used for hiking is: 103 Hikes in Southwestern BC. It lists all the hikes 1 to 3 hours away, distance and elevation gain. When my group and I used to hike every weekend this is the book we used. Some of my favorite trails are Garibaldi Lakes, Diamond Head at Squamish, Singing Pass at Whistler, Joffree Lakes, Elfin Lakes. To many to mention. Let us know which one you're thinking of doing and we can give some advice. Enjoy.

 

[InnocentBoy]

You take your little monster for your day hikes?
My favorite book is exploring the coast mountains on ski's, i'm sure more than half those trails would be hike friendly in the summer.

 

[bcneil]

I have the 103 hike book as well, it gives great information. Only thing is they are very conservative in their estimates of how long hikes take.
Wedge mountain is also a great hike, tough for one day, but the stars at night are worth staying.

Always looking for volunteers to help me bring my telescope up there.

 

[ReluctantPooner]

No problem! Anytime ... I love hiking!

I am going to have to get this 103 Hikes in Southwestern B.C. book!

Kisses Melina*

I have a similar book......109 Walks in British Columbia's Lower Mainland....4th Edition. I've never really used it, but taking a quick look at the Table of Contents, it looks like I've done at least a couple of them. The walks range from 1.5-6 hours.

 

[cruizer]

I also have the following hiking books. In contrast to my 103 Hikes book, these two books have nice coloured pictures and maps which are easier to read.

Classic Hikes of the Lower Left Hand Corner of BC
http://www.amazon.ca/Classic-hikes-...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338352641&sr=1-2

Best Hikes and Walks of Southwestern BC
http://www.amazon.ca/Hikes-Walks-So...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338352805&sr=1-2

However, it looks like they may be harder to find as they probably haven't been updated or revised in a while.