Welcome to the North Shore! You’ll start your first day with an afternoon arrival, checking into the Lonsdale Quay Hotel. This will be your home base for the trip. The hotel offers great views of the surrounding ocean and Vancouver skyline. Your first adventure will be a quick warm-up walk at the famous Lynn Canyon. You’ll spend a couple hours exploring the park, walking a couple kilometers. The Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge offers beautiful views of the rushing river, waterfalls, and deep pools. Finish the day off with pints and a classic Vancouver meal at Tap and Barrel. If you’re looking to explore downtown, you can take the SeaBus into the city. This ferry is part of Vancouver’s transit system, and you can get on by simply swiping your credit card at the terminal.

Your second day will take you up St Mark’s Summit, a popular route on Cypress Mountain. Be sure to snap a photo by the Olympic arches before starting your hike! Cypress hosted freestyle skiing and snowboarding in the 2010 Olympics. This 11 kilometer hike takes about 5 hours to complete. You’ll have a decently steep ascent to the summit, 460 meters above the Cypress parking lot. Be prepared to navigate some rocky terrain and protruding tree roots. At the summit, you’ll have stunning views of Howe Sound, and the Lions, a pair of peaks a couple ridges beyond St Mark’s Summit. Cypress offers great on mountain dining, so you can start your après as soon as you finish your hike. It’s an awesome spot to enjoy the sunset!

Today will take you up the Sea to Sky Highway to Tunnel Bluffs. This stunning hike features views of Bowen Island, the Sunshine Coast, and the Sea to Sky Highway carving through the north shore mountains. The trail starts in Lion’s Bay, about a 30 minute drive north of your hotel. The hike is comparably challenging to St Mark’s, totalling 11.5 kilometers with 470 meters of elevation gain. It starts on an old logging road, so you’ll have smooth hiking terrain before turning off towards the viewpoint. On the way back, you’ll stop at Horseshoe Bay to chow down on some Fish n Chips before heading back to your hotel.

Time for the Grind! The Grouse Grind is a classic Vancouver fitness test, gaining 853 meters over only 2.9 kilometers. It’s Vancouver’s most popular trail, and most of the walking is done on a wooden staircase built to prevent erosion. The hike ends at Grouse Mountain Ski resort, so you’ll be able to grab a drink and rehydrate right as you finish. You’ll have great views of downtown Vancouver and the surrounding ocean as you sip your pints. Hiking down the Grind is prohibited, so you’ll catch the Gondola back down to the base before returning to the city.

Your legs are sure to be burning from the Grind and a couple other tough hikes, so we’ll wrap up with a calm morning stroll. After checking out of your hotel, you’ll head to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The bridge towers 30 stories above the Capilano River Canyon. The park is nestled in a pristine rainforest, with several different walkways and viewing platforms. You’ll spend about 30 minutes on the bridge, around 2 hours exploring the park. Once you’re wrapped up, it’s time to head home!