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Gorgeous & Easy Winter Hikes Near Vancouver To Absolutely Enjoy

Indulge in Vancouver Outdoors This Winter – Rain or Shine (or Snow)! Experience The Serenity of British Columbia’s Winter Rainforest, the Magnificence of the Mountains, the Energy of our Rivers and Waterfalls Through These Kids-Friendly Easy Hiking Trails.

Who said the winter is boring in Vancouver, BC? Who said you have to stay indoors from November to April as it is pouring rain all the time? Nonsense! Vancouver winters are simply magical! Rain or shine (or snow), there is no lack of absolutely gorgeous wilderness trails you can easily explore. We present to you our list of Top Twenty absolutely gorgeous easy winter hikes near Vancouver you can enjoy in any weather with your entire family.

***This post may contain affiliate links and we may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. All product recommendations and feedback are ours and based on personal experience. Please refer to our Disclosure Policy.

Check out our other hiking trail collections:

• Best Kids-Friendly Swimming Lakes Near Vancouver For Your Awesome Family Summer Experience!
• “Photographer’s Dream” Suspension Bridges near Vancouver to get your Instagram Fans Excited!
• 10 Crowd-FREE Easy Hiking Trails in Vancouver: Social Distancing Outdoors
• Awesome Places To Experience Magical Fall in Vancouver
• Cool Rainy Day Activities & Awesome Things To Do With Kids in Vancouver
• Best Hiking Shoes For Kids Complete Guide: How to Choose and Where to Buy

NOTE: For your convenience, we've included the Google Map with anchors to each hike on our list – Easy winter hikes near Vancouver Map – you'll find it at the bottom of the page 🙂 Enjoy!

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Lighthouse Park @ West Vancouver

Enjoy a delightful kids-friendly hike through Lighthouse Park, stop by a historic Point Atkinson landmark & breathe in spectacular ocean scenery at the heart of West Vancouver, BC. 

This easy hiking trail near Vancouver is well-travelled and accessible all year round. However, it can be slippery if temperatures fall below zero. Especially, watch out for black ice covering large boulders near the shoreline. 

Otherwise, the Lighthouse Park hiking trail is absolutely stunning and is definitely one of the best easy hikes near Vancouver one can indulge in the winter!

Lighthouse Park & Point Atkinson – Canadian History & Spectacular Views

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Cypress Mountain Bowen Look-out @ North Vancouver

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While Cypress Mountain is likely to be covered in snow in the winter, this 2.5km one way (4.8km to-and-back) slightly elevated hiking trail is accessible all year round! 

Bowen Lookout trail is a well-trafficked extremely easy hike that would lead you to astonishing views of Howe Sound and Bowen Island. Definitely check it out!

Out for a hike or a camping trip soon? These should be useful:
Leave No Trace & Outdoor Ethics – Zero Impact Family Adventures
Hiking With Kids: 12 Simple Safety Rules Every Parent Should Follow

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Capilano Suspension Bridge @ North Vancouver

One of Vancouver’s “classics” when it comes to exploring North Vancouver is Capilano suspension bridge attraction. Open to visitors year-round, it breathes special magic in the winter. Firstly, there are many fewer tourists around. In addition, during the Holiday Season, Capilano burst a beautiful light display in the evening. 

Do check-out this easy hiking trail and the suspension bridge attraction! 

Interested to find more stunning suspension bridges near Vancouver? Learn more: “Photographer’s Dream” Suspension Bridges near Vancouver to get your Instagram Fans Excited!

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Capilano Park @ North Vancouver

Capilano Park (not to mix with Capilano Suspension Bridge) is a large park that stretches from Capilano Lake, the Capilano dam and down along Capilano River. There are few bridges crossing the river along this easy hiking trail. The full loop to the furthest bridge and back is about 3.5km total. Most of the trail is very well maintained. If you happen to hike on a snowy Vancouver day, watch out for back ice. 

There is an unimaginable serenity in those humongous ancient sequoia trees…and the freshness of the winter air is unique, almost healing…

To help our active parents who can't seem to figure out how to get their kids to enjoy hiking, we have prepared this post: Five Tried-And-True Outdoor Activities To Get Kids to Absolutely Love Hiking – find many creative ideas, kids outdoor activities, treasure hunts, and nature experiments within!

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Lynn Canyon @ North Vancouver

Yet another insight into North Vancouver magical evergreen rainforest is the Lynn Canyon hiking trail. When I say “evergreen” – Lynn Valley will indeed show you the colours of the true Vancouver “evergreen”!

Enjoy amazing views of the upper and lower falls, but watch your step as it could get slippery on a chilly day. 

Lynn Canyon is way less popular than nearby Capilano, so you have a chance to embrace the zen with no annoying interruptions from overexcited tourists!

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Quarry Rock @ Deep Cove

Ok, a confession: Quarry Rock is not the easiest of the trails and is not stroller-friendly or wheelchair accessible. We do not even recommend it to people with limited abilities or health concerns. But we just had to include it on our list, as this trail is not the hardest either and does lead to a breathtaking view of the Indian Arm Fjord. 

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VanDusen Botanical Garden @ Vancouver

We simply can not have a conversation about outdoor winter experiences and easy winter hikes near Vancouver and not mention VanDusen Botanical Gardens! The park is absolutely lovely all year round!

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UBC Pacific Spirit Park @ Vancouver

Pacific Spirit Regional Park, right in the heart of UBC domain, is a unique place to experience Vancouver evergreen forest of ancient Cedars, magnificent Douglas Firs and taller than ever Sitka Spruces. There are many easy hiking trails running through the park, most are snow-free all through the Vancouver winter. 

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Deer Lake @ Burnaby

Right in the heart of Burnaby lies the Deer Lake – a true gem and a gift to those who are looking for easy winter trails near Vancouver, but do not want to go too far away from the city! The trail around the lake is stroller-friendly even! So do check it out!

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Rocky Point Park Shoreline Trail @ Port Moody

Some of the Best Sunsets in town are guaranteed as seen from the Shoreline Trail in Port Moody near Vancouver. This easy hiking trail starts at Rocky Point Park and goes around the Burrard Inlet to Old Mill Site Park. In the summer, you can even bike along this trail! Although in the winter I would not recommend biking as the wooden pathways of the trail can be slippery – so opt-in for hiking instead!

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Admiralty Point @ Belcarra

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Belcarra is an excellent spot to experience the ocean without going to the actual ocean! There are few all-season easy hiking trails that start at the Belcarra: Jug Island Beach Trail and Admiralty Point are among those. 

The Jug Island Beach Trail is nice in the summer, winter is not the best season to take it as trail conditions can vary. While the Admiralty Point hiking trail is super easy and very well-trafficked and is an absolute delight even during a rare snowy winter in Vancouver!

Interestingly, you can watch locals fishing crab in Belcarra all year round, or participate yourself. If you have kids, this could be an absolute adventure of an experience!

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Buntzen Lake @ Anmore

We get asked all the time by our friends: what is your absolute favourite place in BC? This is it! Buntzen Lake it is! Buntzen Lake near Vancouver is one of the most peaceful, serene, clearest lakes in BC, and has a number of easy hiking trails that are accessible all year round. 

The air is so fresh, and the energy of the place so strong, you get instantly recharged and rejuvenated the minute you step out of your car! In the summer, the warm and clean waters make it one of the absolute best swimming lakes near Vancouver. 

Personally, we love to visit Buntzen lake “off-season”. Our best experience is in winter when there are little to no other people around and when you are the only person on that hiking trail. This way you can truly enjoy all of this powerful energy of the Lake all by yourself.

Warning: although the Bunzen hike is easy, it is not the easiest and may not be accessible especially if there is a snowy winter in Vancouver – proper winter hiking footwear is required and hiking safety should be followed to the point. We’ve mentioned our favorite hiking shoes in the post about Mystery Lake, and have a dedicated post on best hiking shoes for kids.

Buntzen Lake – True Zen & Best Swimming Lake Near Vancouver

Best Hiking Shoes For Kids Complete Guide: How to Choose and Where to Buy

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Crystal Falls @ Coquitlam

Would you like to experience waterfalls in winter? Crystal Falls hiking trail is an easy in-and-out hike that is almost right off Vancouver Skytrain! Even if it is snowy, the path is well-trafficked and ultimately enjoyable!

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Coquitlam River @ Coquitlam

There are many little hiking trails running all around Coquitlam River – anyone you choose, you’ll definitely enjoy your adventure. All of these hiking trails are wide, well-trafficked and maintained throughout the year. Eventually, any trail will lead you to the river itself, where you can enjoy the power of the current! Beautiful hike! 

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Lafarge Lake @ Coquitlam

At the heart of Coquitlam, right off the Vancouver’s Skytrain (Lafarge station), you’ll find a neat local park with a man-made lake and an easy and delightful winter hiking trail around it. Accessible, stroller-friendly, and well-maintained, Lafarge lake is a perfect little hike that can be enjoyed in the winter. Get a hot latte or a spicy cider at one of the nearby cafes and your winter day can not be better!

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Gates Park @ Port Coquitlam

Another delightful little park with beautiful winter hikes scenery, within the borders of Port Coquitlam this time, is Gates Park. It takes over from the Coquitlam River wilderness area and runs along the energetic currents all the way to Colony Farm Regional Park. Winter is nice in Gates Park, and if a snowy day hits, the soccer fields within it become a perfect playground for snow castles and snow fights! 

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Minnekhada @ Coquitlam

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Are looking for an easy kids-friendly few hours hike near Vancouver? Minnekhada IS the place! Right at Coquitlam doorstep, the park is beautiful and easily accessible in the winter and there are few easy hiking trails you could enjoy. No matter the time of year, or which direction you'd start, stunning serene scenery is guaranteed!

In the summer the whole Minnekhada pond is covered with lilies. There are hundreds of various birds around, including swans. We've seen few beaver-huts on the water.

In winter the water is covered with a thin layer of “glass” ice, which makes Minnekhada views look like coming out of fairy tales. Makes for spectacular pictures, especially when the sun is low and is reflecting on the ice!

Minnekhada – All Year Round Kids-Friendly True Serenity Hiking Trail

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Tynehead Park @ Surrey

Tynehead Park in Surrey is a great place to hike through the old forest & explore the huge trees and dozens of little streams that run across. 

One notorious fact about this park: Tynehead has one of the largest off-leash areas for dogs to play in Surrey. Although the entire park is NOT off-leash, it is still an absolutely perfect place to take a hike with your beloved pet any time of the year! 

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Fort-to-Fort Trail Derby Reach @ Langley

Fort to Fort is a beautiful and easy park trail that starts at Derby Reach Regional Park and runs to Fort Langley‘s National Historical Museum. If you add-on Edge Farm Trail – you got an absolute winner! Best park: you can both hike and bike here all year round! ..and as such the Fort To Fort is one of our favourite family-friendly bike routes.

More so that in winter, if it snows in Vancouver, the fields of Derby Reach Park are covered in snow and it makes for a fantastic playground for kids to build snowmen, snow castles and play snowballs! 

Fort to Fort – Fun & Easy Bike Trail Near Langley Even a Toddler Can Do!

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Rannie Road of Pitt Lake @ Pitt Meadows

Rannie Road is the “road” portion of the Katzie Marsh loop. The Road is 2km long gravel road (2km one way, so 4km total), bordering the Pitt Lake with its stunning snowy-top mountain views on one side, and the Katzie marshes with its vibrant wildlife, bird families and [in the summer] the carpet of lilies on the other.

In winter, especially on one of Vancouver sunny days, Rannie Road is an absolute marvel of a super-easy spectacular hike! The views are simply breathtaking! 

This Pitt Lake trail is one of the easiest hikes near Vancouver that is also 100% stroller-friendly and wheelchair accessible, even if it snowed the night before. 

Warning: as you approach the middle of the hike, it gets extremely windy. Make sure to wear a wind-proof jacket and a winter hat or a hoodie, as your hair will be up in the air in seconds 🙂 Otherwise, Pitt Lake is the most EPIC trail near Vancouver you can visit this winter, I guarantee!

Pitt Lake – Stunning Kids Biking Trail – True Hidden Gem Near Maple Ridge

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Kanaka Creek @ Maple Ridge

Kanaka Creek‘s Cliff Falls trail in Maple Ridge is one of our absolute favourite family all-season easy hikes near Vancouver, one of the rare snow-free winter finds and a great place to have a summer picnic. 

Regardless when you visit, there is hardly ever any people around. You can enjoy stress-free parking, always available picnic tables, the shade of humongous trees along the creek, quietude and fresh air of the trail, and the reward of one stunning waterfall – Cliff Falls – at the end of your walk.

Cliff Falls at Kanaka Creek – Awesome All Seasons Family Hike

If you decide to stop by at Kanaka Creek during Spring or Fall months, check out Bell-Irving Fish Hatchery‘s calendar of events in Maple Ridge. They have annual baby salmon fry release activity, the fall's salmon run watching, and many other educational activities for kids on environment and sustainability.

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Gold Creek Falls @ Maple Ridge

Golden Ears Provincial Park, is one of British Columbia's treasure-boxes when it comes to inspiring nature experiences. Here you have the beautiful Alouette Lake, spectacular Golden Ears Summit with a number of EPIC viewpoints, and hundreds upon hundreds of wilderness trails to enjoy. 

Gold Creek Falls is one of the very best of those easy hikes, awarding the visiting outdoor enthusiasts with one of the most striking waterfalls experiences near Vancouver! …and what is completely awesome is that anyone can enjoy the unbelievable scenery on the native BC wilderness hiking Gold Creek trail, as this hike is 100% stroller-friendly and wheelchair accessible! 

Even in winter, the path is clear, and the views are spectacular with the only difference – there are no crowds! 

Gold Creek Falls: Golden Ears Park’s Super-Star 100% Accessible Trail. Truly Gold Star Experience!

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Full Map of Easy Winter Hikes Near Vancouver

For your convenience, we’ve placed the map anchors onto a Google Map so you can have easy access to all hiking trails described here. 

Enjoy!

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One last tip to help you get your kids interested in exploring the Great Outdoors: download our FREE Outdoor Treasure Hunt printable Sheets.

Are you an Outdoorsie who loves hiking in British Columbia? Do you know any other easy winter hikes near Vancouver you’d like to share with us? Leave us a comment with your Vancouver winter trails suggesting or send us a message!

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Enjoy!

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

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