For those of us who rely on public transit to get around, sometimes accessing those pristine views that are hours of driving away is near impossible. I've compiled a collection of 24 hikes in BC that you get get to using public transit (bus, skytrain, seabus) for my fellow non-drivers that still feature some of my all-time favourite views.
1. Baden Powell Trail: Horseshoe Bay to Cypress Mountain
This trail head starts just before the Horseshoe Bay BC Ferries terminal. Take the 250 bus which departs from downtown Vancouver and get off just after the overpass at the ferry terminal. You have to go back and cross the highway and walk a short way back the way you came to reach the start of the hike. Note that there is no public transit on Cypress, so you must either arrange for a ride back from the top or you must return the way you came after you have reached the summit.
2. Baden Powell Trail: Deep Cove to Lynn Valley
This hike starts in the same place as the hike to Quarry Rock, and then continues on past the Quarry Rock lookout through the forest. From downtown Vancouver, hop on the seabus to Lonsdale Quay where you will need to take the 239 bus to Phibbs Exchange. Here, the 212 bus will drop you off in Deep Cove, from where it is a short walk along the waterfront to the start of the hike.
There is also transit available at the other end. Leave the Lynn Valley park by crossing the suspension bridge and exiting out through the parking lot. You can catch the 228 bus which will drop you back at the Lonsdale Quay loop where you can take the seabus back to downtown.
3. Baden Powell Trail: Lynn Valley to Grouse Mountain
This trail starts where the previous one ends. From downtown, catch the seabus to Lonsdale Quay and hop on the 228 bus to Lynn Valley. Once you've hiked to Grouse, you can catch the 236 bus to Lonsdale Quay and take the seabus back to downtown.
4. BCMC Trail at Grouse Mountain
The BCMC trail starts from the same parking lot as the Grouse Grind, so from the Lonsdale Quay loop, take the 236 bus to Grouse Mountain. This is a one-way hike up the mountain, and you will need to take the gondola back down, which is just $10 for a downward ride. The same bus will return you to the Quay.
5. Big Cedar & Kennedy Falls at Mount Fromme
From downtown, take the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay where you can take 228 to Lynn Valley Shopping Mall. From here, cross the street to take the 210 to Mountain Highway. Get off just after Coleman Street and then walk the rest of the way up Mountain Highway to the trail head. This is a round-trip hike, so you can return the way you came.
Check out my detailed Big Cedar & Kennedy Falls hiking guide.
6. Brothers Creek Loop
I joined this trail by walking down the hill from the Grouse Mountain parking lot. It connects along the Baden Powell trail between Grouse and Cypress and is a loop hike. I suggest either heading back to Grouse to catch the 236 to Lonsdale Quay, or picking it up along the way.
7. Cleveland Dam & Capilano Valley
From downtown, take the Seabus to Lonsdale where you can take the 236 bus towards Grouse. Get off at Prospect Avenue and Nancy Greene Way, where the parking lot is a short walk away. This park is full of round-trip loops, so return the same way you came.
8. Crippen Park on Bowen Island
From downtown, take the 250 bus to Horseshoe Bay, where you will need to hop on a ferry to Snug Cove on Bowen Island. Find the ferry schedule online. The crossing is about 20 minutes, and is approximately $12.10 per person round-trip. You can walk straight off the ferry into Bowen Marina and the little coastal town. If you take a right just after the kayak rental, you will come across the lagoon which, if you follow the path upwards, will bring you to Crippen Park. There is also access to the Killarney Lake hike from here. To get back, take the ferry back across to Horseshoe Bay.
9. Cypress Falls
From Waterfront Station, take the seabus to Lonsdale Quay and then get on the 253 to Woodgreen Road. You will need to walk up a dead end road to get to the start of the trail head. This hike is round-trip, so return the same way you came.
10. Grouse Grind
The Grouse Grind starts from the same parking lot as the BCMC trail, so from the Lonsdale Quay loop, take the 236 bus to Grouse Mountain. This is a one-way hike up the mountain, and you will need to take the gondola back down, which is just $10 for a downward ride. The same bus will return you to the Quay.
11. Killarney Lake on Bowen Island
From downtown, take the 250 bus to Horseshoe Bay, where you will need to hop on a ferry to Snug Cove on Bowen Island. Find the ferry schedule online. The crossing is about 20 minutes, and is approximately $12.10 per person round-trip, subject to change. You can walk straight off the ferry into Bowen Marina and the little coastal town. Walk up the road past the little stores and shops and then turn right on Cardena Drive towards Crippen Park. Follow the trail map nailed to a post on the left side of the road. To get back, take the ferry back across to Horseshoe Bay.
12. Lighthouse Park
From downtown, take the 250 bus and get off just past Beacon Lane on Marina Drive in West Vancouver. The park entrance is just down the winding road adjacent to the bus stop. Return the same way you came.
13. Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
From downtown, catch the seabus to Lonsdale Quay and hop on the 228 bus to Lynn Valley. Leave the Lynn Valley park by crossing the suspension bridge and exiting out through the parking lot. You can catch the 228 bus which will drop you back at the Lonsdale Quay loop where you can take the seabus back to downtown.
14. Mount Fromme
From Waterfront station, take the seabus to Lonsdale, then take the 230 to Braemar and St. Georges. Walk up to the top of St. Georges Avenue to the trail head straight into the forest to begin the hike. This is a roundtrip hike, so return the way you came.
15. Norvan Falls
This hike starts at the Lynn Suspension Bridge, so from downtown, catch the seabus to Lonsdale Quay and hop on the 228 bus to Lynn Valley. When you return, leave the Lynn Valley park by crossing the suspension bridge and exiting out through the parking lot. You can catch the 228 bus which will drop you back at the Lonsdale Quay loop where you can take the seabus back to downtown.
16. Pacific Spirit Forest
Catch any bus heading towards UBC such as the 99 B-Line from Broadway-City Hall, and get off at the Pacific Spirit Forest stop.
17. Quarry Rock
From downtown Vancouver, hop on the seabus to Lonsdale Quay where you will need to take the 239 bus to Phibbs Exchange. Here, the 212 bus will drop you off in Deep Cove, from where it is a short walk along the waterfront to the start of the hike. This is a round-trip hike, or you can extend it by adding on the Baden Powell trail.
18. Rice Lake
This hike starts at the Lynn Suspension Bridge and continues past the 30 foot pool up the wooden boardwalk. From downtown, catch the seabus to Lonsdale Quay and hop on the 228 bus to Lynn Valley. When you return, leave the Lynn Valley park by crossing the suspension bridge and exiting out through the parking lot. You can catch the 228 bus which will drop you back at the Lonsdale Quay loop where you can take the seabus back to downtown.
19. Stanley Park Sea Wall
From Vancouver City Centre skytrain station, walk north towards West Pender to catch the 19 to the outskirts of Stanley Park. Here, you can walk the loop of the sea wall towards English Bay, or you can rent a bike at any number of local bike shops.
20. Thirty Foot Pool in Lynn Valley
This hike starts at the Lynn Suspension Bridge. From downtown, catch the seabus to Lonsdale Quay and hop on the 228 bus to Lynn Valley. When you return, leave the Lynn Valley park by crossing the suspension bridge and exiting out through the parking lot. You can catch the 228 bus which will drop you back at the Lonsdale Quay loop where you can take the seabus back to downtown.
21. Thunderbird Ridge
This hike starts at the top of Grouse Mountain, so you will need to either complete the BCMC trail or the Grouse Grind first, or take the gondola up the mountain. To get to the base of Grouse, take the 236 bus from Lonsdale Quay, accessible via seabus from Waterfront station. The same bus will return you to the Quay after you've taken the gondola back down the mountain.
22. Twin Falls in Lynn Valley
This hike starts at the Lynn Suspension Bridge. From downtown, catch the seabus to Lonsdale Quay and hop on the 228 bus to Lynn Valley. When you return, leave the Lynn Valley park by crossing the suspension bridge and exiting out through the parking lot. You can catch the 228 bus which will drop you back at the Lonsdale Quay loop where you can take the seabus back to downtown.
23. Whytecliff Park
There is quite a trek if you plan on bussing to Whytecliff, but I have done it and it is not impossible. From downtown, take the 257 at Marine Drive and Nelson Avenue, then follow Marine Drive about 2km along a winding route to Whytecliff. You will need to return the same way.
24. Whyte Lake
From downtown, take the 250 and hop off at Marine Drive and Crenley. The trail begins close by. It is a loop hike, so return the same way.
Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
I wish this list had come out last year when I didn’t have a car yet. My interest to be outdoors was suppressed just until a few months ago because I didn’t think I could get around. I know a lot of people, drivers and non-drivers, who can benefit from this post. Thank you for making it!
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If you’re determined enough, you’ll find a way!! I’m glad you like the list 🙂