Posted August 29, 2018 by travelaroundthegalaxy1 Comment travel photography

Cabin Lake (Cypress Mountain)

One of the best ways to experience Vancouver is to head across the Lions Gate Bridge into the mountains on the North Shore. A good starting place for your adventures is Cypress Provincial Park, which is an easy day trip from the city and a good way to get a taste of the local wilderness. Cabin Lake is located on the top of Black Mountain and is one of the best hikes you can take to explore the region.

The network of trails up in the North Shore mountains is extensive and includes the 45-km long Baden-Powel Trail, which goes from Deep Cove to Horseshoe Bay. It’s possible to connect to this trail from several different locations – including Lynn Canyon, Capilano Dam, and Cypress Mountain – so its possible to experience this in smaller pieces, so you don’t have to do it in one day. While not always easy, there is a lot of uphill involved, but it is definitely worth the effort for the views.

The Cabin Lake hike is part of this trail network, and it is easy to access from the Cypress Mountain Parking Lot. A return trip to Cabin Lake takes 2-3 hours, and that includes some time set aside for a swim and a short detour to take a look at the lions. The hike itself is a straight uphill for about 30-45 minutes, but once you reach the plateau, it becomes very easy. And the views are amazing.

If you hike another 45-minutes to the Eagle Bluffs, it is also possible to get views of Downtown Vancouver, English Bay and the Islands to the west.

Vancouver is blessed with a lot of natural beauty and the network of trails that wind through the wilderness is spectacular. On a clear day, you can see the mountains from almost everywhere in Vancouver, and the views from the mountains back towards the city are equally impressive. The best way to explore Vancouver in the summer is to get outside and go exploring! You won’t regret it.