Dog-friendly trails in British Columbia
Located near Lillooet, the Seton Lake Lookout is a quick but challenging hike that offers breathtaking vistas of the surrounding landscape, including a hairpin turn, Seton Lake and the majestic mountains behind.
On a trip to Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, we stopped by the Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park for a hike. The actual hike takes about 2 hours with a dog, but you'll likely spend more time taking in the best part of the hike: the views.
If you've heard of Lighthouse Park, you likely know about its view. Located on the coast of West Vancouver, Lighthouse Park is a great spot for a hike that ends up at a beautiful viewpoint by a lighthouse.
The Hole in the Wall hike near Port Alberni, although potentially crowded due to its touristy nature, offered a trail through a lush forests, river views and the awe-inspiring rock formation with rushing water.
We recently spent some time in Pitt Meadows for a friend’s wedding and while we were out there, we got to experience a number of reactive dog-friendly activities. Here’s a list of some of the fun things we got to do!
Our exciting visit to Derby Reach Regional Park provided us with a positive experience, as we explored serene trails and the scenic Edgewater Bar Campground, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the park's natural beauty and escape the city's hustle and bustle.
Kanaka Creek Falls in Maple Ridge offers scenic viewpoints and a well-maintained trail, but the falls are restricted by fences, making it less engaging for both dogs and humans. The peaceful ambiance and fresh natural surroundings can still make it a worthwhile destination for a serene walk.
The Pitt River Regional Greenway in Pitt Meadows is known for its rich biodiversity, attracting various wildlife and bird species and provides a flat and accessible surface for walkers, hikers, cyclists and enthusiasts with their dogs.
Niagara Falls Goldstream in British Columbia is a must-visit destination for those seeking a waterfall adventure. Accessible from two routes, the culmination of the journey is the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls, where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the cascading water.
Sandcut Beach on Vancouver Island is a stunning coastal gem that offers a trail with beautiful views and a small waterfall for those who venture further, but its rocky terrain and limited accessibility may not make it suitable for everyone.
Creyke Point offers a peaceful trail that leads to breathtaking views. With its serene ambiance and hidden wonders, this trail is a delightful escape, but be mindful of the rocky areas going up Creyke Point.
Discover the natural wonders of Whistler, BC, through a picturesque trail that connects the enchanting lakes of Alpha, Nita, and Alta. This leisurely stroll offers breathtaking views and a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the serene beauty of these stunning lakes.
Discover the perfect outdoor adventure at Lynn Canyon Park's Twin Falls Loop. This short rewarding trail near North Vancouver offers a blend of natural beauty and a suspension bridge, making it an ideal choice for outdoor enthusiasts.
Visit Little Qualicum Falls Park for an exciting trail that combines breathtaking scenery with a touch of adventure. As you set off on your hike, the rushing waters of the majestic falls will welcome you near the trail's starting point.
Experience the coastal charm and stunning scenery of the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse trail. Enjoy the wide path, with small nooks with benches and take advantage of the beach access for breathtaking views and a refreshing connection with the ocean.
Embark on a peaceful detour through the Rainforest Figure Eight Trails near Tofino for a serene and immersive experience in nature's beauty.
Enjoy a serene stroll along the New Westminster Walkway, hugging the shimmering Fraser River. The walkway offers ample space for pedestrians and leashed dogs, although certain areas are narrower. Pause at Quayside Park's charming playground before continuing to the bustling River Market where the...
Since it's been extremely smokey outdoors in the last couple days, we wanted something that was quick to do and the trail at Confederation Park in Burnaby, British Columbia was exactly what we were looking for.
When the sun's shining in British Columbia, one of the things we love to do is hop into a lake to cool off. Belcarra Regional Park is a place for families to spend an afternoon on a lake, at one of their many facilities or doing a hike on a trail!
Harrison Hot Springs is a hot spot and popular location - a quick getaway known for its relaxing spas and hot water pools. Before you start thinking that the Whippoorwill Point Trail is an extension of the relaxing feeling of the town, think again!
Compared to Chilliwack Lake and Lindeman Lake, Bosuemarne Falls is less popular, but not any less beautiful. Although this hike is more hidden and can be a little tricky getting to the end, the view at the end of the waterfalls is absolutely amazing.
Bridal Veil Falls a beautiful waterfall that is located minutes from the highway with a short 10-minute hike. It is one of our favourite stops in British Columbia and since we were driving past the area, we made our first visit to the falls with our dog.
The Othello Tunnels are a series of old train tunnels that have been converted into a walking path for public visitors and their dogs. Throughout most of COVID-19, these tunnels have been closed for restoration but have recently opened up again.
There's a unique strip of land off the coast of Richmond that has become a bit of a rite of passage for those who live here. The Iona Jetty is a 4.1km sewage pipe that runs out of the main land and into the water, a path that locals like to take.
We made the trip out to Minnekhada Regional Park, which is about an hour from downtown Vancouver. With three lookouts along the way, this was one of the more enjoyable trails and slightly challenging trails that we've done in the past little while!
Whenever you're driving through the George Massey Tunnel, you are driving under Deas Island and the body of water that it sits on top of. This week, we visited Deas Island to check out what it really looks like when cars drive into the tunnel under water.
One of the neat things about Richmond is that it is surrounded mostly by water on all sides. No matter where you are, you don't have to go very far to take a walk along the water and the Dyke Trail is a great place to do it.
One of the great things about living in the Pacific Northwest is that you don't have to go very far to wander in the woods. This past weekend, we opted for something a little more woodsy and we loved our time at Byrne Creek Ravine Park.
Burnaby Lake is the largest lake in the Lower Mainland and it is situated nearly right in the middle of the city of Burnaby. The lake is a wildlife sanctuary with a rich ecosystem of ducks, geese, beavers with a quiet 10km path going around the lake.
This week, we made a visit to the Capilano River Regional Park, which is located in North Vancouver just past the Capilano Suspension Bridge. The park is bookended by the Cleveland Dam, an impressive structure with rushing water that you can walk on!
While looking for a quieter walk, we ended up at Montrose Park which sits in between the New Brighton Park and Confederation Park with a trail that runs through the park. It's a quiet and low-event park that we recommend to owners of reactive dogs.
What an adventure! Since it was Easter last weekend, we brought Markus to do a little hunt of our own. We made the trip out to Robert Burnaby Park where an artist had spent the past year putting up sculptures located in various areas throughout the park.
A few weeks ago, we visited Central Park in Burnaby, BC and we enjoyed the walk so much that we've gone back a couple of times already. For an urban park located in the city, Central Park gave us so many options for things to do.
Last week, we found ourselves at beautiful park within shooting distance of Deep Cove at Cates Park in North Vancouver. We really enjoyed the time we were there including the views and the short trail that we got to do.
On one of our recent walks with Markus, we strayed out of Steveston Village and what we found ourselves walking through a historical tour, discovering the beautiful rich history of early workers in Richmond, British Columbia.
Unlike other trails at Pacific Spirit Regional Park, this smaller section of the park is a dedicated leash-required area, which is absolutely fantastic for reactive dogs like Markus.
During one of these colder winter days and since we didn't get any snow in the Lower Mainland area of Vancouver, we decided to drive out all the way to Burnaby Mountain in search of snow!
Horth Hill Regional Park is 5 minutes away from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, which is perfect if you're looking to spend some time before your sailing. The park is a combination of smaller trails, which allows you to choose the length of your hike.
We took a vacation over a year ago to Vancouver Island to discover the areas north of Victoria and while it was a jam-packed vacation, one of the places that we didn't get a chance to see was the Englishman River Falls, which we finally got to do!
On a recent trip to Cowichan Lake, we took an afternoon to do a combination of a hike that took us down to the mysterious Mystic Beach with its cascading cliffs and view of the Pacific Ocean from a distance.
We took some time to visit Sombrio Beach, one of the beaches along the western-most coast of Vancouver Island. Sombrio Beach is a popular spot, but the thing that drew us to the beach was a hidden secret!
Steelhead Falls Trail is a trail that's good for all skill levels including children and dogs. The trail is on the shorter side, but it features a beautiful cascading waterfall that makes this already easy hike even more worth visiting.
Located in Mission, British Columbia, Cascade Falls is a scenic waterfall that can be viewed right in front of a suspension bridge that crosses the river at the end of a short trail. This is one of those low effort, high reward trails that everyone likes!
Lindeman Lake is a vibrant small lake with amazing colours in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia. It is a popular hiking spot and people will make a trip out from Vancouver to do this hike over the weekends.
Newport Beach (sometimes known as Oceanfront Park) is a stretch of beach that's tucked towards the edge of Squamish looking out into Howe Sound. The view is spectacular and this is a unique location with a combination of a beach and trail.
The Train Wreck Trail is a fascinating trail by Squamish, British Columbia with a suspension bridge taking hikers across the Cheakamus River to the other side where a site of an old train wreck from the 1950's sit.
The Camosun Bog at the Pacific Spirit Regional Park is a unique, yet fragile ecosystem that is home to many different species of plants and animals that you simply won't find in other parts of Vancouver.
We visited Rocky Point Park two months ago and on the way out, we noticed a map for the Shoreline Trail, which goes around the Burrard Inlet. We promised ourselves that we'd be back here at some point to check out the trail, so here we are.
Located by University of British Columbia is the Pacific Spirit Regional Park where students and dogs owners alike love to take breaks for a walk in the forest. This is one of our most frequented trails and this week, we try out another trailhead.
The Golden Ears Provincial Park is an impressive park in British Columbia with trails and campgrounds that span over 600 square kilometres. At the centre of the park is the beautiful Alouette Lake, a popular spot for water activities.
One of the biggest reasons we love visiting Rocky Point Park is because it goes along the Burrard Inlet, which makes for a beautiful view basically anywhere you are. At this park, you get access to the park, the beach, trails and an off-leash dog park.
Many of our friends have told us about Barnet Marine Park and we've always wanted to visit it. We haven't had the chance since the park is far for us, but since we haven't really gone anywhere during these unprecedented times, we made the drive out.
While we were recently staying at Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, we did a walk on a beautiful man-made structure known as the Kinsol Trestle. Not sure what a trestle looks like? No worries, I didn't either. It’s beautiful.
During a recent stay at Qualicum Beach, one of the stops we wanted to make was the Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park. The park is a glimpse of the Pacific Northwest's stunning beauty and history condensed into a walkable park.
On a trip to Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, we squeezed in a couple of hikes with our dog Markus. On this update, we're breaking down the second hike we did - the Skookumchuck Narrows, a hike that offers a very unique taste of British Columbia.
We met up with some of our dog friends at Everett Crowley Park in Vancouver. Everett Crowley Park is a trail that feels like it was made for dogs. They have a nice combination of on-leash and off-leash dogs paths that you can take for your desired length.
The Pacific Spirit Regional Park is a popular spot and one of our most frequented parks because of the possible combinations of trails that provide a number of different paths to take based on your desired length, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
We stumbled upon this part of the Pacific Spirit Regional Park trail while walking along Spanish Banks beach in Vancouver, Canada. Technically a part of the greater park, this trail is great way to enjoy nature while getting some exercise with your dog.
We love going to Deep Cove, North Vancouver. With the many things you can do, it's one of our favourite ways to spend an entire day. One of the things that people love to do is the Quarry Rock hike, which we recently got to do with Markus.