Best Waterfall Hikes in Metro Vancouver

Vancouver is well known for it’s nearby mountains and rugged rivers, so it’s not a surprise that there are some pretty spectacular waterfalls near the city. These are the five best waterfalls to checkout near Metro Vancouver. While there are some pretty incredible waterfalls in the Fraser Valley or up the Sea To Sky, these waterfalls are close to the city and each trailhead can be accessed by public transit.

Please use caution when hiking to any of these waterfalls and stay away from the slippery cliffs, rapidly moving creeks, and the falling debris that can fall over the waterfalls. There have been several documented cases of injuries and deaths near some of these waterfalls, so use caution and stay safe.

Cypress Falls – West Vancouver

Cypress Falls consists of two waterfalls in a spectacular canyon setting. The trail is about 3km roundtrip with the lower falls being a short walk from the parking lot and the upper falls being further up the trail. The trail is accessible most of the year, only sometimes having snow on it during the winter months.

Bus: Take the bus to Park Royal in West Vancouver. Take the #253 Caufield bus to Woodgreen Drive. Walk a short distance to the end of Woodgreen Drive to the gravel parking lot where the trail begins.

Twin Falls – North Vancouver

Twin Falls is located just down from the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. The hike can be done as a short loop that begins from the suspension bridge, descends down the canyon to the bridge, then crosses a wooden bridge, ascending up a steep set of wooden stairs back to the start of the route. The route is generally hikeable year-round and snow free most of the year, with the trail receiving the occasional snow when the city does.

Bus: Take the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. Then, take the #228 Lynn Valley bus and exit at Lynn Valley Road and Peters Road. Walk about 1km to the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge.

Norvan Falls – North Vancouver

The hike to Norvan Falls is longer than the other waterfall hikes at about 14km round trip. The trail is in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park and follows the Cedars Mill Trail and Headwaters Trail before turning right at Norvan Creek. The upper sections of the trail generally has snow on it during the winter months and Norvan Falls can sometimes freeze during cold spells. The waterfall also slows to a trickle during the middle of summer.

Bus: Take the Seabus from downtown to North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay. Take bus #228 Lynn Valley and exit the bus at Lynn Valley Road and Dempsey Road. Walk north on Lynn Valley Road and go right down the hill along Rice Lake Road. Go left before the bridge and continue to follow Rice Lake Road to a trail called the Varley Trail. The Varley Trail will take you to the trailhead for Norvan Falls.

Kennedy Falls – North Vancouver

The hike to Kennedy Falls passes a huge old growth tree known as the Big Cedar Tree. This trail is more difficult than some of the other waterfall hikes due to how rugged it is, with rocky sections and a tricky chain assist to help you down to a creek crossing. The trail is 10km round trip and begins from the top of Mountain Highway in North Vancouver.

Bus: Take the Seabus from downtown to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. Then, transfer to bus #228 Lynn Valley and get off the bus at McNair Drive and Tourney Road. Walk towards Mountain Highway, then walk up Mountain Highway to a dirt parking lot on the right. The trail begins at the top end of the parking lot.

Sawblade Falls – Coquitlam

Sawblade Falls is located in Pinecone Burke Provincial Park on the side of Burke Mountain in Coquitlam. There are a few routes to get to the waterfall but the most common route is to take the Woodland Walk Trail. The route is about 8km and there is an upper and lower Woodland Walk where you can loop back a separate route.

Bus: The bus does not go too close to the Woodland Walk trail head as you will have to walk an additional 3km each way from the nearest bus stop. Take the Skytrain Millenium Line to Lafarge Lake-Douglas station in Coquitlam. Then transfer to bus #191 Princeton and get off at Princeton Avenue and Kingston Street. Walk east along Princeton Avenue and go up a trail along Smiling Creek. Keep going uphill until you reach Hall Avenue, then go east to Harper Road. Walk up Harper Road until you reach the Woodland Walk trail head near the metal gate.