Spring Break Trails to Hike

Spring break often feels like the start of the hiking season for many as the weather begins to warm and the daylight hours become longer, offering a great opportunity for an outdoor adventure with friends and family.

Unfortunately, the weather forecast is calling for quite a bit of rain for the Vancouver and southwestern region of British Columbia in the coming week. There will likely be some breaks in the weather so make sure to check the weather forecast before heading out.

There is also lots of snow and winter conditions in the local mountains, so best to plan to hike lower elevation trails. Here are some recommendations for hikes to check out during spring break:

Buntzen Lake

The spring season is a great time to visit Buntzen Lake as it is much quieter compared to the summer month and a parking pass is not needed. It also happens to be beautiful during the spring with lots of little streams flowing with water as you cross the small wooden bridges along the lake loop trail. The 10km loop around the lake crosses a suspension bridge on the north end by the beach area.

For those wanting a slightly shorter route, stay on the east side of the lake, hike to the north beach and then return the same route. Or, there are a few lake viewpoints to explore along the east side trail, not far from the parking lot.

Note: The lake loop on the west side of the trail is partially closed with a detour along the Lakeview Trail. This is scheduled to be re-opened this weekend, but check the signage when you arrive in the park. The detour up the Lakeview Trail makes for a longer hike, so you may opt to hike along the trail on the East of the lake and return the same route.

Jug Island Beach

The trail to Jug Island Beach is located in Belcarra Regional Park and is a popular hike that takes you to the shoreline of Indian Arm. That 5.5km roundtrip climbs through the forest before a steep downhill section to the water’s edge where Jug Island sits in full view. Wildlife can often be spotted, including a family of bald eagles that are nesting on Jug Island. 

Pay parking is not in effect during spring break, also making it a great time to explore Belcarra Regional Park.

Lynn Loop

The Lynn Loop trail is located in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park in North Vancouver and offers a great workout while exploring the lush forest of the North Shore. The trail returns along side Lynn Creek, offering scenic views. You can extend your hike by further exploring the Headwaters Trail or Cedar Mills Trail.

Parking is free this time of year and no parking pass is required but make sure to arrive early as the park does get busy, particularly on weekends.

Lighthouse Park

The network of trails in Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver are beautiful and the views along the shoreline are some of the most scenic in Metro Vancouver. You can choose from several of the trails in Lighthouse Park but we love starting on the Juniper Pine Trail and then following the Shorepine Trail to the West Beach area where there is a great view of the lighthouse from the rocks across the water.

Unfortunately, the District of West Vancouver has recently installed pay parking in a few parks including Lighthouse Park, so this may affect whether you want to visit the park or not.

Minnekhada Regional Park

Located in Coquitlam, Minnekhada Regional Park has a large marsh area that is divided by a raised trail passing through the middle. The area is home to several species of ducks and water birds. Hiking to the High Knoll provides a great experience as you pass through lush forest, pass the mash areas, before climbing up the steep trail to the beautiful view of the park area.

There is currently no pay parking at Minnekhada Regional Park but get there early on weekends as the parking lot can fill up quickly.