I’m an avid hiker and over the past few years that I’ve lived in Vancouver I’ve had a chance to explore a lot of great hiking trails in the Coast Mountains. It’s hard to pick favourites because there are just so many great day hikes near the city but I narrowed it down to 10 of my favourite day hikes around the city of Vancouver.

As usual, in no particular order. All of these hiking trails are within 1-2 hours driving distance of the city of Vancouver and can be completed in a day.

1. Dog Mountain

A surreal view of Vancouver’s natural harbour as the sun sets.

Photo Credit: Kyle Pearce

The Dog Mountain bluffs have the best-hike-to-view ratio in the Lower Mainland. I try to do this hike every few weeks since it is a quick 25 minutes drive from downtown and it only takes about 1 or 2 hours. Plus, it is an easy hike in the snow. The trailhead is by the Bear’s Paw at the far end of the Mount Seymour parking lot.

2. Stawamus Chief

The mysterious crouching Stawamus Chief seen from the Squamish Marina.

Photo Credit: Kyle Pearce

The Stawamus Chief, or “The Chief”, is the second largest granite monolith in the world. There are three domed summits you can hike to, all accessed by a trail that starts near Shannon Falls. The lowest dome takes about 3 hours and the highest dome takes 5 hours (all times are return trips). If you’re a little crazier, you can climb one of the many routes on the front face, which is a world-famous rock climbing destination.

3. St. Mark’s Summit

A spectacular view over the entrance of Howe Sound. You can see Bowen Island on top left and the mountains of Vancouver Island fade into the clouds in the distance.

Photo Credit: Realaworld

St Mark’s summit is an intermediate hike that starts by the Cypress Mountain day lodge. It winds 11 km along the Howe Sound Crest Trail. It takes about 5 hours to the summit and back.

If you want to hike the entire Howe Crest Sound Trail it takes 2 days to hike the full 32 km. There are many other mountains along the trail that have much better views like the Binkert Lions, Unnecessary Mountain and Mount Harvey, but St. Mark’s Summit is the easiest hike.

4. Mount Cheam

The view of the Fraser River from one of the peaks of Mount Cheam.

Photo Credit: Ryan and Sabina

Mount Cheam is the highest peak in the Fraser Valley but also one of the easiest thanks to a logging road that gets you within a one-hour hike of the summit. The road is snowed-in for most of the year so the best time to go is between July and October. The road can be accessed from Chilliwack Lake road and you will need a 4×4 vehicle.

5. Mount Shuksan

The late summer view of Mount Shuksan reflected in the calm waters of Mirror Lake.

Photo Credit: Kyle Pearce

This is the huge peak you see skiing at Mount Baker. Between the months of the June and October, this is a difficult but rewarding hike offering views of Vancouver in the distance, Mount Baker and the Cascade wilderness to the south.

In the summer and fall you can drive up to Artist’s Point in Mount Baker Recreational Area and there is lots of hikes that can be done in a few hours. The scenery in this area is outstanding.

6. Garibalidi Lake

The view of the aqua blue waters of Garibaldi Lake from Panorama Ridge.

Photo Credit: Grant Mattice

Garibaldi Lake is an incredible hike. While it can be done in a day, it is better to spend a few days at the beautiful campground along the southern shore. It takes about 3 hours to hike to the campground and from there you can hike to Panorama Ridge, the Battleship Islands, Black Tusk, Cheakamus Lake and the amazing wildflowers in the Black Tusk meadows (best seen between the middle of July and middle of August).

7. Diaz Vistas

The view of Indian Arm and the city of Vancouver in the distance.

Photo Credit: David J Laporte

The Diaz Vistas trail is a nice 4-6 hour hike along the ridgelines above Indian Arm and Bunsen Lake in Belcarra Regional Park. On the way back down, it is worth stopping at Bunsen Lake or Sasamat Lake for a swim.

8. Crown Mountain

When I saw this photo it just blew me away. Local boy and two-time Stanley Cup champion Andrew Ladd fulfilling his dream to watch the sun rise on Crown Mountain with the Stanley Cup.

Photo Credit: Mark L. Johnson

Crown Mountain is one of the most distinctive peaks visible from Downtown Vancouver. The trail starts just beyond the Grizzly Bear refuge on Grouse Mountain and it takes about 5 hours to the peak and back. It’s a lot better than taking the crowded Grouse Grind.

The pyramid-like peak in the top left of the picture is Cathedral Mountain, the highest peak in the North Shore Mountains.

9. Mount Seymour

The epic backcountry terrain on Mount Seymour.

Photo Credit: Grant Mattice

Mount Seymour is a 5-hour hike from the Mount Seymour Ski Resort parking lot. It’s the most fun to do it in the winter when you can ski, slide or snowboard back down. There are usually lots of interesting and friendly people in the Seymour Backcountry hiking, building jumps and even camping on the ridge lines overlooking the city of Vancouver.

10. The Binkert Lions

The view of the Binkert Lions on the Cypress approach.

Photo Credit: Panoramio

These distinctive twin peaks in the North Shore Mountains are a strenuous 8-hour hike from the village of Lions Bay. You can also hike to the Lions from the Howe Sound Crest Trail.

There you have it, 10 of the best hikes around Vancouver. If you have your own personal favourite hike in the Vancouver area, please add it in the comments.