This guide covers seven snowshoe trails on in the Fraser Valley. They are all trails that are high enough for consistent snow AND are also safe to snowshoe.

This guide to snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley includes:

• Quick reference guide: An easy overview of the stats for all the trails
• Snowshoeing safety: key info to help get you prepared to snowshoe in Vancouver
• Where to rent snowshoes in the Fraser Valley including which shops have the best price
• Snowshoe trails in the Fraser Valley: details for 7 places to go snowshoeing
• No-go trails: summer trails that aren’t safe for snowshoeing

If you’re looking for even more places to go snowshoeing in in the Vancouver area, don’t worry, I got you! Check out these other guides to snowshoeing trails near Vancouver:

• Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Snowshoeing in Whistler
• Snowshoeing in Squamish
• Snowshoeing in Manning Park
• Snowshoeing at Dakota Ridge on the Sunshine Coast

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley Quick Reference Guide

But First… Be Prepared

• Make a trip plan: While these trails may be steps from busy ski areas, they access serious wilderness. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Use the great trip planning tools from Adventure Smart.
• Check the weather, trail conditions, and avalanche forecast: If the weather and trail conditions don’t look good, don’t go. Use my list of the best weather apps for hiking. Check the avalanche forecast for the South Coast Inland zone. Unless you have taken an avalanche safety course, you probably shouldn’t go out unless the forecast is rated “Low”. 
• Wear winter clothing and pack the essentials: Prepare for emergencies by packing the 10 essentials. Read my recommendations for what to wear snowshoeing and tips for winter hiking and snowshoeing.
• Use safe snowshoeing techniques: Snowshoes keep you from sinking into deep snow, but they aren’t great for walking sideways or downhill – it’s easy to slip and injure yourself. Read up on snowshoeing safety and check out my guide to choosing snowshoes.) They also have crampons and other traction aids underfoot to help grip icy snow.
• Take an avalanche safety course: If you plan to stray from flat terrain, you need avalanche safety training. great FREE online beginner tutorial on Avalanche.ca. You should also take a 2.5 day AST1 course with avalanche Canada.

READ NEXT: Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

Snowshoe Trails at Sasquatch Mountain

The Trail: Formerly called Hemlock Valley Resort, this ski resort near Harrison Hot Springs has a network of snowshoe trails. The short and flat Village Loop trail is great for beginners. More adventurous snowshoers can tackled the intermediat Ridge Run or Old Yeller Trails. For advanced snowshoeing, head to the peaks of Mount Klaudt or Mount Cartmel.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The Mount Klaudt and Mount Cartmel trails climb some steep slopes, but there is no significant avalanche danger or other hazards. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s a trail map on the Sasquatch Mountain website.

Permits/Fees: Trail passes are $15/day.

Dogs: Not allowed

Getting There: It’s a 45min drive from Agassiz to Sasquatch Mountain Resort. The last 7km of the road are gravel, steep and winding but it is plowed and sanded regularly. Provincial law requires you to carry chains (and you’ll probably want them). 

Snowshoeing to Elk Mountain, Chilliwack

The Trail: This steep trail is sometimes referred to as Chilliwack’s version of the Grouse Grind. (Although it’s not quite as steep!) Once you break out of the trees on to the ridge it’s flatter you’ll get great views of Chilliwack and of the Chilliwack River Valley. If you want to extend your trip, you can continue along the ridge for another kilometer or so.

The Elk Mountain trail is by far the most popular place to go snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley, so the trail is often so packed down that you can get by with just microspikes and only use snowshoes once you are on the ridge. (Read my guide to differences between microspikes, crampons, and snowshoes.)

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The last section of the trail before you reach the ridge top can be very slippery. It may be worth bringing microspikes or crampons and poles for this section (especially going downhill). There are very steep slopes and drop offs once you reach the open ridge top. Stay in the center of the ridge and well back from steep drops and slopes. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s a good trail guide on Vancouver Trails.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed.

Getting There: It’s a 25min drive from Chilliwack City Hall to the trailhead. The last 2km are on a gravel road that is not plowed and can be very icy. Bring chains or be prepared to walk the extra 2km on the road to the trailhead. There is a gravel pullout for parking at the trailhead.

Snowshoeing to Needle Peak on the Coquihalla

The Trail: The Coquihalla is a great destination for Fraser Valley snowshoers since the road reaches high into the mountains to access lots of fresh snow. This challenging trail climbs through the trees on to the ridge of Needle Peak. It isn’t safe to go all the way to the summit in the winter unless you have mountaineering skills and equipment, so turn around somewhere on the ridge and retrace your steps back to the car.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: This is a true backcountry trail and is only appropriate for experienced snowshoers. As long as you stay on the ridge you can avoid the worst of the avalanche terrain, but you’re never totally safe from avalanches on this trail.  Check the avalanche forecast before you go and don’t go unless the forecast is low. After the trail gets above the treeline, the trail gets harder to follow, but just stay in the center of the ridge.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s trail info on the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area website.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Getting There: From Hope, it’s a 35 min drive on the Coquihalla. Take exit 217 to the Zopkios Rest Area on the south side of the highway. You will need winter tires or chains to drive the Coquihalla. See this parking map for instructions on legal places to park.

Snowshoeing to Falls Lake on the Coquihalla

The Trail: The trail to Falls Lake is the only easy snowshoe trail on the Coquihalla. The first half of the trail follows a road. After reaching a summer parking lot, it heads into the trees before emerging on the shores of Falls Lake. This lake is surrounded by tall peaks and feels much more remote than the short 2km walk from the road.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Be prepared to share the initial road section of the trail with snowmobiles. There is no significant avalanche danger on this trail, but once you reach the lake stay away from the west bank as the steep slopes there can send avalanches down. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s trail info on the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area website.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope, it’s a 40 min drive on the Coquihalla. You will need winter tires or chains to drive the Coquihalla. Take exit 221 and follow the tunnel under the highway and turn left. You will immediately see a snowed-in road heading uphill. This is the trailhead. See this parking map for instructions on legal places to park.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

Snowshoeing to Zoa Peak on the Coquihalla

The Trail: The trail to Zoa Peak starts at the same trailhead as the trail to Falls Lake. But unlike the snowshoe to Falls Lake, the trip to Zoa Peak is not easy. The trail climbs a steep hill on an access road, before turning left into the forest.

Soon you’ll reach the treeline and stroll along the ridge looking waaay down towards Falls Lake. While the summer trail goes all the way to the true summit, in winter it’s much safer to be content with the views from the sub-summit since there’s a steep gully between the two.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Be prepared to share the initial road section of the trail with snowmobiles. There is no significant avalanche danger on this trail, but once you reach the ridge stay away from edges, especially on the west side, as the steep slopes there can avalanche.  Check the avalanche forecast before you go. The trail can be hard to find, especially if it has snowed recently.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s trail info on the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area website. There’s also a good write up on Vancouver Trails.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope, it’s a 40 min drive on the Coquihalla. You will need winter tires or chains to drive the Coquihalla. Take exit 221 and follow the tunnel under the highway and turn left. You will immediately see a snowed-in road heading uphill. This is the trailhead. See this parking map for instructions on legal places to park.

Snowshoeing to Artist Point at Mount Baker, Washington

The Trail: If have a passport, Washington’s Mount Baker makes a great cross-border trip for Fraser Valley snowshoers. In the summer Artist Point is a gorgeous viewpoint that you can drive right up to. In the winter meters of snow blanket the region and you have to park further down and hike up… which means it’s way less busy… and possibly way more beautiful.

After a moderate 300m of elevation gain, you’ll be treated to great views of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan wearing their winter coats – in fact the Washington Trails Association calls it one of best viewpoints in the state!

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: This route crosses avalanche terrain in several areas. Check the avalanche forecast for the West Slopes North region before you go and don’t go if the hazard is above low unless you have avalanche training. The route is not marked but it is a popular trail so there should be tracks to follow. The slope is mostly un-treed so bring a map and compass in case the clouds roll in and make navigation difficult.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s a great guide on the Washington Trails Association website.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Getting There: From Abbotsford, drive 1.5 hours across the border to the Mount Baker Ski Area. Drive past the ski area to the very end of the plowed road. Don’t forget your passport for the border crossing and bring chains for your car. This is a very a high elevation mountain road. There is a designated and plowed parking area at the end of the road.

Snowshoeing at Manning Provincial Park

The Trails: In my opinion, Manning Park is the best place to snowshoe in Southwestern BC… and it’s not too far from the Fraser Valley. There are tons of trails to snowshoe in Manning Park… in fact there are so many that I had to put them all in a separate Snowshoeing in Manning Park post! There are flat easy strolls for beginners, more adventurous backcountry trails and lots in between.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Most trails are fairly free of avalanche danger and other hazards, but there is avalanche terrain in the park. Check the avalanche forecast before you go. Some trails are unmarked and require backcountry route finding.

Trail Map/Guide: The best source of info is my post all about Snowshoeing in Manning Park.

Permits/Fees: Most trails are free, but there are paid trails for $10/day.

Dogs: Allowed on leash on all trails except Poland Lake.

Getting There: Manning Park is roughly 50 minutes from Hope. Provincial law requires you to have winter tires or chains to drive highway 3 east of Hope. There are plowed parking areas at all trailheads in the park.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

No-Go Trails for Snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley

There are lots of summer hiking trails in the Fraser Valley that may sound like a fun snowshoe adventure in winter. However, many of them have significant avalanche danger, are closed in winter, or just don’t have enough consistent snow for good snowshoeing.

• Lindeman Lake: The trail is too low elevation to get much snow and the trail is steep so microspikes are a safer choice than snowshoes.
• Flora Peak: This trail has significant avalanche danger so it is best for experienced snowshoers with avalanche training.
• Radium Lake: This trail has significant avalanche danger so it is best for experienced snowshoers with avalanche training.
• Pierce Lake and Mount MacFarlane: This trail has significant avalanche danger and requires a lot of route finding in winter. It is best for experienced snowshoers with avalanche training and experience with off-trail navigation.
• Mount Slesse: The logging road to the trailhead is not plowed, making this trail inaccessible. It also has substantial avalanche danger.
• Golden Ears Provincial Park: The road into the park is closed when there is snow on the ground making all of the trails in the park inaccessible.
• Cheam Peak: The road to the trailhead is not plowed in winter, making this trail inaccessible.

Final Thoughts

Which of these trails is your favourite? Do you have more suggestions for snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley? Tell me in the comments.

READ NEXT:

More Snowshoeing Guides:

• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Manning Park
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Whistler

Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking Advice

• How to Choose Snowshoes: A Complete Guide
• The Best Boots For Snowshoeing
• Best Gifts for Snowshoers (20+ Ideas)
• Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them
• What to Wear Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing
• 9 Tips for Winter Hiking (You Don’t Have to Freeze!)
• Winter Camping For Beginners
• 100+ Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver: Trails You Can Hike Year Round

The post Where to Go Snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley Near Vancouver appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Al’s Habrich Ridge

This Vancouver area hike is one of my favourites since it’s a bit of a hidden gem. You have to take the Sea to Sky gondola to get to the trailhead, so the trail is never busy. It starts off with a little bit of road walking in the forest, but before too long you are ascending a gorgeous granite ridge with great views of Howe Sound. After leaving the ridge you’ll explore a little bit of alpine meadow, then follow a rough loop trail to rugged Neverland Falls. It’s a beautiful area with a great variety of terrain.

Distance: 7km round trip, Elevation gain: 440m, Time Needed: 5 hours, Difficulty: Moderate, Best Time to Go: July-October, Trail Info: See my Al’s Habrich Ridget Trail guide. How to get there: From Vancouver drive 45 minutes north to the Sea to Sky gondola in Squamish. Buy a ticket to take the gondola up. (You can also walk up via the Sea to Summit Trail but that adds another 3.5 hours and 900m of elevation gain to your day.)

Heather Trail to Three Brothers

This alpine trail in Manning park is a bit of a drive from Vancouver, but it’s well worth it, especially when the wildflowers are blooming. The hike starts at the end of Blackwall Peak road, high in the alpine. You’ll walk through seemingly endless meadows before climbing gradually up towards Three Brothers Mountain. The last kilometer to the peak is a steep and rocky scramble, but the summit at an elevation of 2272m is well worth it. The hike is doable in a day, but if you have more time, consider backcountry camping at one of the sites along the way and extending your trip to beautiful Nicomen Lake.

Distance: 21.5km round trip, Elevation gain: 480m, Time Needed: 7-8 hours, Difficulty: Difficult, Best Time to Go: July-September, Trail Info: See Manning Provincial Park, hike #79 in Stephen Hui’s 105 Hikes book, and Vancouver Trails. How to get there: Drive 2.5 hours from Vancouver to Manning Park via highway 1, then highway 3. Take Blackwall Peak Road to the parking lot.

READ NEXT: Most Instagrammed Hikes in Vancouver

High Note Trail

This trail has one of the best effort to reward ratios amongst hikes near Vancouver: the trail is never too steep or too technical and there are spectacular views the entire time. The only catch is the price. You’ll have to pay to take the Whistler gondola up to the peak to hike it. The trail drops down off Whistler peak and contours along the side of ridge with great views of Cheakamus Lake and Black Tusk. At a junction, it turns downhill to go past a couple of pretty alpine lakes and meadows to finish at the gondola roundhouse. If you have the energy, add a few extra kilometers to your trip by going right at the junction and doing an out and back section to Flute Summit or Oboe Summit on the Musical Bumps trail. The views are incredible and you’ll far fewer hikers up there. (This trail is so good it also made my list of the best hikes in Whistler.)

Distance: 9.5+km loop, Elevation gain: 300+m, Time Needed: 4+ hours, Difficulty: Moderate, Best Time to Go: July-September, Trail Info: See my High Note Trail hiking guide.  How to get there: Drive 1.5 hours from Vancouver to Whistler. In Whistler, purchase an alpine pass then take the Whistler gondola and the peak chair to the summit.

Psst! If you’re driving to Whistler from Vancouver, check out my complete guide to the Sea to Sky Highway. It includes all the best places to stop along the way.

Mount Seymour

Mount Seymour is my favourite hike on Vancouver’s North Shore. The trail to the summit starts out alongside the gravel ski runs before climbing up a rooty and rocky trail. Seymour has three different peaks, each with their own charms. In particular I love the slabby granite playground around First Peak. You can spend hours exploring the various outcrops, finding different viewpoints of the city and the surrounding mountains. After you’ve finished poking around First Peak (also called Pump Peak) be sure to hike the extra couple hundred meters to Tim Jones Peak (a.k.a. Second Peak) and the true summit (Third Peak) since the views from there are also great.

Distance: 9km round trip, Elevation gain: 450m, Time Needed: 5 hours, Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult, Best Time to Go: July-October, Trail Info: See Mount Seymour Provincial Park map, hike #1 in Stephen Hui’s 105 Hikes book, Vancouver Trails, and Outdoor Vancouver. How to get there: It’s a 45 minute drive from Vancouver.

READ NEXT: 15 Unusual Hikes Near Vancouver

Panorama Ridge and Garibaldi Lake

Heads up: Day passes are required at Garibaldi Lake in summer 2023. Learn more in my guide to BC Parks day passes.

This is one of Vancouver’s most popular and well known hikes. And it deserves the reputation – it’s spectacular. The first 6km of the trail consists of long switchbacks in the forest. Eventually you top out in the alpine at Taylor Meadows. The trail follows the meadows gradually uphill until the base of Panorama Ridge. From the junction, it’s a steep and rocky climb up to the top of the ridge. The views up here are insane: you can see Garibaldi Lake in front of you and Black Tusk behind you. Be sure to walk along the ridge a little bit to escape the crowds. On the way back, take the trail from the outhouse junction down to Garibaldi Lake. Go for a quick (and cold!) swim before descending the switchbacks to your car. This is a really long and difficult day hike with a lot of elevation gain. Most hikers will need to build up to this one. If you aren’t ready to tackle it in a day, consider booking a backcountry campsite at Taylor Meadows or Garibaldi Lake so you can tackle the trip over a couple of days.

Distance: 30km round trip, Elevation gain: 1500m, Time Needed: 11-12 hours, Difficulty: Very Difficult, Best Time to Go: July-October, Trail Info: See hike #30 in Stephen Hui’s 105 Hikes book, Vancouver Trails,  and Outdoor Vancouver How to get there: From Vancouver, drive 1 hour, 15 minutes to the trailhead just off highway 99 north of Squamish.

Eagle Bluff

I think this is one of the best hikes in Vancouver because I think it has everything you need in a North Shore hike: great viewpoints and beautiful little alpine lakes. The trail starts with a steep climb up towards Black Mountain plateau. At the top of the climb you can go left for a loop through the lakes or right to summit Black Mountain. The two trails meet up again and head slightly down hill to Eagle Bluff. It’s an open rocky area with killer views of West Vancouver. On the way back, stop by Cabin Lake for a quick dip.

Distance: 8km round trip, Elevation Gain: 350m, Time Needed: 4 Hours, Difficulty: Moderate, Best Time to Go: July-October, Trail Info: See Cypress Provincial Park map, hike #15 in Stephen Hui’s 105 Hikes book, Vancouver Trails, and Outdoor Vancouver How to get there: The trail starts at the Cypress Mountain ski hill parking lot. It’s a 30 minute drive from Vancouver.

READ NEXT: Alternatives to the Grouse Grind: Steep Workout Hikes Near Vancouver

Lighthouse Park

Not every hike needs to be an epic trek up a mountain. I love the trails in Lighthouse Park for a more relaxed hike. (It’s a great one for out of town visitors too.) While most people make a bee-line for the lighthouse, there are actually lots of quiet trails leading to viewpoints, giant trees and hidden beaches. My favourite hike combines a bunch of trails into a loop around the park.

Distance: 6km loop, Elevation Gain: 50m, Time Needed: 2 hours, Difficulty: Easy, Best Time to Go: Year-Round, Trail Info: See my recommended route including a map. Outdoor Vancouver also has a good guide. Bring a copy of the trail map since there are a lot of trail junctions and it can get confusing. How to get there: Drive 40 minutes from Vancouver to the park entrance off Marine Drive in West Vancouver. You can also get there via bus 250 or 253.

St. Mark’s Summit

The hike to St. Mark’s summit has a bit of a split personality. The first half is on a wide gravel trail that makes for easy walking, even on the steep parts. But suddenly, part way up some steep switchbacks, the gravel ends and a true rooty and rocky North Shore trail begins. But it’s the finale that you’re really here for – the panoramic view over Howe Sound up at St. Mark’s Summit. The granite outcroppings seem to hang directly over the Sea to Sky highway far below. Be sure to go on a clear day. If you want to extend your trip, continue along the trail to Unnecessary Mountain. The descent down from St. Mark’s, then the climb back up might seem, umm, unnecessary, but the close-up views of the Lions are pretty incredible.

Distance: 11km round trip, Elevation Gain: 460m, Time Needed: 5 hours, Difficulty: Moderate, Best Time to Go: July-October, Trail Info: See my St. Mark’s Summit hiking guide. How to get there: The trail starts at the Cypress Mountain ski hill parking lot in West Vancouver. It’s a 30 minute drive from Vancouver.

READ NEXT: Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver: 100+ Year-round Trails

Elk Mountain

Elk Mountain is probably the most popular trail in Vancouver’s Fraser Valley… but for a good reason. It’s a short and steep hike through the forest up to the summit. (In fact Chilliwack locals hike it instead of the Grouse Grind.) At the top you’ll find incredible views of the Chilliwack area and the mountains to the south. A gorgeous ridge-top trail extends a few kilometers further to the summit Mount Thurston as well. Be sure to head this way in the summer to see the alpine flowers blooming.

Distance: 7+km round trip, Elevation gain: 800m, Time Needed: 4-5 hours, Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult, Best Time To Go: June-October, Trail Info: See hike #64 in Stephen Hui’s 105 Hikes book, Vancouver Trails, and Outdoor Vancouver How to get there: It takes 1.5 hours to drive to the trailhead in Chilliwack.

Lynn Canyon

Lynn Canyon is my pick for the best hike in Vancouver to take visitors from out of town since it’s short and easy. There’s tons to see including a suspension bridge, waterfalls, rainforest, boardwalk, a deep canyon and a gorgeously clear pool. It’s also a great place for a short hike on a rainy day or after work when all the tourists stay away. Be sure to explore upstream of the suspension bridge to see 30 foot pool and downstream to see Twin Falls. Lots of DIY loops are possible.

Distance: 1.5+km round trip Elevation gain: 70m Time needed: 1-1.5 hours Difficulty: easy. Best time to go: All year. Trail Info: See Vancouver Trails, and Outdoor Vancouver. Bring a copy of the trail map so you can plan your route. How to get there: It’s a 30 minute drive from Vancouver or accessible by bus 227 or 228.

So there’s my list for the 10 best hikes near Vancouver. Which ones do you agree with? Which Vancouver hikes would be on your list? Tell me in the comments.

More Vancouver Hikes:

• Most Instagrammed Hikes in Vancouver
• The Worst Hikes in Vancouver (And Where to Hike Instead)
• The Best Vancouver Hiking Books
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Alternatives to the Grouse Grind: Steep Workout Hikes Near Vancouver
• 35 Vancouver Hikes You Can Get to on Transit
• Waterfalls Near Vancouver You Can Hike To
• 15 Unusual Hikes Near Vancouver
• The Best Hikes in Whistler: A Guide to All the Trails

The post The 10 Best Hikes in Vancouver – A Local’s Guide appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.