Great Inclinations:
Hikes to do so you
can say you did them

> Get the popular hikes out of the way,
then seek out the ones less travelled

Jacey Gibb
Distribution Manager

 

Great Inclinations is your go-to
source for diving into the world of
casual hiking in and around the
Lower Mainland. Because hiking’s
not just for assholes anymore.

ven if you've never stepped foot on a

hiking trail, you're probably familiar
with at least one of the trails on this list.

For me, hiking is an opportunity

to spent time outside, see some cool
nature shit, and get away from densely-
populated urban life (if only for a few
hours). As such, crowds are a major
deal-breaker for me when it comes to
hiking trails, and they’re also what each
of these hikes have in common. These
are some of the most popular hikes
around the Lower Mainland, and are
great for their own reasons, but their
popularity takes away from the overall
enjoyment. My advice: Avoid peak
hiking times (evenings and weekends),
make your way down the list, and
then never look back as you move onto
less crowded, more enjoyable hikes.

Quarry Rock

Everything about the North Vancouver
neighbourhood of Deep Cove is
picturesque, including the popular
Quarry Rock. This hike is also accessible,
in almost every sense—the manageable
terrain, the two-hour round-trip
completion time—you can even get

to it via public transit! There’s also a
fantastic outlook of the Burrard Inlet
once you make it to the top, but the
volume of foot traffic is incredibly off-
putting. If it’s a beautiful day and you
feel like visiting Quarry Rock, just
remember that hundreds of people are
thinking of the exact same thing.

Lighthouse Park

Less of a hike, and more of a leisurely
stroll through varied elevations. From
the parking lot, you walk for about

30 minutes over rolling hills before
reaching the main lighthouse area,
which then diverges into multiple paths.
One leads down to the water, where

 

you can hobble over wet boulders, but
for the full experience, I’d suggest
heading towards higher ground. There
are multiple lookouts with beautiful
views of the ocean and as some of the
neighbouring islands. Parking is quite
limited at Lighthouse Park though, so
make sure you arrive early or later in the
afternoon to avoid the midday rush.

The Grouse Grind

I hate the Grouse Grind. I don’t hate

the actual trail itself, which is actually
quite beautiful. I hate the uncontrollable
masses who crowd the trail from start
to finish; I hate that it’s a one-way hike,
and you have to pay $10 to ride a gondola
back down; I hate that there are people
who think this is what every hike is

like and let their Grind experience

sour them on hiking in general. It’s
convenient to get to, and the view is
pretty spectacular for how long you're
actually hiking for, but for every other
reason I try to avoid the Grind. Do it
once, bring your wallet so you can enjoy
a beer at the top and pay for a gondola
ticket back down, and never look back.

Stawamus Chief

Located between Vancouver and
Squamish, you probably know this hike
better by its nickname “The Chief.”
The Chief starts with a steep incline

on wooden steps and remains ona
similar incline once youre on the path.
From basically start to finish, you can
expect swathes of humans to populate
the trail, so try to start early (like, 7

or 8 a.m.). Parking is also incredibly
limited at both of the parking lots;

if you arrive later, you'll likely find
yourself waiting in your vehicle for a
parking spot to open up. Unlike the
other hikes on our list, The Chief boasts
three peaks, and the majority of people
choose to visit the first—and closest.

If youre thinking about visiting the
farther peaks, check online to see what
weather conditions are like. (The higher
peaks have snow well into the spring,
which can make for slippery hiking
conditions.) Thankfully, the view from
any of the three peaks is worth the
price of admission—which is free!

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Worth the splurge

> Lipstick for charity

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Graphics Manager

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Photos by Lauren Kelly