I feel very fortunate to live in a location with immense natural beauty. While I never tire of the activities available to me in Washington State, I enjoy exploring unknown corners of the enchanting Pacific Northwest. Last weekend, I escaped the city with a weekend trip to North Vancouver.
The waterfront view from Deep Cove, North Vancouver, BC Canada.
The weather in Seattle and the surrounding area was dreary and the snowpack was avalanche prone, so exploring new low elevation hiking options seemed an ideal goal for this week’s excursion. I was previously aware of trails near Vancouver, but I was astonished by the beauty, wildness, and diversity of the hiking. Here are a few I recommend should you get the opportunity:
- Quarry Rock
My airbnb was near the trailhead to this hike and I went for a stroll without any prior knowledge of the trip. Imagine my surprise when I came across views like this!
Pro Tip: Wear hiking boots. While short, this hike cuts steeply in and out of small river valleys and sure footing is a must.
- Lynn Canyon
A suspension bridge over a gorgeous gorge, deep swimming holes (too cold for me this winter!), a raging river, and artistically designed hiking trails throughout the park will leave you satisfied, regardless of your experience as a hiker.
- Lighthouse Park
The picture says it all. It was pouring rain so I opted to walk down the main trail to the lighthouse with only minor exploration of the surrounding trails. This can be a short and relatively easy hike to the lighthouse or you can extend the trip to explore the surrounding forest. While the lighthouse itself is off-limits, the lighthouse viewpoint is spectacular!
It’s safe to say that I will be headed back to North Vancouver again in the near future.
Gluten Free Food: If you’re gluten free, there are definitely gluten free options around. I chose to cook for myself on this trip (see this post), but the Bluhouse Market & Cafe was definitely tempting! My favorite gluten free app, FindMeGlutenFree, indicates that both may be safe for celiacs as well 🙂 (Pro Tip #2 - the website for FindMeGlutenFree does not require you to pay for the “celiac friendly” option, whereas the phone app does…)
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