NORTH SHORE By North Shore we mean the area of Metro Vancouver across the Vancouver Harbour; it includes North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and Deep Cove. Click here to see these areas on Google Maps. The SeaBus is the best and most scenic way to get to the North Shore. It departs from Waterfront Station downtown and arrives at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. The North shore has amazing hiking and mountain biking trails that can be accessed by bus. Invest in a hiking trails guide and explore the mountains!
THE HIKING There are many beautiful trails all over the North Shore. Click here for a list of our favorite hikes. LONSDALE QUAY Take the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay and explore the market. Walk up Lonsdale Road for some great shopping and dining. MAPLEWOOD FLATS CONSERVATION AREA 2645 Dollarton Hwy A bird sanctuary just east of the Second Narrows bridge. It is the largest section of tidal mudflats remaining on the North Shore. You can still see traces of the community of hippies, artists, writers and free spirits that took residence there in the 70’s in a series of ramshackle driftwood-constructed huts and cabins. Watch the NFB’s ‘Mudflats Living’, a 1971 film documenting the lives of the people who peacefully occupied the mudflats until they were burnt down. AMBLESIDE PARK 1150 Marine Dr. This beautiful park offers great views of Stanley Park as well as a skatepark, dog park and water park! The beach is a lovely spot for a picnic.
44
GEMS CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE 3735 Capilano Road A popular tourist attraction, the bridge is accessible by transit (#246 from Downtown) and is a fun thing to do on a date. The admission price is steep at $34 for students, but it includes the Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk. If you are on a budget, you can go to the amazing free park right behind the bridge which is beautiful and goes on for miles. Check out the salmon hatchery! PRESENTATION HOUSE GALLERY 333 Chesterfield Ave. A beautiful gallery just a 15-minute walk from the Seabus terminal. Great contemporary art exhibits. HORSESHOE BAY A picturesque town best known for its BC Ferries terminal. Take the #257 Express bus from downtown--you will be in Horseshoe Bay in less than 30 minutes. The town itself is beautiful and has many cute cafes and shops. You can take a ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo or up to the Sunshine Coast. There are also water taxis that leave from the government docks; these can take you to beautiful places including Bowen Island and Gambier Island.
HIKING ON CYPRESS Cypress Mountain is well-known for its amazing skiing, but when the snow melts, it becomes a hikers' paradise! Many amazing hikes start at the Cypress Mountain parking lot, including Hollyburn Mountain, pictured on the right. Check the conditions before you leave, as things can get a bit hairy in the mountains. If you can get a ride to the parking lot, you will skip a ton of boring and steep terrain, and will quickly find yourself surrounded by alpine flowers, pristine lakes, scraggly pines and stunning views.