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Best Vancouver Trails to Maintain Social Distance

Mountain Blog > Top Trails for Social Distancing

Posted by: Matthew Inouye
Posted on: March 19th, 2020

The World Health Organization recommends we maintain a distance of at least 3 feet from each other. How about 300 feet? Stay local, and hike anti-social with a list of Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver area trails where social distancing is a distant issue! No need for a tape measure here.

A very safe and isolated view of Howe Sound from the Deek's Lake Trail

Local and Anti-Social

Looking for a trail in the neighbourhood where your neighbour isn't in the hood? The (hiking) shoe fits for these five trails: Decent hikes, mixed use and wide open with long stretches. You'll see another hiker well in advance, with enough time to jump into the bush to allow plenty distance between you.

Central Valley Greenway
At 22.5 kilometers long, Metro Vancouver's longest and first community greenway connects the cities of New Westminster, Coquitlam, Burnaby and Vancouver. 

Ridge Park Loop Trail
A relatively moderate and easily accessed trail in Northeast Coquitlam near land once used for the Westwood Racetrack. Great for trail running, mountain biking or walking a dog.

Boundary Bay Dyke Trail
It's always sunnier south-of-the-tunnel! Stretching from Beach Grove in Tsawwassen all the way to East Delta edging up to South Surrey, the Boundary Bay Dyke Trail offers expansive views of the North Shore Mountains, the Georgia Strait, Gulf Islands and Crescent Beach.

Mundy Park Perimeter Trail
A central-but relatively unknown-unless you live right beside it park in southeast Coquitlam, Mundy Park is perched up on the Austin hill overlooking the Fraser Valley. Tall cedar trees and a secluded lake.

South Langley Regional Trail
Country road take you home. But just you, because this is the time to be socially distant! The South Langley Regional Trail or (SLRT) is a long, east-west route through the South Langley farmlands parallel to the United States border.

Walking through Ridge Park off of Parkway Blvd

Backcountry and Barely Hiked

Have car, will travel? The two trails listed below are infrequently hiked and worth every step. And, with the current forecast sunny and a chance of clouds, you'll be rewarded with epic, memorable viewpoints.

West Canyon Trial
This is the trail to the peak of the landmark Golden Ears mountain an hour drive east of downtown Vancouver.  The 24 kilometer return hike will keep you occupied all day with a variety of terrain. It's moderate and never too steep. Great for dogs and their humans.

Deeks Lake Trail
Off the Sea-to-Sky highway, this trail is home to one of the few remaining old growth forests around the Lower Mainland -- perhaps only because the terrain is too steep for logging. Be ready to see some of the largest trees in the region. Embrace the fresh and sweet dewy air. Gaze out at the turquoise Deeks Lake as a reward for a hike well done.

Trails to Avoid

Stay away from the below trails to maintain a reasonable social distance. They're very popular with high traffic -- even on a rainy day and many are riddled with choke points, forcing hikers into crowds.

  • Stanley Park Seawall, Downtown Vancouver
  • Juniper Point, Point Atkinson, Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver
  • Coquitlam Crunch, Coquitlam
  • Quarry Rock, Deep Cove, North Vancouver
  • Foreshore Park, UBC, Spanish Banks
  • Buntzen Lake, near Belcarra and Anmore 

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