No, these trails are not just family-friendly, they’re more: toddler-friendly trails near Vancouver that I actually tested with a toddler! And no, I don’t mean there’s absolutely no danger on any of them, because when it comes to toddlers, everything can be dangerous, anyway. I mean that they’re suitable trails for toddlers to hike all the way on their own, because they’re short (1-4 km) and have only minimal elevation gain. They’re also likely to be exciting for toddlers, because most are close to the water – either a lake, a waterfall or just a lovely stream with bridges.
Some are stroller-friendly, but most of them are not. A few have playgrounds at the trailhead (you decide whether it’s a plus when you’re about to start a hike… :D), but most of them don’t. I’ll indicate those specialties for each of the trails. And yes, I hiked each and every trail with Tomi in his third year. I mean, just the two of us.
Why take your toddler hiking in the first place?
Are toddlers interested in hiking, anyway? Maybe not. I mean, they’re usually enthusiastic about being outdoors, collecting pebbles, jumping into puddles or hiding behind large trees, but they have no interest in completing any trail. That’s your goal, not theirs.
But we, his parents, love hiking. We believed that it can still be part of our lives after becoming parents, and so it was. If you ever want to hike with your kid, it’s best to start early. We couldn’t have waited years, anyway… And there’s no point. We see as we hike with Tomi how fast he adapts to rugged terrains, harsh weather conditions or longer distances.
I’d never have thought that a 2-year-old would walk 3 kilometres on his own before I saw my own son doing it! That’s not to say you should expect it from any 2-year-old on any chosen day. That’s to say they’re capable of much more than what we usually think.
For stay-at-home mums: break of the of never-ending playground cycles
Taking Tomi to hikes alone, without his daddy, also turned out to be a lifesaver to me. We hike as a family whenever we can, but that mostly means weekends. However, as a stay-at-home mum I need to make sure he has his healthy dose of outdoor time each day (for the sake of everyone’s sanity). Playground is the typical option.
But I can’t even think of spending about 2×2 hours with him on the playground every single day without feeling drained. (And outdoor time is supposed to help keep our sanity, right?) Playgrounds are not that exciting to mums as to kids, let’s just leave it at that. So why not hiking? I love hiking, and he loves to be outside.
We tried. We lived in Budapest at that time, and Tomi was a bit more than 1.5 years old. It turned out that both of us enjoyed these hikes, and I have no idea why it didn’t occur to me earlier. It was such a perfect solution to spend time together and in nature, and I was also filled up with joy and beauty after our mummy-baby hiking trips.
To carry or not to carry?
However, soon I had to face the fact that I’m physically not able to carry Tomi any more. Not that we did long hikes, but 6-7 km is long for a toddler to walk on his own. It should be a walk & carry combination which I couldn’t do after he turned two. In the meantime, he started to walk about 3-4 kilometres on his own. Not every time and not always in one go, but more and more often.
So I chose the only solution that seemed feasible: doing very short trails with him. 1.5-2 kilometres at first, but soon 2-3 kilometres. Could I trust him to walk all the way? I hoped for the best. 😀 I very rarely carried him, mostly we stopped for a snack break if he said he was tired, and he continued walking after that. I also came up with games to motivate him to carry on, and I realized he’s already at that age when it works. Sometimes he just stopped to collect sticks to throw them into the lake or to observe mushrooms, and I let him hang out in one place for a while. If the trail was stroller-friendly, I took the stroller just in case, and then we usually used it.
We continued hiking longer trails on the weekends when Csaba carried Tomi once he got tired. But for the weekdays I chose short enough trails for the two of us which we finished by nap time. No, we didn’t complete these trails quickly. They were half day trips at our pace. But the most important thing when hiking with a toddler is: allow enough time. And it was time that we enjoyed.
So my task was to find all the toddler-friendly hiking trails near Vancouver where we moved after Tomi’s second birthday. I shamelessly report that I was quite successful at this. Here’s the result, and I hope it helps more mums to enjoy nature with their toddlers.
Don’t forget about sun protection
Rash guard: Loose-fitting clothing that covers as much skin as possible is actually the best way to protect the sensitive skin of babies and toddlers. An additional benefit is that you don’t need to use as much sunscreen. This long-sleeve rash guard offers 50+ UPF sun protection, great for the beach, wading pools or spray parks.
Sunscreen: Mineral sunscreen is the best both for humans and the environment. They don’t absorb into the skin, but lay on top of it, creating a barrier that reflects UV light. This Blue Lizard mineral sunscreen is a great choice both for kids and adults, it provides SPF 50+ sun protection, it’s paraben-free, fragrance-free, sweat and water resistant.
Sunglasses: Protect your toddler’s eyes with a pair of sunglasses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays, have a comfortable fit and are cute enough.
Sun hat: Choose a wide-brimmed hat that shades the face, neck and ears. This one is water repellent, has UPF 50+ protection with full neck coverage, and it comes in cute patterns and colors for both boys and girls. Thanks to the chin strap it’ll actually stay on even in windy weather.
The ultimate list of toddler-friendly hiking trails near Vancouver
Coho Loop, Capilano River Regional Park, North Vancouver
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 1.2 km loop (combining with Second Canyon Viewpoint Trail adds about 500 meters) |
| Elevation gain: ~50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: Hatchery parking in Capilano River Regional Park |
| Facilities: pit toilet and roofed picnic area near Hatchery parking |
| Stroller-friendly? no |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 15 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
While Capilano Suspension Bridge Park gets all the fame, Capilano River Regional Park (with no entrance fee) is a favorite among locals, especially families, because it gives easy access to fascinating views of rushing Capilano River.
The shortest loop with hardly any elevation change is Coho Loop. It might be short, but it offers a wooden viewing platform and two scenic river crossings (bridges, with great views). Apart from a few stairs and short uphills, there’s nothing challenging about this loop.
You might even want to lengthen it a bit. In that case, start it clockwise from the Hatchery parking (in order to leave the extra section to the end), and before returning there via the second bridge, walk to Second Canyon Viewpoint. It’s quite impressive, with views of the Capilano Canyon and the Cleveland Dam. It adds ~500 meters (there and back) to the Coho Loop.
To double the distance (and quadruple the elevation gain!), you can extend the hike to the top of Cleveland Dam. Because of the steep uphill, I don’t necessarily recommend it if you don’t want to carry your kid. You can drive to the parking lot at Cleveland Dam instead, and let your little one run around there while you get impressed again, this time by the views from the top of the dam.
Rice Lake Loop, Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, North Vancouver
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 3 km loop |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: tourist shelter and parking on Lillooet Road |
| Facilities: pit toilet near the parking lot; benches on the Rice Lake pier and around the lake |
| Stroller-friendly? yes |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 25 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
North Vancouver is a paradise for hikers and picnicking families, and one that’s so close to Downtown Vancouver! The Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve has several shorter trails, and Rice Lake is a particularly easy loop walk around a lovely lake surrounded by pine forests. It’s an almost flat, wide forest path, suitable even for strollers – mainly sports strollers, because it’s not paved.
The loop trail provides several access points to the lakeshore – look for hidden benches with scenic views! It’s worth taking a walk to the pier, too, where you also find some benches.
Mahon Park Loop, North Vancouver
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 1.5 km loop |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: along Jones Ave |
| Facilities: washrooms, playground and spray park near the stadium |
| Stroller-friendly? no |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 15 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
Two lovely creeks, a few bridges and a series of stairs in the forest. Easy walking paths mostly used by locals. This is what Mahon Park offers, and it’s a great way to spend a morning or an afternoon with your kid there.
There are several access points to the trails (Jones Ave, Wolfe Street, 15 Street West, Keith Road), and you can combine the short paths along Thain and Wagg Creek as you like. I planned a 1.5 km loop for you as a sample. It’s impossible to get lost in this small park, you’ll end up on a street sooner or later (rather sooner). Despite this fact, it’s a real getaway from the city.
Even though the trails are easy, they’re definitely not suitable for strollers, because of the lots of stairs. You can also visit the playground at the end, it’s near the stadium, so plan the path accordingly.
Trails of Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: it’s about 6 km to hike all around the park; you can easily break it into shorter hikes |
| Trailhead & parking: Lighthouse Park parking in Beacon Lane |
| Facilities: pit toilet in the parking lot; picnic benches at several spots in the park |
| Stroller-friendly? only Beacon Lane Trail |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 25 minutes drive |
Lighthouse Park is a great choice, because all of its trails are short and relatively easy – despite some stairs and uphills/downhills. If you hike on all of the trails in the park, that’s about 6 kilometres. I didn’t do that with Tomi, hence it was a park where we could return for new trails several times. 🙂
Most trails are rainforest trails, but there are some viewpoints and beach access points. So which path to choose?
Juniper Loop & Juniper Point Trails can be combined into an 1.2 km loop (with ~80 meters elevation gain). Most of it is in the forest, the only vista you get is at Juniper Point. Hold your kid’s hand there as the clifftop is slippery, and there’s no fenced viewing platform.
The Shore Pine Trail-Seven Sisters Trail loop is 2.1 km, with 112 meters elevation change. We started on Shore Pine Trail which is in the pine forest along the coast, but offers several viewpoints. It was a downhill walk, and we even added the short, but steep detour on West Beach Trail. The latter has views of the (otherwise inaccessible) lighthouse, and gives access to a small beach. On the way back, we hiked uphill all the way, and here I had to carry Tomi for about half the way. But it’s the most scenic little loop we’ve done in the park.
Beacon Lane Trail is the only stroller-friendly trail in the park. It’s a wide, dirt path, not completely flat, but a sports stroller can cope with it. However, doing this same trail there and back means you miss out on really nice views you could get if you’d take another way back.
Lower & Upper Cypress Falls, Cypress Falls Park, West Vancouver
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 2.8 km loop |
| Elevation gain: ~120 m |
| Trailhead & parking: Cypress Falls Park parking area |
| Facilities: pit toilet in the parking area |
| Stroller-friendly? no |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 20 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
Cypress Falls Park won’t only impress kids, but adults, too, with its two large waterfalls, Cypress Creek and its canyon, and a rainforest that’s straight out of a fairy tale. That sounds like a lot, doesn’t it?
Yet the trail is only 1.4 km one-way. It runs along Cypress Creek, ascends a bit, and the terrain is a bit rugged, especially after Lower Cypress Fall. Definitely not a stroller walk, but it’s a fun challenge for kids, just make sure they won’t get dangerously close to the canyon.
Lower Cypress Fall has a fenced viewing platform, and it’s a very short walk from the parking lot. The two viewpoints for Upper Cypress Fall are at the end of the trail, and the second one might be too steep and rugged if you’re alone with a small kid. It offers the best waterfall view though. You can use a child carrier just for this last, short section so that you won’t miss the view – and that you can actually enjoy it rather than worrying about your kid slipping and falling into the canyon.
Yew Lake, Cypress Provincial Park, West Vancouver
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 2.1 km loop |
| Elevation gain: <20 m |
| Trailhead & parking: Cypress Creek Day Lodge (paid parking in the skiing season, unless having a resort pass/ticket) |
| Facilities: washroom & diaper changing room at the parking lot |
| Stroller-friendly? yes |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 30 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
This is a pleasant flat walk on a gravel path, and even though it’s one of the trails that are definitely not snow free during winter, it’s a well-worn track that’s fun to do in the snow, as well.
It’s a self-guided ~2 km long interpretive loop that begins from the Cypress Creek Day Lodge (the center of the alpine ski facilities in winter) and goes through sub-alpine meadows. You can add another short walk to an impressive old-growth forest, or make it an almost 5 km long out-and-back trail if you include Bowen Lookout. The latter requires some uphill walking, too, and is not suitable for strollers.
Though Yew Lake is not an alpine lake, the hike is nice with the surrounding pine forest and all the small lakes and marshes.
Coastal walk in Caulfeild Park, West Vancouver
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 700 m one-way |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: one of the small dirt pullouts along Pilot House Road |
| Facilities: pit toilet (only open in the summer season) |
| Stroller-friendly? no |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 30 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
This is one of those typical small parks with ocean and mountain views in West Vancouver that are barely known to anyone but the locals. The locals do know it and love it though, so parking can easily fill up on nice summer weekends.
But it’s the most perfect trail to do with a toddler! (Beware, it’s not stroller-friendly, you need a kid who walks.) Tomi enjoyed climbing the rocks and wooden steps and walking through the three or four small wooden bridges that are all included in that 700 metres of what it takes to walk the coastal path all the way. He also enjoyed sitting on the benches along the trail (and having snacks, of course!), and I didn’t mind our super slow progress, because the views of the bay, the pine forests and the distant views of Vancouver are so lovely! We even spotted seals in the water.
Then it’s the same way back. You can also take a walk to Little Caulfeild and the small pier. Stearman beach is on the other side of the park, and it’s a shallow, rocky beach where you can spend the rest of the day in the summer.
Caulfeild Park doesn’t even have a parking lot, you need to use one of the small dirt pullouts along Pilot House Road. It’s a narrow, one-way road like several others in the area.
Sasamat Lake Loop, Belcarra Regional Park, Port Moody
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 3.2 km loop |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: White Pine Beach (paid parking in the warmer part of the year) |
| Facilities: washroom & diaper changing room, picnic benches at White Pine Beach |
| Stroller-friendly? no |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 50 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
This is a pleasant lake loop walk that runs very close to the shore of Sasamat Lake for the most part. Several boardwalks let you walk over the water, there’s a stream to cross with a little wooden bridge, and there’s even a floating bridge that takes you across Sasamat Lake – exciting attractions for a small kid (and pretty views for mum).
Though it’s an easy walk, not stroller-friendly, not even with a massive sports stroller. The path is often uneven due to large roots, and there’s a dozen wooden stairs from time to time. But they make the terrain more exciting, at least my little one enjoyed the challenge.
White Pine Beach is a popular swimming spot in the summer, but a lakeshore is thrilling to a toddler any time of the year, and this path has lots of lake access points. Majority of the loop is in the forest which means shade in summer and protection on a rainy day.
Burnaby Lake Loop, Burnaby Lake Regional Park, Burnaby
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 10.9 km loop |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: three parking lots along the loop – from Piper Avenue, Avalon Avenue or Glencarin Drive |
| Facilities: washrooms at Burnaby Sports Complex, Piper Ave and Avalon entrances |
| Stroller-friendly? yes |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 30 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
This is not a short loop, but the reason I still included it is that it can be broken into smaller sections, and it’s also almost flat and easily doable with a stroller.
What to see there? Birds! It’s a wildlife sanctuary, home to about 70 species of birds, and if birdwatchers have some luck, they can spot great blue herons, bald eagles, belted kingfishers or osprey. The lake is not suitable for swimming, but it has lots of water lilies.
Kanaka Creek Canyon Trail, Kanaka Creek Regional Park, Maple Ridge
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 2.2 km loop |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: parking lot at Cliff Park Ball Field |
| Facilities: pit toilet near the parking lot, playground, picnic benches on the meadow by Cliff Falls |
| Stroller-friendly? no |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 1 hour drive |
| See the trail map here! |
Kanaka Creek Regional Park in Maple Ridge is another of the lesser-known local parks that keep kids excited with small creeks and wooden bridges, a rugged terrain with lots of steps and small waterfalls. ~2 km Kanaka Creek Canyon loop certainly offers all that, and even several creek access points where Tomi enjoyed throwing pebbles into the water.
Cliff Falls is a pretty waterfall, but there’s no way to get a good view of it from any of the viewpoints, so it’s not a trail to choose for the spectacular waterfall views. The creek and the small cascades are nice though, and you get a good view of them from the bridges.
There’s a playground right by the parking lot. Personally, I don’t like playgrounds at trailheads, because I usually take Tomi to hiking instead of going to the playground, and once he sees a playground, there’s no chance we start a hike anytime soon. But maybe it’s better with older kids who have the energy both for the hike and the playground.
Fraser Riverfront, Kanaka Creek Regional Park, Maple Ridge
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 2.9 km loop |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: Kanaka Creek Regional Park Fraser Riverfront Parking Lot |
| Facilities: washrooms in the parking lot, picnic benches along the trail |
| Stroller-friendly? yes |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 50 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
This is a stroller-friendly, almost flat riverside walk in Kanaka Creek Regional Park. Please note that it’s at a different location than Kanaka Creek Canyon that I’ve just mentioned, even though they belong to the same regional park.
It’s not the most dramatic trail you’ll ever find, but it’s nice and very easy, and you can find river access along the trail which is always fun for kids. If you bring food, you can have a picnic at one of the benches.
Redwood Park Fairy Forest, Surrey
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 1.3 km loop |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: Redwood Park Parking Lot |
| Facilities: washrooms and large roofed picnic area near the parking lot, playground |
| Stroller-friendly? not entirely, but some parts of it are suitable for sport strollers |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 50 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
Who could resist majestic redwoods and hundreds of cute fairy houses? The short trails of Surrey’s Redwood Park are impressive with the large meadows and planted redwoods, and it’s fun to search for the fairy forest. It can easily be found, too, as it’s only about 300 metres from the parking lot.
The whimsical, colorful, grand or tiny fairy homes hang from branches, perch on logs, hide in tree hollows – some are merely doors built into the base of trees. Many are created by kids, and you can add your crafted fairy house to the collection.
There’s a spacious playground at the trailhead, probably the best in the area, with lots of exciting toys and equipment for small kids.
Little River Loop, Campbell Valley Regional Park, Langley
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 2.3 km loop |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: North Valley entrance parking |
| Facilities: washrooms and picnic benches |
| Stroller-friendly? no (parts of the Little River Loop is fine with a sports stroller) |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 1 hour drive |
| See the trail map here! |
While it’s not the most impressive park you’ve ever seen, it has short and easy trails, some large trees and marsh views, and lots of curious squirrels (don’t feed them, please). Little River Loop gives a taste of what the park is like, though you’ll only have river views from the bridge – and only at times when the riverbed is not dried out.
You can extend the Little River Loop by adding the South Valley Trail, Ravine Trail, Deer Trail or Meadow Trail. You find large meadows and several benches on the way.
Unlike the parks in North Vancouver, this one mostly has deciduous trees, so it’ll look quite bare during winter months.
Cascade Falls, Cascade Falls Regional Park
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 1 km loop |
| Elevation gain: ~60 m |
| Trailhead & parking: Cascade Falls Regional Park parking area |
| Facilities: washrooms and picnic benches by the creek |
| Stroller-friendly? no |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 1 hour 40 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
Cascade Falls Regional Park is tiny, and the walk to Cascade Falls is very short – though a bit steep at times. But it’s an amazing sight, and every kid will love the suspension bridge that connects the two waterfall viewpoints.
Don’t miss the picnic area by the creekside. It can be accessed on a different path than the waterfall, but it’s lovely, and this is the only place where you can access the creek.
Since both of these paths are very short, and there’s nothing else to do, Cascade Falls Regional Park can’t offer activities for a full day. But it could be a nice addition to a day trip to Mission as this area offers many adorable (and family-friendly) parks and trails.
North Beach Trail, Golden Ears Provincial Park
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 1.4 km one-way |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: Gold Creek Parking |
| Facilities: pit toilets |
| Stroller-friendly? no |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 1.5 hours drive |
| See the trail map here! |
Not the most epic hike in Golden Ears Provincial Park, but an easy one for a toddler – and a scenic one for the parents. We expected a “nothing special, but lovely” forest walk to North Beach, but we had amazing views all the way. Gold Creek gets slower as it flows into Alouette Lake, and it has the most incredible shades of green! And it’s also an easy forest walk like you’d expect.
Then the destination: North Beach. You can play on the beach or even spend the whole day there in summer. Just make sure you have a (free) day permit to use the parking at Gold Creek Parking and any of the trails in the park in the warmer part of the year.
If you’d hike more, the trail to Gold Creek Falls starts from the same parking as North Beach Trail. Even though it’s too long for a toddler to walk all the way there and back (more than 5 kilometres), you can tackle it with a sports stroller, as well.
Lost Lake Loop, Lost Lake Park, Whistler
| Quick facts: |
|---|
| Length of trail: 1.9 km loop |
| Elevation gain: <50 m |
| Trailhead & parking: parking lot accessible from Lost Lake Road (south end of the lake) |
| Facilities: washrooms and picnic benches |
| Stroller-friendly? yes |
| How far is it from Downtown Vancouver? about 1 hour 40 minutes drive |
| See the trail map here! |
The Whistler area requires some driving, but it offers real high mountain experience even without much effort. Like this short and easy loop trail around Lost Lake that’s right past Whistler village. The path is dirt and ascends a bit at some sections, but it’s manageable even with a stroller. I prefer not using it though, because the pier and the nature paths that are closer to the lake (and offer the best views!) are not accessible with a stroller. (And I know, I’m with a stroller on the pier in the picture, but I had help carrying it down the stairs. 😀 )
In the summer, you can even swim in Lost Lake. The trailhead itself is a beach where the water is shallow at the beginning.
However, note that from mid-December to the end of March, this loop and the connecting trails are not open to walkers, hikers and bikers. They’re part of an extensive cross-country ski trail network that is subject to admission fee.
You might enjoy these posts, as well:
- Best West Vancouver Playgrounds By The Beach
- 12 Kid-Friendly Parks In North Vancouver
- 12 Best Playgrounds In Vancouver
- 6 Kid-Friendly Parks In Coquitlam
- Best Richmond Parks For Families
Well, that’s it for now. But check back from time to time, because I’ll add more trails as we explore them.
