"Lynn Canyon" Top 5 Page for this destination North Vancouver Travelogue by Carmanah

The Baden-Powell Trail

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, me and my friend from work got up early and met up at Vancouver's Waterfront Station. After treating ourselves to a coffee at Starbucks, we walked down the ramp to the Seabus and took it across Burrard Inlet to Lonsdale Quay. At Lonsdale Quay, we could see our bus #228 waiting for Seabus passengers. As soon as we boarded, the bus left immediately and climbed its way up through North Van suburbia until it arrived 20 minutes later at Lynn Canyon Park.

A waterfall along the cliffs

Lynn Park has always been one of my favourite parks since childhood, but it was my friend's first time there. We walked towards the suspension bridge only to find it full of people. Rather than cross it as it was busy, we snapped photos of a nearby waterfall and decided to walk down the Baden-Powell trail instead.

Lush moss and snow crystals

The Baden-Powell trail took us down the canyon walls to the creek below. It was absolutely beautiful down there. The trails were covered in snow but the creek was rushing by, and the surfaces of the trees and rocks were covered in lush carpets of vibrant green moss.

Deep within the forest

The Baden-Powell trail eventually climbs back up to the top of the canyon and strangely, it takes you out of Lynn Canyon Park and back onto a suburban street. However, there was a little general store immediately across from where the trail left us, so we went there and grabbed some snacks and drinks and walked back to the main entrance of Lynn Canyon. We then crossed the suspension bridge and took a trail heading to the right. It took us deep into the forest and down a series of staircases.

Twin Falls

Along the trail we came across a bridge crossing Twin Falls. The falls were incredibly powerful cascading down from one rocky outcrop to another. Once on the other side of the bridge you climb back up the canyon walls up a series of staircases and you end up at the main entrance next to the suspension bridge.

Crossing the suspension bridge

We crossed the suspension bridge once more and this time headed left towards Rice Lake. It takes about half an hour to walk there. It's a lesser travelled path and was covered entirely in snow. It felt really magical and so far removed from the city. Once we got to the lake, it was covered in thin ice, but people were ice fishing off a dock there. We walked around the lake - it took about 45 minutes as the path was slippery with snow and ice. By the time we got back around we saw a sign pointing back to the road to the bus loop. And funny enough, we found ourselves back at the spot across the street from the general store.

Crossing the suspension bridge.

Over all we spent about 4 hours at Lynn Canyon Park. I think we walked every single trail in the park and it was hugely enjoyable. We came in February which is the middle of winter. Although there was no snow in Vancouver, Lynn Canyon, being at the foot of the mountains in the wilderness, is a bit colder and snow tends to linger there longer. But as long as you have sturdy footwear and are in the mood to be surrounded by nature, Lynn Canyon is an absolutely beautiful place to visit.