15 of the Best Rainy Day Hikes Near Vancouver
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Rain is a way of life in Vancouver, and while we all love to complain about it, it’s what makes the scenery here so vibrant, colorful and full of life. If you’re a passionate year-round hiker, the simple fact is you’re going to need to embrace hiking in the rain.
Thankfully with a little bit of preparation and know-how, hiking in the rain isn’t such a horrible experience, and in fact there are many hikes near Vancouver that are just as good, if not even better in the rain.
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Preparing for a Rainy Day Hike
Hiking in the rain isn’t too dissimilar to hiking in any other conditions, you should still take the same safety precautions as usual but you want to pack / wear a few extra items for those damp days on the trail:
- Waterproof Jacket – A high quality waterproof jacket will make a miserable day in the rain far more tolerable. You ideally want to look for something made of Gore-Tex, which is well known for not only being waterproof but also breathable, which is extremely important when you’re working up a sweat
- Waterproof Pants – This is more optional than a waterproof jacket for me, I prefer water resistant pants due to their ability to breathe better, but many people take waterproof pants as well, to put on top of their regular hiking pants in case of a downpour.
- Waterproof Boots – A quality pair of waterproof boots can be the difference between dry feet and immediately soaked feet when hiking in rain and through puddles. As soon as your feet get wet on a rainy hike, they will never dry. Good grip is also essential if you’re hiking on rocks when they’re wet.
- Waterproof Backpack / Backpack Cover – Another essential item for a rainy day hike. Many packs these days come with built in rain covers, but if not you can buy them separately. Either way, these are paramount to keeping your pack (and everything inside) dry.
- Gaiters – If you expect to be hiking through mud, gaiters can be very useful to prevent water/mud going above your ankles and into your boots.
- Spare Clothing – Additional layers become more important in the rain, especially items like socks. Even if you just leave them in the car for when you have finished the hike, you’ll be very thankful to have some warm, dry clothes to change into.
What to Look Out for on Rainy Day Hikes
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when looking for possible rainy day hikes:
- Keep it short – Most people don’t want to be hiking in the rain for 25km. Even with a positive mindset, many people are sick to death of a rainy hike after just a few hours, so I’d personally aim to keep it to just a few hours.
- Avoid viewpoints – If you know me, you know I prefer to hike to a summit, but there’s really little point on a rainy day as the clouds are usually so low you will get absolutely no views from any summit. If you are going to aim for a viewpoint, make sure it’s a low elevation one.
- Stick to the forest – The forest provides a natural rain cover that’s often enough to keep you mostly dry, even on a miserable day. Forests also come alive in the rain, with some stunning moody scenes, especially if you’re hiking in the clouds.
- Aim for waterfalls and lakes – These are both ideal viewpoints on a rainy day that aren’t obscured by clouds. Waterfalls especially can be nice, since they’ll usually be fast flowing if the rain has been consistent.
With that in mind, let’s get to some of the best rainy day hikes near Vancouver.
Best Rainy Day Hikes Near Vancouver
1. Whyte Lake via Nelson Creek
Whyte Lake is a charming little lake, but the trail passing through Nelson Creek is the highlight of this short trail. The trail has an otherworldly feel to it that is magnified in the rain, yet it’s right on your doorstep in West Vancouver. At just 6.7km it’s a nice distance to be in and out in a couple of hours. The entire hike is in dense forest, so even in the rain you likely won’t get very wet. The more adventurous can continue on to West Knob, but you’re not likely to get many views on a rainy day.
2. Lighthouse Park
A fine example of the beautiful coastal forest here in BC, Lighthouse Park offers multiple views along the coast and within its old growth forest. This trail has it all for a rainy day hike, it’s almost entirely at sea level, it’s mostly in the forest and it has low elevation views throughout. All of that sits right on your doorstep in West Vancouver.
3. Jug Island
Jug Island is another very popular trail in Belcarra Regional Park that will be jam packed on a sunny day. Parking here can be tricky on a summer’s day, but go on a rainy day and you won’t have much of a problem. The entire trail follows a beautiful forest, before popping out onto a beach overlooking the scenic Jug Island.
4. Norvan Falls
Norvan Falls is a popular hike in North Vancouver to a beautiful waterfall. This is a longer hike at 16km, but the majority of the trail is in the forest so you should be largely protected from rain. Sections of the trail can be quite muddy and slippery, so good boots are definitely recommended here. More adventurous people can combine this with Lynn Loop.
5. Minnekhada Regional Park
Minnekhada Regional Park in Coquitlam is another scenic spot. The marshlands around the park are a nice place to wander around, and the High Knoll viewpoint may offer some views even on a rainy day, since it’s a low elevation viewpoint. Most of the trails in the park are tree covered, so you shouldn’t get too wet either.
6. Gold Creek Falls
Golden Ears Park is probably my go-to place for a rainy day hike, as the forest there is so scenic and most of the hikes there are stunning on a rainy day. Gold Creek Falls is the easiest option for a quick outing to a nice view. If you want to keep it very simple, just follow the flat trail to the falls, but if you want more of an adventure you can loop back to the trailhead after a steep ascent to the East Canyon.
7. East to West Canyon Loop
One of my favourite low elevation trails in Golden Ears Park is the East to West Canyon Loop. This is a fairly long hike at 15.60km, but it is almost entirely tree covered and the forest views are exceptional on a misty rainy day. You can combine this with Gold Creek Falls to make for a great rainy day outing.
8. Mike Lake
Another rainy day hike in Golden Ears Park, Mike Lake isn’t the most exciting lake you can visit, but it does offer a nice, tree covered trail to a loop around a lake. It’s possible to drive right up to the lake, but what’s the point in that? Here you follow a simple trail through the typical Golden Ears beauty before looping around the lake and heading back.
9. Four Lakes Trail (Alice Lake Provincial Park)
Based in Alice Lake Provincial Park, the Four Lakes Trail is a popular hike for all abilities, attracting trail runners, dog walkers and families alike. The trail covers almost every sight within the park, including four scenic lakes along the way. At 7.50km it’s the perfect distance for a rainy day hike, and with much of the trail under the forest this is a great rainy day option.
10. Brothers Creek, Blue Gentian Lake & Lost Lake
The Brothers Creek Loop is yet another scenic hike in West Vancouver, following Brothers Creek as it winds its way up through the scenic forest to a duo of lakes. The entire trail is tree covered, so you won’t get too wet on this one, and it’s easy to extend or shorten the hike however you please, which is always nice for a rainy day hike.
11. Lindeman Lake
The ever popular Lindeman Lake is an incredibly busy place on a hot summer’s day, but the views are still pretty nice on a rainy day, and the shortness of the trail makes this a great rainy day option. If you want to visit this place but aren’t keen on fighting crowds, go on a rainy day and you’ll practically have the place to yourself!
12. Mount Crumpit
At 331m high, Mount Crumpit is a very low summit in Squamish. You might be taking a chance by hiking here on a rainy day, just as we did, but the trail is nonetheless scenic and the hike is a fun one even in the rain. Sections of the hike involve simple scrambling on rock, which will be slippery in rain, so do wear appropriate footwear. The trails are a bit of a maze here too, so an offline map is strongly recommended.
13. Rolley Lake & Falls
Another hike in Mission, Rolley Lake Provincial Park is a very popular spot on a sunny day, but also makes for a nice rainy day hike. The entire trail is in the forest, looping around the lake, before an optional extension to Rolley Falls, which provides a more rugged challenge. This one is easy to combine with Steelhead Falls if you’re up for more.
14. Steelhead Falls & Stave Dam Forest
Steelhead Falls in Mission is a short and simple stroll in the forest to a beautiful waterfall. This is a very short hike on its own, so extending it to include the Stave Dam Forest Interpretation Trail will make for a longer adventure. The views from the Stave Dam trail are low elevation and might be cloud-free if you’re lucky!
15. Teapot Hill
Teapot Hill is a short stroll near Cultus Lake in Chilliwack. The entire hike is in the forest, following a trail covered in endearing teapots. This is a very popular spot for families and dog walkers, and since the main attraction is teapot hunting along the way, this adventure will only be boosted by rain. The views from the summit are low elevation, so you might get lucky and have some sights too.
