The Most Scenic 11 Fall Hikes Near Vancouver
Every year around September, my feed fills with stunning shots of golden larch hikes in Banff or maple leaves in Quebec. But you don’t have to travel that far. Some of the best fall hikes near Vancouver offer equally breathtaking fall colors, from golden larches to alpine meadows and mountain views.
After exploring some of the most scenic trails in BC and Washington State, I’ve narrowed down a list of the best 11 fall hikes near Vancouver. In this guide, you’ll find hikes within a 4-hour drive from Vancouver and tips on when to catch peak fall colors.
8 Fall Hikes in British Columbia
1. Frosty Mountain, Manning Provincial Park
Distance: 21 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,150 m to the summit
Difficulty: moderate – difficult
Camping: Yes, at Frosty Creek Campground
Distance from Vancouver: about 3 hours drive
Best Time for Fall Colors: first 1-2 weeks in October
A trip to the Frosty Mountain larches is arguably one of the best fall hikes near Vancouver. Located in Manning Park, it’s the closest spot to the city where you can see the stunning display of golden larches.
So, no need to head all the way to the Canadian Rockies. This iconic fall hike is just a 3-hour drive from Vancouver, making it a perfect day trip. Be sure to start early to give yourself enough time to enjoy the summit views and golden alpine glow.
2. St Mark’s Summit, Cypress Mountain
Distance: 10 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 567 m
Difficulty: moderate
Camping: Yes, along the Howe Sound Crest
Distance from Vancouver: 30 min drive to the trailhead on Cypress Mountain
Best Time for Fall Colors: end of September – beginning of October
St Mark’s summit is one of the best day hikes on Cypress Mountain. The meadows at the top turn red and orange making it one of my favorite hikes near Vancouver in September.
This hike is very popular, especially for sunset views over Howe Sound, but keep in mind that it’s still a moderate hike. So, you need to be prepared before you head into the backcountry. If you’re just getting into hiking, read my beginner’s guide on how to get ready for a hike and everything you should know.
3. Cheam Peak, Chilliwack
Distance: 8.7 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 679 m
Difficulty: moderate
Camping: No
Distance from Vancouver: about 2.5 hours drive
Best Time for Fall Colors: end of September – beginning of October
Cheam Peak is one of the most beautiful fall hikes near Vancouver and in the Lower Mainland. But getting there is half the adventure. In fact, the trailhead is only accessible by a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle and I wouldn’t recommend attempting the drive without one.
That said, if you’re up for a challenge, biking the rough forest service road to the trailhead takes about 2 hours. But you should be prepared for constant uphills.
In fall, the slopes of Cheam Peak burst into color, turning the alpine meadows into a vibrant tapestry of red, gold and orange. This is undoubtedly one of the most scenic fall hikes near Vancouver.
4. Elfin Lakes, Garibaldi
Distance: 22 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 800 m
Difficulty: moderate
Camping: Yes, at Elfin Lakes
Distance from Vancouver: about 1.5 hours drive
Best Time for Fall Colors: end of September – beginning of October
Elfin Lakes hike, located in Garibaldi Provincial Park, requires a day-use pass (Diamon Head) to access the trailhead. You can reserve a free pass starting at 7 am PST two days before your visit. Because this hike is very popular, I recommend being ready to book as soon as the passes are released. Don’t worry though, it’s not as competitive as Joffre Lakes!
In fall, the trail is lined with colorful meadows that reach their peak around the end of September. If the hike feels too long for a day trip, you can also spend a night camping at Elfin Lakes or at the shelter. But note that a separate reservation is required for camping.
Elfin Lakes is also one of my favorite winter hikes near Vancouver. When snow is deep, it’s a great snowshoeing trail but it can sometimes also be done with just crampons or snow spikes.
5. Elk Mountain, Chilliwack
Distance: 8.4 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 790 m
Difficulty: moderate
Camping: No
Distance from Vancouver: about 2 hours drive
Best Time for Fall Colors: end of September – beginning of October
The trail to Elk Mountain starts along a shaded forest path before climbing switchbacks to the summit. From the top, you’ll enjoy beautiful views over the Chilliwack River and the valley below.
During fall, the ridgeline offers stunning views of vibrant fall colors painting the mountain slopes. Due to its popularity, the parking lot gets crowded fast. When we went there was barely any parking left, so please keep it in mind before you go. I’d recommend arriving at the trailhead very early.
6. Lindeman Lake, Chilliwack
Distance: 3.5 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 220 m
Difficulty: easy – moderate
Camping: Yes, at Lindeman Lake
Distance from Vancouver: about 2.5 hours drive
Best Time for Fall Colors: end of September – beginning of October
Lindeman Lake is the only easy trail on this list, located near the Chilliwack Lake. In fact, it’s a relatively short hike to the lake, where you can enjoy beautiful fall foliage framing the emerald waters.
The trailhead to Lindeman Lake is also shared with Flora Peak and Greendrop Lake, giving you the flexibility to choose the one that best suits your interests as well as fitness level.
Note that there is usually no cell phone signal at the trailhead or at the lake. Camping is also possible at Lindeman Lake with a backcountry permit reservation. In fact, if you’re just getting into backcountry camping, Lindeman Lake is one of the easiest backpacking hikes near Vancouver.
7. Flora Peak, Chilliwack
Distance: 11 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,307 m
Difficulty: moderate – difficult
Camping: Yes, at Flora Lake or Flora Peak
Distance from Vancouver: about 2.5 hours drive
Best Time for Fall Colors: end of September – beginning of October
Flora Peak shares the same trailhead as Lindeman Lake but is a more challenging hike. While I’ve only hiked Flora Peak in summer, this trail is one of the most rewarding fall hikes near Vancouver.
You can decide to just do a day hike to Flora Peak or a backpacking trip. If you decide to stay overnight, get a backcountry permit reservation for Flora Lake or Flora Peak.
8. Mount Strachan, Cypress Mountain
Distance: 7 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 570 m
Difficulty: moderate – difficult
Camping: No
Distance from Vancouver: about 30 minutes drive
Best Time for Fall Colors: end of September – beginning of October
If you’re looking for a slightly more challenging hike on Cypress Mountain, Mount Strachan is a great alternative. The trail starts off along the same path as St. Mark’s Summit, but after crossing a wooden bridge, it continues to the right toward the summit and through a scrambly section leading up to the North Peak.
Mount Strachan has two peaks, but in my opinion, the North Peak offers the best views overlooking Howe Sound. In the fall, the area bursts into a stunning display of colorful alpine foliage, making it one of the easiest fall hikes to reach from Vancouver.
3 Fall Hikes in Washington State
1. Maple Pass, North Cascades National Park
Distance: 15 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 751 m
Difficulty: moderate
Camping: yes, off the main Maple Pass loop trail at Lewis Lake or Wing Lake
Distance from Vancouver: about 4 hours drive
Best Time for Fall Colors: beginning of October
North Cascades National Park is widely regarded as the best fall destination in Washington State. In fact, Maple Pass trail stands out as one of the most beautiful hikes in the area, offering spectacular views of alpine meadows and vibrant golden larches.
We drove from Vancouver over a long weekend and spent the night at Lewis Lake. Maple Pass in September is gorgeous when the wildflowers reach their peak. But if you’re staying overnight in the backcountry, keep in mind that it gets very cold at night.
2. Chain Lakes Loop, Mount Baker
Distance: 10 km round trip
Elevation Gain: 547 m
Difficulty: moderate
Backcountry Camping: yes, by the lakes along the trail
Distance from Vancouver: about 3 hours drive
Best Time for Fall Colors: end of September – beginning of October
Mount Baker is visible from Vancouver, but standing in front of it is truly an unforgettable experience. The Chain Lakes Loop is a fantastic year-round hike, but it’s in the fall when the alpine meadows burst with vibrant colors.
The drive to the trailhead at Artist Point is straightforward, ending at the top of Mount Baker Highway. On a sunny day, you’ll be rewarded with clear views of snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes as well as stunning fall foliage across the meadows.
3. Skyline Loop, Mount Rainier National Park
Distance: 9 km
Elevation Gain: 542 m
Difficulty: moderate
Backcountry Camping: not along the trail
Distance from Vancouver: about 4-5 hours drive
Best Time for Fall Colors: end of September – beginning of October
The Skyline Loop in Mount Rainier National Park is one of the farther fall hikes from Vancouver, but it’s worth including on this list. If you’re planning a long weekend or a short fall getaway, this hike offers spectacular views of colorful autumn foliage along with the chance to explore a national park.
We spent 3 days in Mount Rainier National Park and did the Skyline Loop on our first day there. I found the trail very easy to follow and well marked. The only caveat was finding a parking spot at the trailhead.
Bonus Hikes: Fall Hikes in the Canadian Rockies
If your goal is to experience valleys filled with golden larches, vivid fall colors and breathtaking mountain views, there’s no better place than the Canadian Rockies.
Though it’s a bit far from Vancouver, planning ahead makes it worth the trip. You can either go on a Western Canada road trip or fly to Calgary to shorten the drive in.
Banff, Kananaskis and Yoho offer some of the best fall hikes in the Canadian Rockies. If I were to choose the best fall hikes near Banff, I would opt for Healy Pass, Floe Lake, Larch Valley and Lake O’Hara.
If you want to visit Canada in summer or any other time of the year, read to my Canada travel guide for more inspiration and useful information.
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