Winter blues? Never heard of them! With its crisp temperate climate, sunny skies and snow in all the places that you want it, Winter can be one of the best times to visit and explore Vancouver’s North Shore. When you North Shore Like a Local, “hibernation” is not in your vocabulary. Here are just a few ways to enjoy the cooler months on Vancouver’s North Shore.
The North Shore’s most popular attraction is ready-made for adventurers. In addition to great fun on the swinging bridge and traipsing through the treetops at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, the whole family can join the Rainforest Explorers Program, a self-guided interactive tour. Winter is a time to see the park like no other time of the year, lit up with twinkling lights and illuminated displays throughout, as part of Canyon Lights in January and Love Lights in February.
The North Shore is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the province, not to mention accessible. And all of its three mountains are just minutes from downtown Vancouver. Mt. Seymour has 39 trails, and five lifts over 200 acres, and Grouse Mountain has the area’s most extensive snow-making system in place that promises a great run any time of the season. At Cypress Mountain, the majority of runs are classified as beginner or intermediate, and boasts Canada’s most popular cross-country skiing area, making for a perfect ski day for the whole family.
All three mountains also offer the chance to slow down and truly appreciate the majestic beauty of an alpine winter on scenic snowshoe trails. But don’t just take our word for it. Two of the top 10 snowshoe resorts in all of North America are right here. Mt Seymour was rated #1, and Grouse Mountain was rated the #9 snowshoe resort in North America by Snowshoe Magazine.
Each mountain has dedicated snow tubing and tobogganing areas for those who maybe aren’t ready for skis or boards, or just prefer to fly by the seat of their pants.
But you don’t need to get into the white stuff to enjoy the North Shore Mountains. A variety of hiking trails for all skill levels crisscross the North Shore, from seaside strolls to the urban wilderness to mountaintops with incredible views. Some highlights include the Lynn Valley Loop beside the rushing waters of Lynn Creek, the Norvan Falls trail to a spectacular forest waterfall and Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver with its winding trails along the Pacific Ocean.
Outdoor skating doesn’t get much prettier than on the North Shore. Whether you’re making the rounds at Shipyards Commons’ skate plaza against the spectacular views across the water of Vancouver, or high above it all on Grouse Mountain’s 8,000-square-foot frozen pond, the beauty of the West Coast is always on full display.
Biking remains one of the North Shore’s preeminent activities all year round. Rain or shine, cycling along the North Shore Spirit Trail is an awe-inspiring ride alongside the water and through lush greenways, decked out with enchanting public art all along the way. Or take it up into the trees along the paved Seymour Valley Trailway through a majestic sylvan conservation reserve.
But not all of the fun is found out in the elements! For those “inside days,”check out one of the many art galleries and museums on Vancouver’s North Shore, or fashion your own culture crawl through a few of them. You’ll find the latest shows from international artists alongside fascinating Indigenous exhibitions from local artists that tell the stories of the North Shore. Many programs at galleries and museums are interactive and educational so you can Learn Like a Local while you’re having your fun.
With so much to see and do on Vancouver’s North Shore, you’re bound to work up an appetite. To satisfy whatever particular craving is calling, take a walk through The Quay Market and Food Hall, where you’ll find a smorgasbord of restaurants, food stalls and freshly-made treats among its local vendors.
Vancouver’s North Shore remains committed to staying accessible to all visitors, and many of the above winter activities are complemented by the Neurodivergent Travel Program which features adapted experiences for neurodivergent visitors, as well as the Neurodrivers Sensory Backpack Loan Program.
Exclusive hotel packages are available in the Winter months so you can stay a few days and not miss a thing. There’s a room for every type of traveller on any budget.
And while you’re making your plans, don’t forget to take the pledge to North Shore Like a Local while you’re here, and together we can make sure all the beauty and magic of Vancouver’s North Shore is preserved for all the seasons yet to come.
