Hoover Lake Loop

Hoover Lake Loop in Mission, BC is one of those hikes that looks simple on paper and ends up sticking with you. It’s a 10.1 km loop with about 451 m of gain, mostly on forest service road, rated moderate and usually done in around three and a half hours. The payoff comes from the combo of quiet logging road, a calm lake, and the Hoover Bluff viewpoints if you’re willing to poke around a bit.

The first couple of kilometres on the FSR are wide, rocky, and straightforward, with a steady grind uphill and open, sunny stretches that can feel hot and dusty on a clear day. Once you cut into the Hoover Lake trail, it gets more interesting: shaded forest, a rougher path around the lake, and side trails that lead to viewpoints over Stave Lake and the bluff. The forest sections feel more like a true hike, with mushrooms, berries, and a more remote vibe than the road suggests.

Recent hikers say the loop around Hoover Lake and the route to Hoover Bluff can be confusing, with faint flagging, downed trees, and overgrown sections, so download a map and be ready to backtrack. In wet or shoulder seasons, expect heavy, sloppy snow higher up and some soggy patches, but the road itself usually stays manageable. Check Mission’s forestry trail updates for any closures, bring bug spray in warmer months, and if you don’t want this to feel like “just an FSR walk,” make sure you find the turnoffs to the lake, the spit, and the bluff viewpoints—those are what make Hoover Lake Loop worth the effort.