Lighthouse Park Viewpoint Loop

Lighthouse Park Viewpoint Loop may be listed as “easy,” but on the ground it feels more like a solid moderate workout. This 5.5 km loop in Lighthouse Park near West Vancouver (often confused with Bowen Island) winds around the rocky coastline, topping out around 114 m with about 247 m of total elevation gain. Plan on around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2.5 hours if you’re stopping for photos, and you will want to stop for photos.

The loop strings together classic Lighthouse Park viewpoints like Juniper Point, East Beach, and the lighthouse lookout, with glimpses of the Point Atkinson Lighthouse and the Vancouver skyline through the trees. The terrain changes constantly: smooth gravel, rooty singletrack, rocky steps, and short, punchy ups and downs that keep your legs honest. Views come in waves along the shore, with ocean, freighters, and mountain backdrops stealing the show more than the partly obscured lighthouse itself.

Recent hikers report “slippy,” “greasy,” and “streams instead of paths” after rain, so treat this as a wet-coast trail and bring proper hiking footwear and rain gear, especially in fall and winter. Expect mud, slick roots, and wet rock, and don’t rely on every fork being perfectly signed; having a map app helps you avoid veering off your intended loop, though there are plenty of shortcuts back to the parking lot if you’re tired or it’s getting dark. The Lighthouse Park Viewpoint Loop is dog friendly in theory, but on busy sunny days there can be off-leash chaos, so keep your dog under control and your expectations realistic, and aim for early mornings or rainy days if you prefer it quiet and easier parking.