Incline Trail and Whisky West Loop

Incline Trail and Whisky West Loop in Maple Ridge is a solid grind in Golden Ears Provincial Park if you want a workout more than a sightseeing tour. The loop is about 12.4 km with roughly 587 m of elevation gain, usually taking just over 4 hours at a steady pace. It’s rated moderate, but the steeper sections will get your heart rate up, especially if you’re not used to sustained climbing.

The loop links up with the Eric Dunning Trail area and winds through classic West Coast forest, with a mix of roots, rocks, and some wider old road sections. Views are more about quick lookouts than constant panoramas, but Memorial Lookout gives a nice angle over Alouette Lake, and Mike Lake near the end is a good spot to catch your breath or have a snack. You’ll share parts of the route with mountain bikers, so keep an ear out on the wider tracks.

Recent hikers on the Incline Trail and Whisky West Loop report that going counterclockwise brings a pretty intense climb early on, with a long, knee-testing descent later; many still prefer this direction to get the main grind done first. The trail is mostly well marked, but there are a few junctions where people have accidentally veered off, so having a GPS track on your phone is smart. Expect the best conditions from late winter through summer, watch for seasonal road closures to the trailhead in Golden Ears, and bring poles if your knees complain on long downhills.