Cove Runner, Rain Dancer and Boundary Trail Loop

Cove Runner, Rain Dancer and Boundary Trail Loop in North Vancouver is a great option if you want a longer, easy forest walk without grinding up huge climbs. The loop is about 7.9 km with 323 m of gain, topping out around 290 m, and most people are taking closer to 3 hours than the listed 2.5. It’s officially rated easy, but the distance, slick roots, and route-finding make it feel like the “long walk” version of an easy hike.

The loop weaves through classic North Vancouver rainforest, with soft dirt, mossy logs, and a mix of old growth and second growth trees. You’ll cross several streams and hand-built log bridges, and after rain some sections basically turn into shallow creeks, so expect a bit of hopscotch. Parts of the route run close enough to the road and highway that you’ll hear traffic, but there are still long, quiet stretches, and the rocky lookout with views toward Quarry Rock, Burrard Inlet, and Fisherman’s Bluff is a solid payoff.

Recent hikers report very slippery conditions when wet and, in winter, sections of serious ice, so traction and careful footing matter on Cove Runner, Rain Dancer and Boundary Trail Loop. The trails are unmarked with lots of intersecting mountain bike routes, so keep the AllTrails map open at each junction to avoid accidental detours. Expect around 3 hours at a steady pace, more if you’re slower or stopping often, and check local signage for seasonal 3‑hour street parking limits near Cliffwood Road from May to October; this loop runs year-round, but it’s most straightforward once the ice is gone and after a few drier days.