Admiralty Trail - East Canyon - West Canyon

Admiralty Trail – East Canyon – West Canyon is one of those easy wins on Vancouver’s North Shore: short, flat, and loaded with big-water views for very little effort. This 3.5 km loop in Cates Park / Whey-ah-Wichen tops out around 74 m with only 87 m of gain, so it feels more like a relaxed coastal walk than a hike, and most people finish it in under an hour.

The loop winds through a mix of forest and shoreline, with stretches that open up to Admiralty Inlet, Burrard Inlet, and the busy shipping lanes. You’ll spot container ships sliding by, mountain backdrops on a clear day, and calm pockets of beach where you can linger. The path is wide, well-marked, and family friendly, with the Spanish Trail staircase of roughly 175 steps being the only section that gets your heart rate up.

Recent visitors mention lots of off-leash dogs, so be ready for a social scene if you’re bringing kids or your own pup. The Admiralty Trail – East Canyon – West Canyon loop stays in good shape year-round, with the forest keeping things cool in summer and the gravel paths handling most of the winter rain, though it can get slick after a storm. Aim for weekday mornings if you want it quieter, and bring a light layer because the breeze off the inlet can feel cooler than it looks from the parking lot.