Boundary and Old Buck Trail Loop

Boundary and Old Buck Trail Loop in North Vancouver is a solid go-to if you want an easy loop with a bit of a workout but nothing extreme. At about 5.5 km with 226 m of gain and a high point around 349 m, it usually takes around 1 hour 45 minutes at a relaxed pace. It’s a nice option for cooler or rainy days when the higher mountains are socked in or icy.

You start from the Old Buck parking lot, cross the road, and pick up the Boundary Trail for a steady, easy climb. The first half is more interesting: softer forest singletrack, roots, rocks, rolling terrain, and big trees with good fall colours in season. The loop then drops back down on Old Buck, which is a wide, smooth gravel path that feels almost too simple, but it makes for a fast, brain-off descent back to the car.

Recent hikers say the Boundary section of the Boundary and Old Buck Trail Loop is poorly marked, with lots of side trails and a few confusing junctions, so downloading the AllTrails map and checking it often is important, especially when cell service drops. Expect a good cardio push on the way up, but nothing steep, and generally decent footing that isn’t overly muddy, even after rain. This loop is mixed-use with bikes, open year-round, and works best in fall, winter, and early spring when you want a lower-elevation forest hike that’s close to town and easy to fit into a morning.