Hollyburn Mountain Lower Loop

Hollyburn Mountain Lower Loop in West Vancouver is a solid choice if you want a moderate hike with lots of variety and a quieter feel than the main Hollyburn summit route. At about 8.9 km with 421 m of gain and a high point around 947 m, it’s a steady workout but very doable in roughly three hours for most hikers. The loop format keeps things interesting and means you’re rarely backtracking.

On the trail you move through classic North Shore forest, pass three small lakes, and detour to the massive Hollyburn Fir, which is a clear highlight. The route also wanders by old cabins and the Hollyburn Lodge area, giving it a bit of local history flavor instead of just trees and roots. Views are more about forest, water, and atmosphere than big sweeping vistas, but the changing terrain and features keep it engaging the whole way.

Recent hikers say this loop is best done counterclockwise and strongly recommend avoiding the Jersey Shore mountain bike trail, which is signed for bikes only and can be fast and sketchy on foot. Instead, use the nearby Old Forks Trail, which runs parallel and is approved for hiking; download a map and double-check junctions so you can make that swap. Expect some gravel road sections and not much smooth running, and in colder months there can be packed snow and ice, so microspikes or crampons are smart and you should budget extra time. Seasonally, Hollyburn Mountain Lower Loop is usually most straightforward from summer into late fall, with winter and shoulder seasons feeling more like a light mountaineering outing than a casual forest walk.