Salish Trail - Admiralty Trail - West Canyon

Salish Trail – Admiralty Trail – West Canyon is one of those Vancouver loops that feels way more “wild” than the stats suggest. At 7.4 km with only about 109 m of gain and a max elevation around 99 m, it’s a very easy loop that most people finish in under two hours. You get a relaxed forest walk, sea views, and a legit beach option without ever really leaving the city.

The route rolls through tall trees with a canopy over most of the trail, so it stays shaded and calm, even on hot or drizzly days. Midway along the Salish Trail you pop out to views of the water, mountains, and some very nice West Side homes, and many people extend to Spanish Banks or the beach on the north side for a better ocean fix. It’s a fun one for bird nerds too; bring the Merlin app and you’ll pick up a surprising number of species along the way.

Right now, people describe the loop as easy, quiet, and well signed, with only a couple of low-traffic road crossings to pay attention to. Surfaces are mostly smooth and flat, though after rain or snow there can be muddy and slippery patches, so proper shoes or light boots help, especially in winter. There’s a bathroom at the start and another roughly halfway, parking near the trailhead is usually time-limited to two hours, and the Salish Trail – Admiralty Trail – West Canyon loop is well served by Vancouver bus routes if you’d rather skip the car and just enjoy a mellow walk or trail run to the beach.