Cabin Lake Trail

Cabin Lake Trail in West Vancouver starts right from Cypress Mountain and wastes no time heading uphill. Over 5 km with about 334 m of gain to roughly 1212 m, it’s a short, steady grind that most people wrap up in around two hours. The payoff is a clear, swimmable alpine lake and optional side trips toward the Black Mountain peaks if you’ve still got gas in the tank.

The route is an out-and-back on a wide gravel road to start, then shifts into steeper, rougher singletrack with roots, rock steps, and some slick sections on the loop near the top. Views open up to ponds, small tarns, and, if you push toward the North Peak of Black Mountain, big panoramas over the North Shore mountains. Cabin Lake itself is the star: clear water, rock slabs to lounge on, and a shallow “beach” area that turns into a social swimming spot on hot days.

Current reports for the Cabin Lake Trail say to expect loose rock, dust, and a lot of direct sun on the lower gravel sections in summer, so bring solid hiking shoes or boots, poles for the descent, and plenty of water. In July and August, bugs can be intense, so pack spray; in winter and early spring, this becomes a proper snow route that needs spikes or snowshoes. Fall, especially October, is a sweet spot with cooler temps and fewer crowds, and if you don’t feel like hiking both ways, Cypress offers a summer chairlift option via Eagle Express to save your knees on the descent.