Tunnel Bluffs from Lions Bay

Tunnel Bluffs from Lions Bay is the classic “earn your view” hike above Lions Bay in West Vancouver, and it lives up to the hype. This 11.3 km out-and-back gains about 533 m, tops out around 694 m, and usually takes just under 4 hours, but strong hikers often move faster. The draw is simple: a straightforward grind, then a mellow cruise, then a huge payoff over Howe Sound.

The Tunnel Bluffs trail from Lions Bay feels like two different hikes. The first 2 km are a steep slog on a wide gravel/service road that hits most of the elevation quickly and can be tough on knees, especially on the way down. After that, it flattens into an easy forest walk with a couple of log bridges, small stream crossings, and then a short rocky scramble to the bluff, where the views over Lions Bay, the islands, and the Sea to Sky highway are the clear highlight.

Right now the trail is in good shape, with upgraded porta-potties and clear signs near the parking, but parking itself is the real headache; arrive early, expect to pay, or use the school lot and add a bit of distance. The first section can be slick with leaves, ice, or mud in late fall and winter, and the log bridges and rocky bits reward proper hiking shoes with good grip. This route is busy for sunrise and sunset, gets dark fast in shoulder seasons, and sadly there’s been a lot of garbage at the viewpoint, so pack out everything, including food scraps and toilet paper, and help keep Tunnel Bluffs from Lions Bay worth returning to.