Well, it is that time of year again, where I do a recap of all the local hikes we did in 2024! As a reminder, “local” means the start of the trailhead is within a 2-hour drive from home.
A quick note that all my references to trail length and elevation are from the AllTrails app, cross-referenced with the statistics from my Apple Watch. If you do not already have the AllTrails app, I would definitely recommend downloading it, as it is great for discovering trails in areas you are visiting, and you can download offline maps to use when you do not have cell service.
Make sure to also check out my Local Hikes of 2022 and Local Hikes of 2023 blog posts for more hiking inspiration!
Lindeman Lake Trail, Chilliwack – July 2024
When we were deciding what trail to do, we settled on the Lindeman Lake Trail due to its length and tree coverage. The day we had picked for this hike was expected to be quite warm (over 30°C), and we had 3 dogs with us, which is why we were looking for a short trail that offered shade. We started the hike at 8am (which meant I had to get up at 5am… ouch!), and we were done around 10am in order to beat the heat. I would definitely recommend starting the hike at this hour or earlier, regardless of the weather, as the trailhead parking is small and fills up quickly.
This out-and-back trail is 3.4km round trip, and I would classify it as moderately difficult due to the large rocks and tree roots you have to navigate at the start (and end) of the trail. Overall, we really enjoyed this hike – Lindeman Lake is stunning, and it offers a fun and relaxing atmosphere with many people camping in the forest along the trail, and swimming and paddle boarding on the Lake.
Cheam Peak, Chilliwack – August 2024
Cheam Peak has been on my bucket list of hikes for several years now. However, the road to get to the trailhead is only accessible with a 4×4 vehicle, which we do not have, and when we tried to coordinate going in the past, the dates we had picked were impacted by wildfire smoke.
But, 2024 was the year we were finally able to do this amazing hike, and we owe a big thank you to our friends Josh and Jess for driving us! While Google Maps will tell you that the road up the mountain to the trailhead is only 30 minutes, it is actually closer to an hour, as you have to drive very slowly and carefully through the cross ditches – hang on tight!
Cheam Peak is an 8.7km out-and-back trail, and has an elevation gain of 679m. Fortunately, the switchbacks make the elevation gain more tolerable, but there is very little shade along this trail – it is definitely recommended to start early. An early start has other benefits, as well – parking is a premium at the trailhead, and as the temperature increased during our hike, so did the bugs!
Overall, Cheam Peak is probably the nicest hike I have ever done – you are surrounded by wildflowers, beautiful meadows, and views of Mount Baker for the entire duration of the trail. Once you reach the top, you are rewarded with 360° views of the Fraser Valley – on a clear day, you can see Chilliwack, Harrison Lake, the Fraser River, Cultus Lake and more. It was also very cool to see people paragliding near the peak. This trail is a must see!
Grouse Grind Trail, Vancouver (Grouse Mountain) – August 2024
The Grouse Grind Trail, otherwise known as Mother Nature’s Stair Master, is likely not the most enjoyable hike, but it is definitely a trail you should attempt at least once. It is a one-way trail that is 2.5km in length, and has an 800m elevation gain. Hikers cannot go down the Grouse Grind Trail – they must purchase a gondola pass to return to the parking lot.
I have done the Ground Grind a handful of times in the past, but this was my most successful attempt with a time of 46-minutes and 11 seconds. Somehow, I found the energy to sprint up the last rock scramble, beating Justin by at least 3 seconds – I will make sure he does not forget it, too ツ.
While there are no views along the trail, I feel the views of Vancouver at the top are definitely more rewarding if you hike to them rather than taking the gondola (although I realize this is not an option for everyone). There are many activities you can do at the top of Grouse Mountain such as visiting the Chalet, seeing the Lumberjack Show, and seeing the Refuge for Endangered Wildlife. Following our hike, we paid a quick visit to the wildlife refuge to see the Grizzly Bears, Grinder and Coola, before heading back down the Mountain.
Saint Mark’s Summit, West Vancouver (Cypress Mountain) – August 2024
Saint Mark’s Summit is a 10km hike located on Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver. While we picked an overcast day to do this hike, but were hoping that with a later start (10am), the weather would clear up; however, our views at the top were completely cloud covered – we were very disappointed!
I would consider the hike, itself, to be more challenging due to the length, elevation gain (567m) and the exposed roots along the trail. I would strongly recommend hiking poles if you have them, especially on the way down – we witnessed a couple of bad falls. This hike was also very busy – similar to the other hikes, definitely try to get an early start, and try to go on a clear day!
Teapot Hill, Chilliwack – August 2024
As the name suggests, there are actual teacups and teapots hidden throughout the entire Teapot Hill Trail, making for a fun scavenger hunt throughout the hike! Overall, this is a fairly easy to moderate out-and-back trail (under 5km in length, and 255m in elevation gain) with views of the Fraser Valley at the end. We decided to do this hike last minute after a rain storm – it made for a leisurely afternoon stroll, since it only took us 1.5-hours to complete.
Norvan Falls, North Vancouver – September 2024
Similar to Cheam Peak, we have been talking about doing the Norvan Falls trail for the last couple of years – 2024 was the year we finally checked it off the list!
While Norvan Falls is rated as moderate on AllTrails, what made it challenging was the length – it is 14km long and took us around 3.5-hours to complete. This was a great hike for us to do on a warmer day, as the trail offers generous shade and tree coverage. We enjoyed walking amongst the luscious greenery and along the Lynn Valley Creek before getting to the major attraction – the 30m waterfall at the end. The waterfall area is a great spot to enjoy lunch or a snack, and to take a break before getting back on the trail.
Eagle Bluffs via Black Mountain Trail, West Vancouver (Cypress Mountain) – September 2024
If you have been following my blog over the last couple of years, you will know that we have previously completed the Eagle Bluffs Trail – this was actually my third time doing the hike. However, it was a great reminder of just how beautiful this hike is – it has multiple viewpoints along the way, passes many small lakes, and provides stunning views of West Vancouver at the end.
In case you need the reminder, this trail is just under 8km long and has an elevation gain of 437m. Most of the incline is at the start of the trail, which means you get the hard part out of the way early, and can enjoy the rest of the hike. With that being said, I would definitely recommend bringing hiking poles for this trail – they are especially helpful on the way back, as the steep incline contains loose rock and gravel, and can be quite slippery.
Jack’s Trail, Four Lake’s Trail and 50 Shades of Green Trail, Squamish – September 2024
Back in September, my friend Jeanette took us on an adventure through a network of trails in Squamish. We completed an 11km loop in 2.5-hours that touched three different trails: Jack’s Trail, Four Lake’s Trail and the 50 Shades of Green Trail. We passed multiple lakes on this trail, one of which was Alice Lake – another location I have been wanting to visit. Overall, we very much enjoyed exploring these multiple trails in Squamish.
Nairn Falls Trail, Pemberton – October 2024
Last but not least for our 2024 hikes was the Nairn Falls Trail. This Trail is technically 2.5-hours away from home, but I wanted to make sure it was included in this list! We had planned a day trip to Pemberton that day, as one of our favourite restaurants (The HWY. Cafe) was closing down, and we wanted to fit in one last visit. On our way back, we made an impromptu stop at Nairn Falls to complete this short, scenic trail. You will walk along the Green River for a little under 1.5km (one way) before reaching the waterfall. The entire hike takes under an hour to complete, making it easy to fit into your itinerary when visiting the Pemberton area.
Well, I think that covers all the hiking we did in 2024! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and I want to wish you all the best in 2025! Thank you so much for continuing to support my blog this year, and I hope you will enjoy reading the blog posts I have planned for 2025!
Always grateful,
Michelle
Exploring With Gratitude 