There are plenty of moderately challenging Vancouver hiking trails to choose from. These are five trails that stand out from the rest. Not too difficult, yet all have sensational views. Hollyburn, Dog Mountain and Mt Seymour are at the end of beautiful drives to reach the trailheads.
The Goldie Lake Trail in Mount Seymour Provincial Park is a cute, self-guided interpretive trail that runs around this small mountain lake. Although it is less than 4 kilometres for the normal loop trail, there are some side-trail variations that can lengthen and vary the route to almost 6 kilometres. Flower Lake is one of these trails and well worth the look.
Certainly one of the more family friendly hikes on in Mount Seymour Park when compared to the more rigorous hikes like the nearby Mount Seymour and Mount Elsay hikes. Though not nearly as pretty as Mystery Lake, Goldie Lake is often quite beautiful. If you are hoping for a swim in an alpine lake then Mystery Lake, also in Mount Seymour Park is the best bet and also family friendly at just 3 kilometres for the roundtrip hike. The trailhead is easy to find once you have reached the main parking lot to Mount Seymour Resort. A nice trail links both lakes so they can be combined into a nice circle route. If you plan to hike both, it is a good idea to hike to Mystery Lake, then follow the trail past the lake as it abruptly descends through a deep forest that emerges quite suddenly at Goldie Lake. Not the easiest connecting trail and early in the summer it will have patches of snow that make it hard to not get lost. The steepness on some sections and the fact that most hikers don't realize there is a great, connecting trail between the lakes means almost everyone misses it. Goldie Lake is a nice, relaxing and like other trails in Seymour Provincial Park, it is very dog friendly. Mystery Lake tends to be the more popular trail, so you will often find the trail to Goldie Lake quiet by comparison.
Mount Seymour Hiking Trails
The trails on Seymour are very popular in the summer, especially on weekends. If you can manage a day off work to head up there on a mid-week day, you might have the lakes to yourself.. if you are lucky. Mystery Lake is a fun lake for a lovely alpine swim, but you will be disappointed if you are hoping for a swim early in the summer. It is not unusual to find the lakes partially iced over well into June or even early July after particularly snowy winters.
Mount Seymour's Mystery Peak Live Webcam
Trailhead Directions to Goldie Lake
From Highway #1 (Trans-Canada Highway) take Exit #22 Mount Seymour Parkway. Turn right onto Mount Seymour Parkway almost immediately and follow it 4.4 km before turning left onto Mount Seymour Road. Follow Mount Seymour Road as it winds it's way up the mountain. Drive to the end of the large parking lot at the end of the road. Start at the Mount Seymour Trail kiosk, to the left of the Mystery Peak chairlift. Parking is free and there are no trail fees in Mount Seymour Provincial Park.
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The Goldie Lake Trail in Mount Seymour Provincial Park is a cute, self-guided interpretive trail that runs around this small mountain lake. Although it is less than 4 kilometres for the normal loop trail, there are some side-trail variations that can lengthen and vary the route to almost 6 kilometres. Flower Lake is one of these trails and well worth the look.
Nice trail through a pretty forest
Goldie Lake is not terribly impressive
Black Mountain 
Brunswick Mountain 
Burnaby Lake 
Burnaby Mountain 
Goat Mountain 
Grouse 
Mt Hanover 
Rice Lake 
From Highway #1 (Trans-Canada Highway) take Exit #22 Mount Seymour Parkway. Turn right onto Mount Seymour Parkway almost immediately and follow it 4.4 km before turning left onto Mount Seymour Road. Follow Mount Seymour Road as it winds it's way up the mountain. Drive to the end of the large parking lot at the end of the road. Start at the Mount Seymour Trail kiosk, to the left of the Mystery Peak chairlift. Parking is free and there are no trail fees in Mount Seymour Provincial Park.
