Mt Seymour

First time here and we had a great time. We are not the most experienced skiers but we enjoyed the various green then blue runs. Staff were friendly and helpful throughout the day. The grill made a pretty darn good chicken burger for the price. Views from the top of the chairlift were amazing with the sun showing up periodically as the clouds blew by and the sunset was amazing! We will be back!

Avoid, If you looking for a place to take your furry friend for a good exercise and run. Dogs have to be on the leash all the time, even while hiking on the mountain. Rangers are hunting dog owners who grant their family members a bit of freedom and fine them on the spot. I felt like I have a monster on the leash…

I love snowboarding and I have to say out of all the mountains Mt. Seymour would be the disappointing one. They don’t have challenging runs or many runs compared to its competitor. Only thing i like is that every year they do Monday as ladies night. Which means ladies pay $ 5 or free to go in. But I have never done ladies night because it is a Monday and I am always busy on Mondays
Came here snowshoeing with a friend. It was fun but we went more than half way and we saw a avalache warning sign and had to turn back because we were not equipped. There is not much to see in the snowshoe trail.
But the good part is that because we came when 1 of the trail was closed, they gave us a 10% discount and we didn’t even have to ask for it.
I rented my snowshoe from them and the right feet wasn’t working properly. it kept on coming loose. As well, when I got my pass they didn’t tell me where I can get the hook to hook my day pass onto my jacket. So i ended up randomly sticking it somewhere.

Mt Seymour has excellent views of the city on a clear sunny day. You can also see heavily snow covered trees reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss world.
I think the mountain could do better on its snowshoe rental procedure. Today, it seemed as if they were understaffed (but that could be because it was the day of New Year’s Eve). I went in just after 2:30 to rent snowshoes just till 4:00, when they close. I had to pay for a rental & trail pass at almost full price $ 26. They didn’t offer the option of snowshoe rentals without the trail pass. One trail is free to use, and since my friend had her own snowshoes, we planned to walk the free trail. Nonetheless, I still had to pay for a trail pass I didn’t use.
I recommend going to this mountain for its great location, trails and views. If skiing, it is worth your while for a day or evening. I’ve tried some green & blue runs here. If snowshoeing, it’s better to bring your own pair & walk the free trail. Otherwise, make sure you come early enough to make your rental & pass worth the cost.

Loved Dog Mountain. Went with my hubby and our two dogs for a snow shoe. All said it is about a two hour round trip with a switch back after some amazing scenery! Signs say dogs on leash but seems most are off leash. It would be very challenging to walk with them On leash and snow shoe… path is narrow in places. View of Vancouver on a clear day is stunning! I would rate the hike in snow shoes as moderate. Some mild elevation throughout.

Dog Mtn. Not an easy hike despite what is mentioned on a lot of sites as the ground is uneven with roots and rocks. Really its not a big deal until you get the the last km of the hike. When you’re a little more tired it feels a tad more treacherous.
Shoes particularly hiking boots should be used. There are some sharp rocks and sharp roots en route.
Bring bug spray, water and a snack to enjoy when you get to the viewpoint. A snack for the whiskey jacks would be a good idea to… they eat out of your hands.
I would rate this hike as just under intermediate.
Very crowded on the weekend. We’re going to try a weekday next time.
A few cons but the pros outweigh the bad. Beautiful view, great exercise and close to vancouver.

Several websites have listed the Mount Seymour hike (to the peak) as one of the «top ten» around Vancouver for SPECTACULAR, panoramic scenery of the lower mainland. It also listed the hike as «Intermediate» in difficulty. Having lived in Vancouver for 20 years and being a pretty experienced hiker, from the descript, I expected the vistas to knock me out of my hiking boots and onto my flat sorry excuse for an Asian ass.
My formula for a good hike is simple — the beauty of the hike should meet or exceed my exertion level on the hike. Sorry, but I’m just selfish that way. Nothing pisses me off more than scrambling over boulders and rock faces, tripping over big tree roots, dehydrating in the searing heat without little opportunity for shade, sliding down slope after mountain of loose rocks, only to be met with pond after puddle of standing, muddy water that resembles a hippopotamus’ wet dream of a mud hole, or sewage plant run off.
The trail starts off innocently enough — on the easy side of moderate with moderate elevation punctuated by small snippets of sharper climbs. The terrain is also do-​able — some larger and loose rocks. Dried-​up creek beds are covered with little wooden bridge-​ettes, which are all in good shape. A section of loose rock is even kept under control with some wire fencing. The trail is also well-​maintained, cleared of foliage, with markers EVERYWHERE. You’d have to be an idiot-​and-​a-​half to get hopelessly lost (and I’m the idiot to prove it). It’s as if the trail maintenance people could read my mind — every time I thought, «Hey, where the @#*$&# am I?» another little orange marker or blue-​felt tipped sign appears on a rock or a tree. I did this hike as a clueless and directionless woman and did not get lost once.
The trail is 9 km roundtrip with 450m elevation gain. For the first 2 km or so, the hike is… how shall I put this — as boring as the top of Donald Trump’s pasty bald head. (His toupee is much more enthralling.) With some Pacific Northwest hikes you can enjoy the stately evergreens flanking either side of the trail, wildflowers, or even berry bushes to munch on. Nothing like that here. Trail is mostly exposed and full of rocks and boulders, with the occasional tree root thrown in for good measure. Each step may also be a good climb up, sometimes requiring steady pacing or even hands. Despite this being one of the driest summers, the dirt on the ground was also curiously damp.
At about 2.5km to 3.0km into the trail, the trail markers start getting spotty. This is unfortunate, as this is where the trail really gets down to business. Endless climbs then dips requiring very careful foot placement. Don’t be lulled by the scant 450m gain, because this is a NET GAIN. There is a lot of unnecessary ups and downs on this trail. Did you hear a woman cursing up and down the Seymour trail on Thursday, July 30, then proclaim, «Bears, take me now! Serenity now!» That was me.
There are two peaks before reaching Seymour — ones which overlook Indian Arm and the lower mainland — and both are are welcomed sight, especially compared to the bland rice cake boredom of the first 2kms. However — nothing to tip it off the scale of wowness for me. After the second peak and before Seymour a big sign tells you that things are going to get hairy after this point. By this they mean big boulders, narrow rocky paths that drop off on the other side. In dry weather, they were fine, but I could imagine that, in the rain and slick, this hike could be hell.
I brought my 5lb (2.72kgs) DSLR and took less than 5 pictures, and this is an indication of how bland the hike was for me. If you’re from a country where ISIS is a constant feature in your life, this hike will seem out-​of-​this-​world for you. My memories are shin splints in both legs and thigh muscles which are sore even two days later. If you go, bring plenty of water (unless you want to get dysentery by venturing to drink from the puddles), have good hiking boots with stable ankle support. This is not mentioned in any of the sites I found online. This is a good workout, but so is the Marine Corps training program… and you get to meet a lot of cute guys in the Marine Corps, but I was the only one on the hike for most of the way up at 10am.

I concur that this is not a trail that I would attempt again. I had visions of beautiful lakes and solitude walking on a nice path to a view at the end. What I found was there were too many people to enjoy the hike and there were too many roots on the trail. The lake was more like a pond and had brown water. I wore my bathing suit thinking that I could swim but those waters were definitely not appealing. The view at the top was nice but not worth the toil in my opinion. Definitely wouldn’t want to do this hike if it had rained recently since it’s a lot of up and down with so many roots and rocks.

The parking lot is not well organized. Whomever drew the parking lot plans should be fired because it does not maximize space whatsoever. Also, there aren’t actual full lines on the ground. There’s two small marks at the bottom of each spot and the middle (where two cars butt up against each other) is defined by a long solid line. There is just SO MUCH wasted space in the parking lot. I bet if they had better organized this lot like Cypress, Grouse etc, they’d get more hikers (in the summer) and skiiers and snowshoe-​ers in the winter.
There simply aren’t enough garbage cans. I know that there’s bears and wildlife but other parks have bear proof/​resistant garbage cans. There were literally just two at the start of the trail. We walked all the way from the rentals (and first building) to locate it by the trail head. Way to encourage littering!
I am not a huge hiker or very experienced but this hike sucked in more than one way:
1. There really isn’t much of a view until you get to the end (I never made it to the end because of an accident, so I’m saying this because others have said there’s a view at the end).
2. The «lake» halfway to Dog Mountain is tiny. It’s definitely nothing picturesque.
3. The gravel packed down path lasted about 5 – 10 minutes tops. The rest of the trail was just «hope you don’t slip» mud, roots, more roots, and oh you guessed it… roots! It definitely was a pretty easy hike compared to others I’ve done (even Quarry Rock was more difficult elevation gain and up and down throughout the trail wise). But the lack of maintenance on the trail meant it was a nightmare and trip hazard especially when it’s damp/​moist/​wet/​muddy. Some sections of the trails are quite narrow so you would need to step aside so people can pass and vice versa.
4. Perhaps because of the reputation that this is an easy-​peasy (on the lungs and for those who smoke, and/​or those who never/​rarely exercise), it has a disproportionate amount of people with extremely poor trail etiquette. People would try to pass you without saying anything. Tons of people keep their eyes down or pretend you don’t exist and can’t even muster a «hi» when passing. No one is asking for a long conversation or an overshare of any life story but it’s common courtesy just to say hi, especially when someone else has already initiated the friendly hello. Just say hi. How effing hard is that? Also, I saw one guy actually rush to get in front and just literally jumped in front of people trying to get past. I understand that we’re all trying to get some exercise or get our nature on, but there’s no need to be rude, unsafe, unfriendly or just lacking in common sense.
5. Dogs. I have a dog and I had my dog with me. She has great trail etiquette. I also pick up after her poop because it’s what expected of dog owners. But I did see several turds throughout the hike which annoyed me. Also, expect to have a bunch of pricks with their untrained, rude dogs off leash. I understand we all illegally let our dogs off leash, but at least have a well behaved dog when you do that. Otherwise it’s a risk to hikers and other dogs on the trail. If your dog bulldozes people, it belongs on leash or NOT on a hike at all. If your dog likes to bite or can’t stop barking at anyone that’s not familiar, your dog shouldn’t be on the trail.
The reason this gets 2 stars is:
1 star for free parking and easy accessibility (straight up Mt. Seymour and it’s the end of the line. Difficult to get lost to get to this location unless you’re not very bright).
1 star for the fact it’s an easy trail athleticism wise. But if we were rating it 1 – 5 for just the trail itself, I’d give it a 1 for the reasons above.
When there’s so many better hikes in Metro Vancouver, this is one I’d happily skip and never return to. It’s just not worth it because of the people, the lack of a view (at least there’s peek-​a-​boo views throughout the hike on many trails), the lack of a workout (as in it doesn’t beat you up like other hikes like Eagle Bluff or St. Mark’s). It’s easier than Quarry Rock… and for a lazy turd like myself… that’s sayin’ a lot!

This was one of the worst trails I found on the North Shore (and I lived here for more than 10 years, and I adore the surroundings).
As the. hidden reviewer said (?!), this is a very dangerous and muddy trail, far from «Easy» and far from «minimal elevation gain» (as I found it described on other sites). Because you go just up and down on slippery roots for one hour or so…
A guy with his dog was wondering «That’s not a trail, that’s insanity», 10 minutes from the top. And it’s so crowded, you cannot explain yourself why. I fully understand why people are attracted to Grouse Grind or Quarry Rock (it’s like a good exercise), but Dog Mountain is not in this range!
Yes, the look from the top is great. But you may get even greater views, after much better and less dangerous trails, from Eagle Bluffs, Cypress, above Buntzel Lake and other peaks.
Simply put, I won’t recommend this trail to anyone.

The first time I attempted this hike it was rainy (warning sign 1) and all of Seymour was pretty much inside a cloud. I literally could not see 10 feet in front of me (warning sign 2). We got to the parking lot and there were absolutely no cars there (warning sign 3) except for one tourist who got out to take pictures. Pretty sure all she got were white and grey pixels in the photo. We went to get our Grouse Grind on instead.
Fast forward two weeks later and we tried again. This time 30 degrees and not a cloud in sight. Thankfully most of the trail is shaded so even on a hot day it isn’t too bad. I would rate the hike as easy as there is very little elevation gain. Much of the elevation gain is done in a vehicle before you get to the parking lot. The hike is more obstacle training as there are many roots, rocks and uneven surfaces to get through. It’s a short hike to the lookout at only 2.5 km one way and takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to get there. Perhaps budget 2.5 to 3 hours round trip.
Once at the lookout you get great views overlooking Burnaby and Vancouver. When I went during the afternoon on a mid-​summer day it was a bit hazy to see off in the distance. I think a sunset view would be absolutely stunning.
Overall, it’s a nice easy hike that anyone can do. Personally I enjoy more of a challenge/​workout and it would have been nice if it were a tad less hazy but nonetheless still a gem that you have to do at least once. If I could, I’d give Dog Mountain 3.5 stars. Unfortunately I can’t comment on snowshoeing the trail, but it would seem like a nice workout during the winter.

Great hike with amazing views!
Im always looking for hikes that I can so in less then a couple of hours, this is just perfect. It was pretty muddy when I went, but getting dirty is part of it, right? I went Monday morning and it was quite, only saw one other person going up. When I reached the top their were only 2 people, and they shortly left. I had the mountain all to myself. Peaceful!!! I heard during the weekend especially summer months it gets busy. So I recommend going during the week.
Highlights:
Its free
Free parking
Well marked trail
Nice view at top
Warning lots of mosquitos in the summer!

Concur with earlier reviews: the trail etiquette was especially poor. I might suspect it was simply a busy Sunday, but there was a decided lack of sense in the great outdoors this afternoon.
Although the trail is often advertised as ‘easy’, I would suggest that it is at the difficult end of easy: gnarled tree roots can make for tenuous steps, snow packs even in late June, and some mucky areas — you really do want to have good shoes and a keen pair of eyes. Deceptively simple stretches can give way to rocky outcrops that are more tricky than they seem. I’m not suggesting this should deter anyone; but you might want to think twice if bringing folks who are expecting generally smooth walking.
Crowds are a problem: it’s not overwhelming, but if you prefer quiet this will definitely not suit you. The car park had ample space.
Overall, it’s a very pleasant trail — very accessible, but therefore very popular. THe views are worth the hike.

People who claim that the Grouse Grind is the best «hike» in Vancouver make me want to barf. Seriously. The Grouse Grind is a fitness test and an endurance test, but it’s not a real hike. And yet thousands of tourists and locals alike get conned every year into thinking the Grouse Grind is the best hike Vancouver has to offer. But how misled they are!
If you’re looking for a REAL hike in Vancouver (in the late summer: August-​October), may I introduce you to the Dog Mountain trail on the top of Mount Seymour, in Mount Seymour Provincial Park in North Vancouver.
Here’s a hike that includes:
— alpine lakes
— rugged but easily-​scalable terrain
— large trees in the lush overgrown forest
— minimal elevation gains (predominantly horizontal)
— ravens swooping overhead
— breathtaking panoramic views at the end
— FREE parking
— no admission fees
— 100% driveable
— located 20 minutes from Vancouver
… this is it.
Whether you’re in town for one day looking for one hike to do, or whether you’re a life-​long local, I highly recommend the Dog Mountain trail because it meanders through forest in a relatively easy fashion, although you do have to clamber up through tree roots and boulders, but because it’s not all vertical, it can actually be enjoyed and you can do it *leisurely* (which you CANNOT do on the Grind).
You can take a break at First Lake (the first alpine meltwater lake) or wait until the end of the trail where you end up at a granite outcropping where the forest opens up and you’ve got a panoramic view overlooking the entire city, the Fraser Valley, all the way to Mount Baker and Vancouver Island — a view arguably even more expansive than what you get from from the top of Grouse. And the best part? Ravens swoop overhead.
And guess what? Going back is even easier.

Oh my! What a gorgeous hike without the same level of strenuousness, or as far as Squamish Chief! It took us about 3 hours, but at this time of the year and on such a warm sunny day, we were not expecting there to be packed snow/​ice on the trail still, The trail markers make it fairly easy to follow for the most part, except for a few spots. There aren’t that many signs pointing the way so you pretty much need to know where you’re going, check the website or ask the other hikers if you’re confused. I loved every moment of this hike though, even when I did fall into ice holes or fell flat on my face in the mud on the way back. The view was well worth it!
Go on a sunny, clear day.

Sunshine + snow = one of my favourite activities, snowshoeing. The provincial park side of the mountain is a free form of exercise, topped off with a stunning view.
Yes, you have to hike up and yes, on weekends parking is a big bitch, but it is truly worth it when you sit in your snow cave peering over Vancouver.
Over the years they’ve widened the paths, likely because it’s pretty bustling which is good, because there’s less stop-​and-​go these days. The downside, it can be really busy. So if you’re looking for a quiet moment on the mountain, you might want to consider something more back country. But you’ll get your heart racing quickly, and if you’re like us, you’ll forgo hiking back down. We opt for a quicker pace — sliding. It’s acceptable to descend on your behind :)
Do make sure you use the loo before you set off, there’s nothing but snow and trees and open spaces on the trails. And if there is space, try parking at the furthest north parking lot. The end of the parking lot marks the beginning of the Provincial Park area.

Re: snowshoeing @ Seymour
Great place to do some snowshoeing on the week-​end. Feel free to bring your dog as well. People have let their dogs off-​leash but there are park rangers that patrol the trails and you could be fined if they catch you!
Unfortunately, if you are just doing snowshoeing, you are only able to park on the hill and not in the parking lots. Expect a 15 – 20 minute hike to the trails from your place on the hill. The earlier you go the better as you get a closer parking spot. After 10 am on the weekend you’ll be hiking longer than that!

My second time snowboarding on Mt. Seymour.
We came up on previous occasions for tobogganing with our little baby and it’s a good mountain for that as well.
As for snowboarding, I think it is a good alternative to whistler if you are just starting to learn. It’s closer and local and for a beginner like me, it’s a good mountain.
In no way is it comparable to Whistler if you are a pro skier or a snowboarder. But lift tickets are almost ½ the price and the wayyyy closer than Whistler.
Lots of lessons offered for kids as well. Skiing lessons for kids start at age 4. I saw lots of little kiddies on their skis going down the mountain. So cute and adorable!
And they are much better at getting down the mountain than me, without falling that is.
As for the cafeteria food, nothing special. I don’t suggest their sandwiches as they do taste pretty bland and for the price, not really worth it. (I think it was $ 6.00 for a sandwich, which isn’t that bad but still it lacked the yummy factor. The bread was dry and so was the turkey deli meat in it.)
Their chili fries looked pretty yummy from seeing other people eat.
Try to pack your own food when coming up or buy a gourmet sandwich at your local sandwich or grocery store. Those sandwiches taste better than the ones sold here. (Strictly my opinion, others might disagree).
Brought up tea in a thermo and it was nice and warm, not hot but saved myself $ 3.00 and I got to drink my favourite tea after a very wet day of snowboarding to warm me up.

Because I only went snowshoeing, I can really rate it for that. There was a large snow dump on the trails so it was super cool to see the fluffy snow and the accumulation on the tree branches. I didn’t think I would enjoy it but ended up loving it. The snow made a huge difference in enjoyment. I would come back again when it snows.
The only two kinks in the experience was the parking and rentals. For snowshoeing, they make you park down the side of the road which is a bit of a hike to the chalet. We just parked anywhere and close as possible. Just tell them that you’re there to ski. As for the rentals. It was so backed up and the customer service was terrible. It was obivous that the previous rental before us did not go well but we ended up with a disgruntal worker. There was some mix up with the forms and the transition to forms to payment got mixed up, which only took longer. I think I was in there for at least 30 mins to rent a pair of snowshoes. Although the beginning of the process was annoying, at the end it was well worth it.
Make sure to wear some water resistant boots or shoes!

Do it for the gorgeous view at the end. It’s worth it!
This is about a 2.5 hour hike, branching off the Seymour main trail to the Dog Mountain Trail. On the way, you will pass by First Lake, a small lake that’s an indicator of the beginning of the Dog Mountain trail.
There’s lots of tree roots and large boulders on the way, so there is some climbing involved. It wasn’t too busy when we went, and there were a lot of families doing it.
At the top, the view is stunning. There’s smooth rocks up there for you to relax and perhaps enjoy some lunch/​snacks.
I agree with Kat S that this was a very buggy trail. We were constantly followed by bugs, and the buzzing drove us crazy.
Bring bug spray and sunscreen, and you should be all set for a spectacular view at the top!

Der kleine Bruder von Grouse Mountain kommt mit einer grandiosen Aussicht und einem netten Wandergelände daher. Im Winter kann man da wohl gut Ski fahren, weiß ich aber nicht, ich war bisher nur im Sommer und Herbst dort. Wem es auf dem Grouse Mountain zuviele Leute sind, der ist hier gut aufgehoben.