Vancouver Snowshoeing Guide For Beginners

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Never having gone snowshoeing before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve never gone skiing or snowboarding, making my foray into winter activities no more exciting than a walk to the store in the snow or a quick ice skate around the rink. After hearing about the Vancouver snowshoeing options for many years I figure this was the year to finally give it a go.

As a beginner I had plenty of questions about snowshoeing. For example, is it difficult? What equipment do I need? Other than the obvious snowshoes, of course! And where is good to go in Vancouver for a beginner who has no idea what they are doing? Safety was also one of my primary concerns.

What do you need to go snowshoeing?

Other than a sense of adventure, the list of equipment for snowshoeing is actually quite small. You’ll likely find snowshoeing a bit cheaper than your regular winter activities which often incur hundreds of dollars of gear to even begin.

The main item really is the snowshoes themselves. If you’re not really sure if snowshoeing is something you do a lot, don’t feel the pressure to spend tons of money on snowshoes. There are cheaper options. I was able to get a pair from Costco for about $60 very similar to these, including trekking poles and carry case.

My snowshoes won’t make me an Olympian snowshoer (is that a thing?) but they work just fine for what I need. If I really want to do this a lot, maybe I upgrade at some point.

Local’s Tip: If you go to one of the official Vancouver snowshoeing trails at a local mountain, there is usually an option to rent snow shoes for the day. This is approximately an additional $20 per person on top of the regular trail pass.

Other than snowshoes, make sure you have most or all of the following for added comfort:

The essentials

Snowboots or waterproof hiking boots – The taller the better to stop them filling up with snow – regular shoes may get wet and uncomfortable. I got cheap snowboots in the winter sale for about $50 and I can wear them for every day winter shoes when it snows.

A thick water-resistant winter jacket – Layering up is necessary so start with a thick winter jacket. I have this Underarmour fleece-lined winter coat. It’s not waterproof but is water resistant which is perfect for some light snow.

Thick socks – Good shoes only get you so far. I put on a couple pairs of thicker hiking socks or merino wool socks to keep my feet nice and toasty.

Sunglasses – Snow-blindness is a thing! Protect your eyes from the suns reflection on the crisp white snow, especially on those sunny winter days.

The basics

I wore layered short and long sleeve moisture-wicking hiking shirts. Just in case it got too warm with my heavy jacket I didn’t want regular t-shirt or sweater underneath.

I also layered up workout pants with my thermal leggings underneath. I had rain-pants so that any snow I kicked up didn’t soak my pants – also, now I’m prepared for snow angels!

Lastly, a good pair of winter gloves and a hat. I also layered an ear warmer headband underneath. Basically just bundle up with layers you can remove if you work up too much of a sweat snowshoeing.

Is snowshoeing dangerous?

Any winter activity that involves cold weather, the great outdoors and potentially snow-covered mountains should be taken seriously. But as far as winter activities go, snowshoeing is basically just walking on snow with better than average footwear.

You can reach places that usually are not as accessible in regular footwear. And that’s the benefit of snowshoeing.

Vancouver snowshoeing trails are typically up one of the local mountains. Avalanche warnings are well communicated to make sure you stay safe, and you’ll be fine if you stick to the marked trails.

Make sure to tell people where you are going and check in if you are running late. That way if you don’t get home on time, they know where you last were.

Is snowshoeing difficult?

If you like hiking, it’s like that…but with snow. No more of a workout than a good hike. The usual challenge of trudging through snow is made easier by the snowshoes which spread your weight more evenly.

You can make it as easy or as difficult as you like depending on the trail you choose – just like hiking. Many snowshoeing areas have a number of trails so you take a short trail for a couple of kilometers, or a longer trail that might take you a few hours.

Take plenty of snacks to replenish your energy – I like to pack a thermos of hot soup, or hot chocolate. Otherwise, just have fun, and take your time on hills so you don’t slip.

Where to find Vancouver snowshoeing trails

If you’re new to snowshoeing, like I was, it’s best to stick to official trails rather than going into the backcountry. These official trails are better marked and have people managing them to account for all the people who go out that day.

This does of course mean you’ll have to buy a pass for the day so it’s more expensive than just going off on your own in the middle of nowhere or on a regular hiking trail. But for your first time, that added level of security is worth it.

The main Vancouver snowshoeing trails are around one of the three local North Shore mountains: Cypress, Grouse and Seymour.

Snowshoeing at Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain being a little more touristy, and the need of a gondola to get to the trails, makes it the most expensive option. More than $60 per adult to get to the top of the mountain.

If you’re a local, consider getting an annual local’s pass. But if you’re visiting on a budget you might consider one of the other mountains.

If you do decide to go up Grouse Mountain, there are some really nice trails. One of the nicest is the half-kilometer light walk which is really pretty later in the day. Grouse Mountain also has some spectacular views, and the peak chalet for some great food, drink and shopping opportunities.

Snowshoeing at Cypress Mountain

Cypress is probably the most popular location for skiing and snowboarding in the lower mainland of Vancouver. It’s not far from downtown, and you can drive up the mountain and park instead of needing to take a gondola like Grouse Mountain.

The snowshoeing trails here, although classed as the Cypress mountain resort, are actually at Hollyburn. Arrive early to avoid the lineup of cars and not being able to get a parking spot. We were parked and on the trail by just after 9am.

A snowshoeing day pass is about $18. Reserving in advance is best as there are limited tickets for walk ups. The trail itself is amazing here. Lots of little offshoots of trails where you can snowshoe around frozen lakes and through the tree-lined forests.

The trails are incredibly well marked and the snow dusted trees just make for the perfect winter wonderland. The only thing lacking at Cypress are the views. The snowshoeing trails are more in the trees. There’s a spot at the upper warming hut that’s the perfect halfway rest spot. And has one of the better views.

Snowshoeing at Seymour Mountain

The last major Vancouver snowshoeing option is at Seymour Mountain, further east. Like Cypress, you can drive to the trails area, but also need to book in advance and will even get a time slot. There is backcountry snowshoeing for free, but we opted for the paid marked trails as beginners.

It was just under $20 per person, and you will be directed to a place to park upon arrival. Like Cypress, there is a network of trails, mostly through forested areas and around frozen lakes. Like Cypress there are also not really any views except at the start of the trail.

Seymour trails are still well defined, but are maybe not as clearly marked as on Cypress. At Cypress/Hollyburn there was a map attached to every intersection of the trail so you could always see where you were. The maps were a bit more sporadic at Seymour.

The one thing the Seymour trail lacked for me was a decent area off trail to take a break. There wasn’t an official rest stop area – although the trails weren’t as long as those at Cypress/Hollyburn so maybe not needed as much.

The best Vancouver snowshoeing locations for beginners

While Vancouver‘s North Shore has lots of amazing trails you can just take your snowshoes to and get going, the official mountain trails are the best starting point.

Well marked trails are essential for a beginner, especially if safety is even a slight concern. If you go early enough the trails will be quiet. It was only around mid-morning we saw traffic pick up each time.

Grouse Mountain is a great location if you want to spend the entire day up on the resort. Between snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, outdoor ice-skating and spending time at the lodge there is a lot to do.

Cypress and Seymour are better if you just want a cheap introduction to snowshoeing. They are cheaper and just as well marked trails – in fact there are more kilometers of trails there than at Grouse.

Wherever you end up though, snowshoeing is a blast. Vancouver snowshoeing options are increasing with the winter activity’s popularity. Rentals are available where needed, and it’s a great way to spend a morning or afternoon.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you been to any of the Vancouver snowshoeing trails? Which mountain did you prefer?