Some inspiration for Lower Mainland adventures and misadventures.

What goes together better than mountains and craft beer? Possibly beaches and watermelon, but I’ll leave that for someone else to explore. I don’t know about you, but after a tough trek through the mountains, I feel like I’ve earned a beer, and not just any ol’ Bud or Corona, but a unique, flavourful, and complex brew served with a touch of hipster (because beer tastes better when the floor is unfinished and the ceiling exposed). But seriously, some recent research is now suggesting that one beer after a workout actually serves to help replenish lost electrolytes. Perhaps wishful thinking, but in case you’d like to put on your scientist cap and test this one out yourself, here’s a list of great Lower Mainland hikes and the best nearby breweries.

The parameters: all of the hikes featured here are what I would call ‘half-day hikes’, meaning they’re short and/or easy enough to allow you lots of travel time and chill-out time (not to mention weekend sleep-in time). No monster days here. I also tried to select my favourite breweries that were in the vicinity of each hike, so you could stop by on your way home without having to make any large detours.

Diez Vistas and Yellowdog

The hike – Located in Coquitlam, Diez Vistas is a relatively relaxed hike around Buntzen Lake. You’ll start by climbing to the west ridge above the lake, which is really the only intense part. Once you’ve gained the ridge, the trail loops around the entire lake, providing ten (diez) viewpoints (vistas), all while slowing descending. Eventually, the trail meets up with the lakeshore trail, and you’ll finish your day with a gentle walk by the water. If that’s not motivation enough, there’s a lovely beach by the parking lot, perfect for picnics and swimming. Diez Vistas is long-ish, coming in around 15 km and 450 m of elevation gain. Be warned that the parking lot fills up fast on hot summer weekends, so you’ll want to start early!

The brewery – Disclaimer: Yellowdog is my absolute favourite brewery, and the home of my absolute favourite beer (the seasonal ginger-lime sour), so I might be a little biased here. Located on Brewer’s Row in the cute, artsy part of Port Moody, Yellowdog features a large farm-style patio out back, perfect for spending an afternoon or evening sampling flights with friends. Plus, bonus stops: there are three other craft breweries on the same street, plus a handmade ice-cream place (Rocky Point Ice Cream), and the beautiful Rocky Point park right across the street, so choose your adventure!

Norvan Falls and Deep Cove Brewers and Distillers

The hike – Norvan Falls is a gentle rolling trek beside Lynn Headwaters in North Vancouver, ending in the lovely Norvan Falls. This one is not very ‘hikey’, but it’s length and technical terrain make for a decent workout and interesting walk. You’ll cross a few creeks and get to drink in all those lovely Pacific Northwest ferns and firs as you wander through the forest. The total length of this trail is 14 km (7 km to the waterfall, then 7 km back to the lot), with about 200 m of elevation gain. If you’ve got some extra time, be sure to check out the many other trails in Lynn Headwaters park (such as Lynn Peak, for a short and tough hike, and the ambitious Coliseum, for a massive, exhausting, and insanely epic day), as well as Rice Lake.

The brewery – Deep Cover Brewers (which is confusingly not located in Deep Cove…) is my stop of choice on the east side of the Iron Worker’s bridge. Located close to the bridge and Capilano University, it’s sitting on a golden piece of real estate, as it’s located right beside the Hive Climbing Gym, and very close to an Arc-teryx outlet store (for all you gear junkies out there). Deep Cove Brewers features a very tasty food menu in addition to craft beer, and also often features live music. Plus, they seem to be in the habit of leaving a guitar out, even when no performers are scheduled (if the mood strikes you to show off your mad Guitar Hero skills…).

Elk Mountain and Old Yale

The hike – Elk Mountain is my old stomping-ground in Chilliwack, so it’s got a special place in my heart, but I also really do think it’s a high quality hike worthy of your summer adventure list. Allow me a moment of nostalgia: I’ve watched it change drastically, from roadside parking and half a dozen other hikers to a popular destination-hike with a big lot. This one even earned me a brief appearance on TV, as I was involved in the protest movement to protect the trail from logging (we were unsuccessful unfortunately, so you’ll notice you’ll have to cross a big clear-cut area at one point on the trail). The view of the Fraser Valley at the top is unmatched, and if you’re in the mood for a longer day, make sure to continue on past the viewpoint to the actual summit about 15 minutes above (a common mistake) and keep following the trail across the Thurston Ridge, a rolling trek offering a variety of views of the valley. The total distance of Elk (minus the ridge) is a very reasonable 7 km, with about 800 meters of elevation gain.

The brewery – Old Yale is Chilliwack’s long-standing brewery, and has done quite well for itself, as I frequently see its beer in Vancouver, and even all the way out in Whistler. Tucked away in an industrial/farm area on South Sumas Rd, this brewery has a relaxed atmosphere, and frequently brings in musicians for small, intimate performances. This one is definitely rocking the farm-hipster vibe!

Burnaby Mountain and Dageraad

The hike – A slightly more urban hike, Burnaby Mountain has a vast network of trails for hiking and mountain biking. My recommendation, if you want to get a couple hours out of the park, is to park near Horizon’s restaurant and the iconic totem poles, then follow the Trans Canada/ Hang your Hat/ Mountain Air trail loop, which descends to almost sea level, and finish the loop with a quad-burning crunch straight up the stairs via the Veldrome trail. That loop is about 9 km and 350 m of elevation gain. While mostly in the forest, the views of Burrard Inlet are fantastic, and its low altitude make it a great choice for late-year treks (especially in the early fall! There are tons of deciduous trees in this area, and everything turns orange and gold).

The brewery – Dageraad is a strong contender for my second favourite brewery. They are a Belgian-style brewery, featuring lots of lighter beers and wide variety of spicy saisons (I’m in love with saisons). If you haven’t heard of them, let me educate you: this brewery is so amazing, it even won a national award for brewery of the year in 2018, so you definitely need to check them out. Dageraad is located near the bottom of Burnaby Mountain by the Production Way skytrain station, meaning transit is close, so drink away!

BCMC and Greenleaf

The hike – I thought I would do everyone a favour and spread the word that there is an alternative to the Grouse Grind in Vancouver: the BCMC trail. Located directly adjacent to the Grind, it’s a much quieter trail, with all the same leg-burning, sweat-inducing fun (750 m of gain over 3 km), without the feeling of a prison-march cultivated by the Grind (as you can tell, I’m not a huge fan of the Grind). Park in the same area as you would for the Grind, but look to the right of the Grind’s entrance for the BCMC trailhead. This trail finishes at the gondola, so you can take it down if you choose, but you can also go right on ahead and hike down the trail if you like (which is prohibited on the Grind). If you brought your A-game and backcountry essentials, you could also attempt the colossal Crown Mountain by continuing past the gondola – a mega-day worthy of any amount of beer and greasy pub food afterwards!

The brewery – Green Leaf Brewing Co. in North Vancouver features a wide variety of sour beers, making them high on my list! While I suspect that this brewery will be somewhat controversial for that reason, there’s something about tart and fruity beers that screams summer to me. They do also offer a large selection of other types of beer, as well as Whiskey, kombucha, and other drinks. Green Leaf has a fantastic location in Lonsdale Quay – sit on their large patio right off the boardwalk and people-watch, or time your visit with the summer Night Market and indulge on handmade ice-cream, the crafts of local artists, and the antics of the street performers.

Feeling inspired for some fresh mountain air and frosty beverages? Lace up your shoes and let the tasting begin! Let me know your favourite haunts (both trail and brew) in the comments below!