Don’t be a weekend warrior. Be a regular warrior. 

I don’t know about you, but being trapped at work on a beautiful, hot day is exquisite torture! Fortunately, we’re in the midst of long summer days, with plenty of after work sunlight left over for adventure. But with traffic, dinner, and general life stuff, getting into the mountains in the evening can feel impossible. For you, my dedicated weekend warriors, I’ve put together a list of some of my favourite short hikes. While they may be brief, the payoffs are huge, so pack dinner, throw your hiking boots in your car, and seize the day!

Evans Peak

A tough crunch that will make you sweat, Evans is quiet, steep, and breathtaking. Located in Golden Ears Provincial Park, this trail winds through some lovely forests, past a waterfall, and up some fun scrambles to end with a 360 degree view, featuring all the famous Golden Ears peaks, plus the gentle blue of Alouette Lake. Lesser known than the others on this list, it’s worth making this one your little secret!

 Distance: 4 km; elevation gain: 900 m; round-trip time: 3-4 hours.

BCMC

All warriors need to train, and who needs the gym when we have access to nature’s stairmaster? BCMC is a non-stop climb up to the top of Grouse Mountain. While it’s not easy going, you will certainly have earned your summit beer after this one! For those really short on time, there is always the luxury of the Grouse Mountain chalet and Skyride gondola. Need something to eat? Stop at the café or restaurant after your climb. Don’t have the time (or the willpower) to descend the trail? Take the gondola down to the parking lot. Don’t own a car? You can even take public transit to the trail head! Talk about no excuses!

Distance: 3 km; elevation gain: 850 m; trip time: 1-1.5 hours (up only).

Polytrichum Lookout

While my heart is in the North Shore mountains, I’ll admit that bridge traffic can be a little nasty after work. So for those of you who want nothing to do with that mess, let me suggest Polytrichum Lookout, part of the Halvor Lunden trail at Buntzen Lake in Coquitlam. Polytrichum is the first part of the Halvor trail, which leads onto the Swan Falls and Dilly Dally loops. To reach the lookout, you’ll climb steadily for about an hour until you hit the ridge. There, a break in the trees will offer a great view of Buntzen Lake and the surrounding mountains, including some North Shore peaks. Note that the gates to the Buntzen parking lot do close in the evening, so check the closing time online before you go or you might get locked in!

Distance: 5 km; elevation gain: 550 m; round-trip time: 2-3 hours.

Mt Seymour (First Peak)

A North Shore classic, Seymour is a great mix of rolling terrain, some light climbing, alpine flowers, and stunning views. Seymour is separated into three sequential peaks. The first is a pretty quick trek, and not too strenuous. If you’re feeling inspired and still have time, you could continue on to the second, or even the third peak. This view of Vancouver and the mountains is unbeatable, and is probably my favourite hike on this list. Pack a dinner for the summit and soak it up!

Distance: 7 km; elevation gain: 400 m; round-trip time: 2-3 hours.

Hollyburn Mountain

Gentle, short, quiet, and majestic, Hollyburn Mountain, located in the Nordic ski area of Cypress Ski Resort, is a fantastic after-work option. Offering just enough elevation gain to make it a decent workout, it ends in a 360 mountain-top view. For such a high-quality hike, I’ve always found this trail to be pretty quiet in the evenings. With a view of Vancouver and the North Shore mountains that rivals Seymour, definitely add this one to your regular rotation!

Distance: 7 km; elevation gain: 450 m; round-trip time: 2-3 hours.

What are your favourite after work adventures? What do you pack for a mountain-top dinner? Is a summit beer a necessity, or just unnecessary weight? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

For more inspiration on trails and travel, check out my blog Ridge and River, or follow @emily_ridgeandriver on Instagram and Ridge and River on Facebook.