Avy and I LOVE to go hiking together, and since we live in Vancouver, B.C. there is no shortage of great hikes to choose from. One weekend my sister Jennifer called to see if we wanted to join her and her family on a hike to Eagle Bluffs on Cypress Mountain. Always game for a good hike we hopped in the car to meet them at the top of Cypress Mountain. We parked in the ski hill parking lot (open for hikers and sightseer’s in the summer) and went off to start our hike. The trailhead is very close to the downhill ski lodge and easy to find if you follow the signage.
If you would like to watch a video of our hike to the top you can see it here!
Hike details
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Round Trip Distance: 8km
- Approximate time: 4 Hours (depending on how long you want to spend at the top!)
- Elevation Gain: 350M
The first part of the hike takes up some VERY steep switchbacks next to the downhill ski runs. This wasn’t my favourite part as you aren’t high enough for beautiful scenery yet and I was definitely huffing and puffing by the time I got to the top. Surprisingly we saw some snow on the ski hill as we were climbing (and Avy had fun sliding down it – I wish I had video! She loves the snow).
Once you clear the steep switchbacks the hike gets much more enjoyable. There is still a lot of climbing but it is not quite as steep and a lot prettier. There is also a lake or two to enjoy along the way.
We stopped at the lake for a little break and Avy had an opportunity to cool off. It was a fairly warm day and we were all feeling it as the hike continued.
There is a lot to see along the way an some great terrain – from going over rocks to trails and boardwalks.
All of the sweat is worth it when you get to the top though. You come out on an outcropping of rocks where you can sit and have a picnic and enjoy the incredible views. You may have to compete for some space though – it is a fairly popular hike and while we didn’t encounter many people on the way up we found plenty of groups enjoying the view from the top.