Bowen Lookout

Just about every Saturday, we look for hikes and adventures that can be accomplished in a day (or during daylight hours) where one can be back to the city just after sundown. When days are shorter, hikes closer to the city are ideal. One of my favourite hikes with minimum effort and huge rewards is the Bowen Lookout. A short 30 mins (or less) drive from Vancouver, located in the pristine alpine of Cypress Mountain, it is one that I definitely recommend. During the winter months however, depending on how deep the snow is, it is recommended that snow shoes are used on the trail.

From the parking lot at the top of Cypress, the hike to Bowen Lookout is about 30-45 mins (or less) in the snow, depending how fast or slow you are. The beginning of the hike is easy as its mostly through the forrest as you head to towards an incline with a series of switchbacks. The incline itself is fairly easy as it doesn’t take too long to reach the Bowen Lookout. The views here are like no other, considering the effortless hike. One can appreciate Howe Sound from here and the surrounding mountains in the Squamish / Sea-to-Sky area.

It’s probably best to do this hike on a day that isn’t too foggy, or else the fog and hanging clouds will block the view once you get there. If you’re lucky, you’ll encounter very friendly Chickadees if you decide to have lunch at the lookout point. We weren’t as fortunate!

During warmer days, I plan to keep going on the same trail and adventure into St. Mark’s Summit! A trail I have yet to do. Definitely looking forward to it!