Dog Mountain                                                     Central Vancouver Hiking Trails

Dog Mountain is a beautiful, short and fun hike (or snowshoe trek) close to Vancouver and starting from the parking lot of Mount Seymour Resort.  Just 2.2k gets you from your car to breathtaking views of the big city below.

This area is popular all year-round and there are plenty of trails to choose from.  In the summer the trails include, Mount Elsay, a beautiful and very challenging 16k roundtrip hike to a beautiful mountain peak.  Mount Seymour, a moderately challenging 8k roundtrip to the top of Seymour and amazing panoramic views.  And Goldie Lake and Mystery Lake, which have their own comparatively easy, family friendly trails.  Dog Mountain, in terms of difficulty and distance, is in the middle of this local group, moderately easy.

Unlike many other Vancouver area hikes in Seymour Provincial Park, dogs are welcome almost everywhere.  And you will soon discover this when you notice the dog to human ratio is about even on the trails here.

Even in the middle of winter, with metres of snow, you will see plenty of ecstatic, frolicking dogs, pouncing into snowbanks everywhere to turn.

Dog Mountain is fairly popular, so even in the depths of winter you will find the trail in the snow well packed down and easily followed.  It is also a favourite evening hike to catch the sun setting over Vancouver.

If you are new to Vancouver hiking, you will learn that anytime of the year, catching the sun setting over Vancouver from Dog Mountain is a cherished habit for many locals.

Dog Mountain is a fantastic hike for many reasons, but unexpectedly, partly because of the drive to the trailhead.  The trailhead is located at the far end of the main parking lot to Mount Seymour Ski Resort.

The beautifully winding and always scenic drive takes you from the astonishing rainforest that engulfs North Vancouver abruptly into the heights of Mount Seymour, Dog Mountain, and Suicide Bluffs beyond.

There are amazing vantage points at many bends in the road and you will certainly need to stop at least once on the journey to take in the amazing views.

You can even grab a beer before or after at the rustic restaurant/cafeteria/pub at the trailhead.  Mount Seymour Provincial Park is amazing.. and the cost?  Parking - free, trails - free, snowshoeing trails in the winter - free, backcountry camping (where permitted) - free.  BC Parks are great!

Directions to the Dog Mountain Trailhead:

Click on the map above to go to the beautiful, full size, printable map from the BC Parks site for Mount Seymour Provincial Park.

Though bringing a map is not necessary as the signs in the park are well laid out, a map with you might be useful if planning multiple hikes.

The trailhead for Dog Mountain is easy to find once you have reached the very end of the main parking lot to Mount Seymour Resort.

To get to the main parking lot simply drive until you come to the end of the road and then continue along the parking lots until you come to the far end of the final parking lot (you will see ski lifts).

Looking towards the end of this long parking lot you will see a large, round wooden map board (indicated on the map below by the red marker).  Walk along the trees (directly up on the map below).  From here on there are frequent tree markers and signs directing you.

From Highway #1 (Trans-Canada Highway) take Exit #22 Mount Seymour Parkway. Turn right onto Mount Seymour Parkway almost immediately and follow it 4.4 km before turning left onto Mount Seymour Road.  Follow Mount Seymour Road as it winds it's way up the mountain.

Drive to the end of the large parking lot at the end of the road. Start at the Mount Seymour Trail kiosk, to the left of the Mystery Peak chairlift.  Parking is free and there are no trail fees in Mount Seymour Provincial Park.

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Parking for Dog Mountain: (49.367476837839554, -122.94919833540916)