Fall Favourites on Vancouver’s North Shore
Goodness knows it’s hard to follow an act like Summer on Vancouver’s North Shore, but with ample room to play outdoors and exciting events lined up in the city, Fall is looking like a pretty hot time to visit as well.
Rain or shine or something else, there’s never a bad time to get outside and explore the North Shore. Hiking here is known all over to be some of the best in the world, and with one step into the lush green wilderness, it’s easy to see why. You can trek up a mountain to incredible views, walk along the seaside, or even find pockets of pure nature within the city on trails that meander along rivers and creeks. No matter your skill level, adventure is aplenty here.
Image Courtesy of @carolhornphoto
Fall is also salmon season, and the best place to get a close-up look at this fascinating natural phenomenon is at the Capilano Salmon Hatchery where Chinook and Coho adults return to spawn. There’s an interpretive center and a self-guided tour so that you come away an expert in the process. As always, admission is free and there is the added bonus of gorgeous hiking and biking around the Capilano River Regional Park.
Another way to breathe that alpine air (and maybe feel it a little more in your face) is to jump on a mountain bike and take to the many dedicated trails on the North Shore. Two mountains, Mt. Fromme and Mt. Seymour have been lovingly groomed by the North Shore Mountain Biking Association into a broad range of interconnected trails for riders of all abilities, with man-made challenges like bridges, ladders and teeter-totters, as well as logs, boulders and ravines to traverse. If you’re brand new to the sport, there are plenty of outfits that provide coaching and guided tours.
Down in the city, there are also plenty of scenic cycling routes for those that are looking for more of a relaxed ride. The North Shore Spirit Trail winds along the waterfront through diverse neighbourhoods and must-see spots like Lonsdale Quay, The Shipyards and Moodyville Park. A project of collaboration between The City, First Nations and North Shore municipalities, the trail also provides plenty of opportunity to stop and admire public art made by local artists.
For a little dash of history with your fun, hop on a traditionally styled ocean-going canoe for a cultural tour of Indian Arm waters with Takaya Tours from the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation. You’ll gently paddle protected waters while your guides share songs, legends and take you past ancient village sites. Takaya will be taking boats out until the season ends on October 31.
But fall is especially special because it’s the only time of year to catch Vancouver’s North Shore Craft Beer Week celebrating the best of brewing around here. The flagship event goes off at the Launch Party on November 3 at the Pipe Shop in The Shipyards. Food trucks, live entertainment, prizes and games are just a few examples of all the fun you’ll have while you sample unique creations from 11 North Shore Breweries.
And if you can’t wait until November, you can always hit the BC Ale Trail and hop between breweries in the city where the craft beer boom really first took hold. Even mere friends-of-beer-lovers will have a great time with craft cocktails, ciders and full food menus available at most stops.
