An easy out-and-back walk along the water, mostly through forest. Little climbing, so it suits a slow morning or an evening walk. Most people take 1–1.5 hours. Busy on weekends, so go early.
Easy · 3–3.5 km out-and-back · +150–200 m climb · 1–1.5 hours · Dogs: check local rules
Not yet verified against an official source. Figures are approximate; check the park page before you go. · Sources · Cite this page
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North Shore · ~35 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check BC Parks (Mount Seymour Park) before you go.
Schematic: an illustrative shape drawn from total distance and gain, not a GPS trace. Real ups and downs will differ.
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| Region | North Shore |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Summer and fall |
| Trailhead | Mount Seymour main parking lot (top of Mount Seymour Road) |
| Parking & transit | Little or no transit; plan to drive. |
| Permits & passes | Summer: none. Winter: a BC Parks day-use vehicle pass may apply on peak dates; check BC Parks. |
| Dogs | Check local rules |
| Kid-friendly | Yes, with supervision |
| Highlights | Lakes & water, Forest |
| Crowds | Busy, especially weekends |
| Managed by | BC Parks (Mount Seymour Park) |
Rocky, rooty trail that follows a ski run part way. Snow can last into early summer. The lake is cold.
Numbers are approximate. Check BC Parks (Mount Seymour Park) for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 3–3.5 km (out-and-back) with roughly 150–200 m of elevation gain. Most people take 1–1.5 hours. Figures are approximate; check BC Parks (Mount Seymour Park) before you go.
Rules vary or change here. Check the land manager before bringing a dog.
Summer: none. Winter: a BC Parks day-use vehicle pass may apply on peak dates; check BC Parks.
Not easily. Plan to drive or carpool.
See also: Best hikes for beginners · Hikes under 2 hours · Lake hikes · Hikes for July · Hikes for August · Hikes for September · Hikes for October · North Shore hikes · Kid-friendly hikes · Beginner hikes · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "Mystery Lake." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/mystery-lake/
After about 15 minutes, detour onto the Dinkey Peak loop: a ladder leads to a bluff with views to the Fraser delta and Strait of Georgia, then yellow/orange markers lead over more bluffs facing Seymour's three peaks before rejoining the main trail. Continue north briefly along a ski run, then leave the Alpine Trail toward Mystery Lake, a small subalpine lake ringed by rock slabs, and return.
Extended option: A longer variant runs about 5 km round trip, roughly 3 hours. Confirm the route on the official map before you commit.
Watch for: Hike only in good weather and after snowmelt; Seymour terrain is rugged and melting snow adds hazard. Watch markers on the Dinkey loop.
Best season: Best July to October
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Hi, I'm Cam Appleton. I love Vancouver and I love getting out on its trails. When I went looking for a simple, easy hiking guide for around here, I couldn't find one I liked. I also really like helping people, so I built this one.
My day job is real estate. I help people buy, sell and lease. I hope you're enjoying the start of Hike Vancouver. If you're thinking about living closer to trails like this one, I'm happy to talk.
Cam Appleton