Great BC Fall Hikes 2020 – In Open Parks and No Day Pass Required

1. Gun Meadows – Lower Gun Creek Drainage Area (South Chilcotin Mountains Prov Park) From the Jewel Bridge Trailhead hike upstream along the Gun Creek Trail to take in the pristine South Chilcotin forests, viewpoints on route along to the beautiful meadows along the GunMeadows Trail scattered with willow, birch and aspen which give good autumn colours. The views from these meadows of Sheba Ridge and Mt Sheba are excellent. Due to length of hike, do this South Chilcotin fall hike as an overnight backpacking trip. Camp at Cowboy Camp, Potato Patch or Spruce Lake. Return via same trails. See Trail Ventures BC’s Southern Chilcotin Mountains Trail Map and Guidebook for more info.
2. Leckie Falls via Gun Creek Trail – Lower Gun Creek Drainage Area (South Chilcotin Mountains Prov Park) A moderate day hike can be made from Jewel Bridge to Leckie Falls and back. Find the side trails off the Gun Creek Trail just upstream from the first foot bridge over Gun Creek – use the South Chilcotin Trail Map to find position as these two side trails are not obvious. But once found these trails pass through aspen groves (with nice autumn colours) on your way along the Leckie Creek Trail to an amazing viewpoint above Leckie Falls. Retrace your steps back to the trailhead using the same trails. See Trail Ventures BC’s Southern Chilcotin Mountains Trail Map and Guidebook for more info.
3. Sasamat Lake Loop – Belcarra Regional Park An easy day hike can be made all the way around Sasamat Lake in Belcarra Regional Park near Port Moody. Park in the large parking areas near White Pine Beach and walk towards the lake to pick the trail in either direction. The trail will bring you back to where you started. Nice forests with autumn colours, views and a long floating bridge are some of the attractions of this fall hike. Usually in autumn the are many less visitors here than in summer. See Trail Ventures BC’s PoMo to PoCo Trail Map for more info.
4. PoCo Trail – Port Coquitlam Get on the easy dyke trails along the Pitt River or DeBoville Slough to see the great views of Golden Ears mountain and the great autumn colours along the way. This can be made into as short or long a day hike as one wants. This fall hike can be started from many locations such as at Cedar Drive, Hyde Creek Rec Centre or Pitt Bridge area. Return via same trail. See Trail Ventures BC’s PoMo to PoCo Trail Map for more info.
5. Fisherman’s Trail along the Seymour River (Seymour Conservation Reserve) – Vancouver North Shore The easy Fisherman’s Trail follows the Seymour River on Vancouver’s North Shore for many kilometers giving day hikers plenty of nice views and access points to the river as well as nice autumn colours along its length. This can be made into as short or long a day hike as one wants. Can be accessed from Riverside Drive or Baden Powell Trail (e.g. Hyannis Point) trailheads nearby. Return via same trail. See Trail Ventures BC’s North Shore Trail Map for more info.
6. Deeks Lake Trail to Deeks Lake (Just South of Porteau Cove on Highway 99) – Vancouver North ShoreFrom Porteau Rd trailhead the Deeks Lake Trail (Howe Sound Crest Trail) leads uphill southward through pleasant forest past an amazing waterfall up to scenic Deeks Lake on this moderate-difficult day hike. Some deciduous forests here give nice autumn colours. For a shorter fall hike turn around at the nice viewpoint just off the trail about halfway up. Return via same road/trail. See Trail Ventures BC’s North Shore Trail Map for more info.
7. Lizzie Lake – SE of PembertonThis moderate-difficult day hike follows an old deactivated FS road (with autumn colours) up along Lizzie Creek to beautiful Lizzie Lake. Look for the by-pass trails on the access road to start the fall hike. Accessed via the In-Shuck-Ch FSR (Lillooet Lake Rd) and Lizzie Branch FSR. A single log crossing of Lizzie Creek is required. This could be done as an overnight backpack trip – camp at Lizzie Lake Camp. Return via same road/trail. See Trail Ventures BC’s Stein to Joffre Trail Map for more info.
8. Blowdown Lake & Pass – E of Pemberton off Hwy 99 From the trailhead on the Blowdown Ck FS Road, follow the old mine road uphill through pleasant old growth forest to Amazing Blowdown Lake near the treeline, then continuing upwards through alpine meadows to Blowdown Pass to take in the sublime views all around. For even better views head up to nearby Gott Peak via trail/route. The meadows here take on a warm autumn glow as the plants change colour. Return via same road/trail. Moderate-difficult day hike. See Trail Ventures BC’s Stein to Joffre Trail Map for more info.
9. Chilliwack River Ecological Reserve Trail – S end of Chilliwack Lake From the S end of the Chilliwack River FS Road take this trail S through amazing old growth coniferous forest. The enormous trees here will amaze you. There are also some deciduous trees here for autumn colours and views of the Chilliwack River. Stop at the US border marker and return via same trail. Easy day hike. See Trail Ventures BC’s Chilliwack East Map for more info.
10. Cultus Lake Horse Trail This hiking trail meanders through pleasant deciduous and coniferous forests near Cultus Lake crossing over several pretty creeks. The autumn colours here can be very nice indeed. Usually in autumn the are many less visitors here than in summer. Park at the Teapot Hill Trailhead or further south near the Maple Bay Campground. This fall hike can be made into as short or long a day hike as one wants. Return via same trail. Easy-moderate hike. See Trail Ventures BC’s Chilliwack West Map for more info.