An easy hike to a big view, with water along the way. Most people take 0 minutes.
Easy · route varies · climb not listed · 0 minutes · 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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Sea-to-Sky · ~50 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check BC Parks (Porteau Cove) before you go.
A short path leads west from the walk-in campsites up onto a forested bluff with a view over Howe Sound; the rest of the park is beach, pier and campground.
Trailhead location from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Dogs, transit, fees and closures change; check the official page.
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 | Sea-to-Sky |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Year-round |
| Trailhead | Porteau Cove Provincial Park, Hwy 99, about 22 km north of Horseshoe Bay |
| Parking & transit | Little or no transit; plan to drive. |
| Permits & passes | Check the land manager's page for current fees and passes. |
| Dogs | Check local rules |
| Kid-friendly | Yes, with supervision |
| Highlights | Lakes & water, Views, Forest |
| Crowds | Not rated yet |
| Managed by | BC Parks (Porteau Cove) |
Check the official page for current conditions before you go.
Numbers are approximate. Check BC Parks (Porteau Cove) for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About not listed (route varies) with roughly not listed of elevation gain. Most people take 0 minutes. Figures are approximate; check BC Parks (Porteau Cove) before you go.
Rules vary or change here. Check the land manager before bringing a dog.
Check the land manager's page for current fees and passes.
Not easily. Plan to drive or carpool.
See also: Best hikes for beginners · Hikes under 2 hours · Lake hikes · Hikes for January · Hikes for February · Hikes for March · Hikes for April · Hikes for May · Hikes for June · Hikes for July · Hikes for August · Hikes for September · Hikes for October · Hikes for November · Hikes for December · Sea-to-Sky hikes · Flat and easy walks · Rainy-day hikes · Kid-friendly hikes · Beginner hikes · Short view hikes for an evening · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "Porteau Cove viewpoint trail." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/porteau-cove/
Spotted something out of date? Let me know and I'll fix it. Suggest an edit
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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