A hard out-and-back hike to a big view, with water along the way. A real workout, with about 1341 m of climbing over 14.2 km. Plan on 7–8 hours and pack the Ten Essentials.
Challenging · 14.2 km out-and-back · +1341 m climb · 7–8 hours · Dogs: check local rules
Sea-to-Sky · ~40 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check Village of Lions Bay before you go.
From the trailhead, walk up the old logging road past a water building. Go straight past a gated road at 1 km. At 1.9 km keep right on the Binkert Trail where a path goes left to Brunswick Mountain. Keep straight past two turnoffs to Mount Harvey. Cross Alberta Creek at about 3 km. At 4.5 km turn right at the Lions sign and drop to a bridge over Harvey Creek, then climb again. The forest opens up and the trail climbs steeply to a rocky ridge with a huge view over Howe Sound, with West Lion and East Lion straight ahead. Most hikers stop on the ridge below West Lion. The final scramble up the West Lion is exposed and has caused fatal falls. Return the same way.
Watch for: Very steep. Exposed ridge. Snow slopes. The West Lion scramble is dangerous.
Best season: July to October. Snow can linger into July.
Highlights:
Getting there by car: Highway 99 north from Horseshoe Bay. Take the Lions Bay Avenue exit, go left on Crosscreek, right on Centre, left on Bayview, then up to Sunset Drive.
Getting there by transit: No practical transit.
Parking: About a dozen spots at the trailhead. If full, park at Lions Bay Community School on Bayview Road. Do not park on residential streets.
Facilities: None. Creeks for water (treat it).
With kids: No.
Alternatives: Tunnel Bluffs or Mount Harvey from the same area.
Tips: Start early. Bring poles, and microspikes early in the season.
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 | Challenging |
| Season | Jul-Oct |
| Trailhead | Sunset Drive, Lions 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 | Better for older, fit kids or adults |
| Highlights | Lakes & water, Views |
| Crowds | Not rated yet |
| Managed by | Village of Lions Bay |
Very steep. Exposed ridge. Snow slopes. The West Lion scramble is dangerous.
Numbers are approximate. Check Village of Lions Bay for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 14.2 km (out-and-back) with roughly 1341 m of elevation gain. Most people take 7–8 hours. Figures are approximate; check Village of Lions Bay 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: Hikes with the best views · 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 · Big climbs · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "The Lions (Binkert Trail)." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/the-lions/
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Not yet verified against an official source. Figures are approximate; check the park page before you go. · Sources · Cite this page
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