Tunnel Bluffs is one of the most popular hikes in Vancouver – and for all the right reasons: it’s easily accessible even by public transport, the hike itself is relatively simple and the views at the end are simply stunning!
There are two different starting points. The first option is to start at Lions Bay (just before Brunswick Beach) – it’s a longer hike, the first section is not as steep and most importantly, it’s accessible by bus. The other option is to start from the Tunnel Point parking lot which is a few kilometres further down the Sea-to-Sky highway. This is a shorter but much steeper hike and you’ll need a car to get there. In this post, we will focus on the first option – Tunnel Bluffs from Lions Bay.
Before you go, remember to check if the trail is open. The All Trails app is good place to look.
Getting there
If you happen to be in Downtown Vancouver, catching the 257 bus (Horseshoe Express) to Horseshoe Bay is your ticket to start this adventure. If you’ve never been to Horseshoe Bay, it’s well worth planning to spend 30 min there. Grab a coffee, find a bench and soak in the sights of the Howe Sounds and the surrounding mountains. Once you’ve finished your coffee, hop onto the 262 bus, a much smaller community shuttle (it can get really busy but more on that later!). Double check the timetable, especially in early summer or autumn when it might change – it makes a big difference if your last return bus is around 6pm or 9pm 😉
You can get off the bus either at Oceanview Road or Brunswick Beach, which is the last stop. Whichever you choose, you will have to walk for a bit along the street. If you get off at Brunswick Beach, the first section of the trail will be a bit harder.
Starting the hike
We always use AllTrails app for all our hikes but this trail is very easy to follow. It’s well marked and very popular with hikers, as it’s also the beginning section for other peak trails like Mount Brunswick, West Lion and Mount Harvey. Even though it’s busy, it’s not like it’s a constant stream of people – there were plenty of sections where it was just us and the nature around us 😊.
The vast majority of the elevation gain is the first couple of kilometres of the hike. It’s a pretty constant incline, but not too steep and technically easy, with a forest service road or a wide path for most of it. The second part of the trail is relatively flat but a bit more rugged with rocks and roots. There are a couple of bridges and a waterfall – perfect for a short break and some photos (though it’s likely to be quite busy as others hikers will have the same idea 😉.
Although this trail is described as ‘moderate’ on AllTrails, we think it leans more towards to the ‘easy’ side of the ‘moderate’ spectrum. We saw many people in trainers (and even sandals!), very casual non-hiking clothes, and even older hikers. Carrying hiking poles might be helpful, and walking back down can be a bit hard on the knees so it’s worth keeping that in mind.
Nevertheless, the breathtaking viewpoint at the end, overlooking the Howe Sound, Bowen Island, Sunshine Coast, and the surrounding mountains, makes it all worthwhile. It’s a busy spot, but fortunately, it’s quite a big open space.
Coming back
On the way back, we were tempted to check out Logger’s Creek Bluffs. It’s a lot more rugged and less maintained trail close to the viewpoint and we wouldn’t recommend it!
As Tunnel Bluffs is an out-and-back trail, you’ll be retracing your steps on the way back. Like we mentioned earlier, a long section of the trail is a constant incline (or decline if you’re going down), and most of it is loose gravel. Depending on your age, fitness level and footwear, it might be a bit slippery or tough on your knees. For a change of scenery, we decided to take a detour and head down to Brunswick Beach. The last section was a bit more rugged and slippery in places, but with decent grip on our footwear, still pretty easy.
In total, we covered just over 18 kilometres (from the bus stop, not from the trailhead), and it took us around 5.5 hours, including a couple of breaks for photos, the detour to Logger’s Creek Bluffs, and a long stop at the viewpoint. Overall, it was a nice and relatively easy hike with awesome views at the summit. We can’t recommend it enough!
About bus 262 …
One important note regarding the return bus – it can get VERY busy because it can take only around 20 people. During our journey, we witnessed a large group of teenagers (20+) at the next stop and only six of them could board the bus. The rest had to wait for the next one. Considering the hourly bus schedule and no alternative transport options back to Vancouver, it’s best to catch the bus at Brunswick Beach, especially on busy days. And if you’re travelling in a large group, it would make more sense to hire a car or get an Evo.
