Hiking to the Beautiful Bowen Lookout in Winter
The Bowen Lookout trail is one of the best short Winter hikes in Vancouver. It’s just 4km (2.5 miles) return with a gentle 110m (360 ft) of elevation gain. Don’t let the distance fool you though. The view at the end is absolutely worth it for such a short hike (especially at sunset)!
Bowen Lookout is great in both Summer and Winter, however personally, I think hiking beneath the snow dusted trees in Winter is extra magical. Even though it’s known as a snowshoe trail, Dave and I found micro spikes are usually the better choice since the path is so well-trodden.
In this guide, I’ll share exactly what you need to know to hike Bowen Lookout in Winter, including how to get there without a car, where to park and what to expect from the trail.
Recently, we went back to Bowen Lookout to watch the sunset and although there were loads of people there, it was magical.
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Tips for hiking Bowen Lookout in Winter
Where to stay nearby:
Luxury Villa
Budget
Location: Cypress Provincial Park
Hiking pass: No pass required
Trail difficulty: Easy – moderate
Comparable to: Dog Mountain
Bring / wear: Micro spikes or snowshoes
Where is the Bowen Lookout Trail?
Bowen Lookout is located on Cypress Mountain in Cypress Provincial Park near Vancouver. From Vancouver to the parking lot on Cypress Mountain, the drive is only 30 minutes.
Click here to open the map in Google Maps!
Where do you park for the Bowen Lookout Hike
The Bowen Lookout Hike starts from the Cypress Mountain Ski Area. You can drive to the Ski Resort Parking Area where you can park for free in Winter, just make sure you don’t park in the designated ski area as this is reserved for skiers and snowboarders who have prepaid.
Park only in the designated area Lot 3B if you are staying for an overnight trip. Failure to comply could result in a search and rescue operation and/or your vehicle being towed. Check the BC Parks website for more information and for park opening hours.
You will need to obtain a backcountry access pass from the Black Mountain Lodge in the lower lot for access to the Bowen Lookout Hike in Winter. Once you head up the stairs at Black Mountain Lodge, turn left and go through the doors straight away. The passes will be on your left and they are essentially just stickers which you need to place on your clothing or backpack to show that you agree to Cypress Mountain Resort’s terms of hiking in the backcountry. They are free of charge and more information can be found here.
How to Get to Cypress Mountain without a Car
Don’t worry if you don’t have a car as you can still get to Cypress Mountain without one. You will need to take the Skytrain or Bus to Waterfront Station and then get the Seabus over to Lonsdale Quay.
From here you can catch the Cypress Mountain Shuttle Bus which you can pre-book tickets for online. For Bowen Lookout, you will need to get off the shuttle at CYPRESS Downhill Ski Area.
Where to start the Bowen Lookout Hike from
To get to the Bowen Lookout trailhead, walk up towards the ski area (bottom of the chair lifts) and head towards the Eagle Express Chairlift. Here you will find a sign marked with the Bowen Lookout Trail information.
Things to Know Before Hiking to Bowen Lookout
- Wear Micro Spikes in Winter – We put ours on when we reached the big uphill section as we realised that it was a little slippery.
- Wear layers! Any viewpoint can get a little chilly in Winter so make sure you have enough warm clothes to be able to enjoy it.
- Leave no Trace (LNT) – Pack out what you bring in and keep our hiking trails beautiful. Take only photos! You can read more on the 7 LNT principles here
- Make sure you pick up your backcountry permit from the Black Mountain Lodge in the lower lot for access to the Bowen Lookout Hike in Winter.
How Long Does the Bowen Lookout Hike Take
The Bowen Lookout Hike will usually take around 1.5 hours on average to complete but of course this depends on your hiking level. If you hike quite often, it might only take you an hour to complete the trail.
How Hard is the Bowen Lookout Trail
Bowen Lookout is 4km return with an elevation gain of 110m. Bowen Lookout is an easy hike but in Winter, it can get a little slippery on the uphill sections without micro spikes. Even with micro-spikes, I found it a little slippery last time I was there because the snow was a little slushy from all of the hot weather we have been having.
We recommend using micro spikes over snowshoes for Bowen Lookout as it is a popular trail and the snow is usually hard packed down. However, if you are looking to practice your snowshoeing before getting out onto the harder trails, Bowen Lookout is a great option!
Do I Need a Day Pass for Bowen Lookout
The Bowen Lookout Trail is free to hike or snow shoe, however you will need to get a free backcountry permit from the Black Mountain Lodge in the lower lot for access to the Bowen Lookout Hike in Winter. This is to keep track of who is out on the trails each day in case of any emergencies.
When is the Best Time to Hike to Bowen Lookout
Bowen Lookout is one of the best easy Winter hikes in Vancouver because it is fairly short with a great view overlooking Howe Sound and Vancouver.
The best time during the Winter to hike to Bowen Lookout is either during the day or if you are feeling a bit more adventurous, at sunrise or sunset to get that beautiful golden light at the viewpoint.
We did the hike in the middle of the day when it was overcast, however, Bowen Lookout is a great spot to spend sunrise or sunset as well!
If you do decide to hike it for sunset in the Summer months, make sure you park outside of the gates to the main parking lot as this closes at sunset in the Summer.
Bowen Lookout is also a great hike to do in the Summer! We love doing it as a side trip on the way up or back from Saint Marks Summit which is another amazing Cypress Mountain hike with even more insane views!
Hiking to Bowen Lookout at Sunrise or Sunset
Bowen Lookout it pure magic during sunrise and sunset! Don’t expect to have the lookout to yourself at sunset though. Due to how easy it is, it is one of the most popular sunset hikes in Vancouver. I’d say there were about 25 other people there the last time we watch the sunset from the lookout.
If you are planning on hiking in the dark, there are a few extra things you need to do to make sure you are prepared:
- Bring a headlight for hiking in the dark.
- Make sure you have downloaded the trail maps from All Trails. The Bowen Lookout trail is well marked but it doesn’t hurt to have a back up.
- Make sure a friend knows where you are going
- Have enough food and water with you
- Bring/wear layers. There’s nothing worse than being cold on a hike or at a viewpoint!
- Triple check the weather! You don’t want to hike in a snow storm ever but in the dark, it is much more dangerous and could lead to you getting lost on the mountain.
Bowen Lookout Trail Description
The hike begins in a forest and weaves around the trees for a bit. Soon you will come up out of the forest and onto a fire trail. You will see a pump house on your right and you will need to go left here.
The next junction that you come to is at a small bridge. You will need to go right here, over the bridge. After this the trail inclines quite dramatically and this is where we put on our micro spikes as it was a little slippery going uphill.
After inclining for a bit, you will come to another junction where the trail continues on to St Marks Summit. St Marks is not recommended in Winter but during Summer Saint Marks Summit is one of the best spots for sunset in Vancouver! Go left and soon you will be met with the beautiful view overlooking Howe Sound.
Enjoy a snack and some water before heading back down. Oh and watch for the squirrels!
Essential Items to Pack For Hiking to Bowen Lookout in Winter
When Winter hiking in Vancouver, you are going to want to dress in layers and make sure you wear waterproof outer layers. These are some of the things that you should bring along with you.
If you would like to purchase your own snowshoes, you can get them online from MEC here. As we live in Vancouver, we love having our own snow shoes so that we don’t have to worry about finding somewhere to rent them.
You cannot rent snowshoes from the Hollyburn Nordic Ski Area for this trail as they cannot be taken out of the Nordic Ski Area.
Other Things to Do on Cypress Mountain
Cypress Provincial Park is an awesome place for outdoor adventures! There are loads of amazing hikes and there is even a cool bar with a view on the way down the mountain that we love going to after our hikes.
Hollyburn Peak Hike
Distance: 6.9km / 4.2 miles | Elevation: 415m / 1,361 ft | Time: 2.5-3.5 hours | Level: Moderate – challenging
Hollyburn Peak or Hollyburn Mountain is one of our favourite hikes on Cypress Mountain. The Winter hike begins from the Hollyburn Nordic Ski Area and takes you high up to Hollyburn Peak which has incredible views of Burrard Inlet and Downtown Vancouver.
Hollyburn Peak is a grind but so worth it!
The Shed Pop Bar on Cypress Mountain
The Shed is the best bar to go to after a tiring hike on Cypress Mountain! You can find the bar about a quarter of the way up Cypress Mountain. They serve yummy pizza and drinks and we love going there for a beer and to check out the view after our adventures on the mountain. The views from here are some of the best views in Vancouver and you don’t need to purchase anything from the bar to enjoy them.
Find the Cypress Mountain Cabins
The Cypress Mountain Cabin Trail is a fun Winter activity for the entire family. It takes you around snowy Winter trails where you can find about 100 cabins. These cabins are privately owned so make sure you don’t trespass but they are beautiful to look at. I absolutely love this trail. Dave and I have done it quite a few times now.
Our Thoughts
If you know us, you won’t be surprised to hear that we would love to go back to Bowen Lookout for a sunset or sunrise to get some photos with some beautiful light. Bowen Lookout is one of the best Winter hikes in Vancouver but also beautiful during Summer.
Overall, we thought the Bowen Lookout Hike was a fun hike to do if you are looking for a short hike that isn’t going to take up your entire day. The viewpoint was beautiful but there are definitely better less obstructed viewpoints around such as Dog Mountain.
If you want a hike that is similar in distance but with an even better view check out our blog post on Dog Mountain here.
You might also enjoy:
- Amazing Things to do in Vancouver in Winter
- Best Vancouver Snowshoeing Trails
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- How to Find the Secret Horseshoe Bay Lookout
- Stunning Winter Hikes in Vancouver
- Amazing Whistler Tours in Winter
- Is the Capilano Suspension Bridge Worth It
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- Best Rainy Day Hikes Near Vancouver
- How to Spend 4 Unforgettable Days in Vancouver in Winter (Mountains, Forests, Breweries)
- How to Spend a Magical Christmas in Vancouver
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