How to Find the Magical Cypress Mountain Cabins

If you’ve been dreaming of finding those snow-covered cabins all over Instagram, you’re in the right place.

These are the Cypress Mountain Cabins, also known as the Hollyburn Cabins, and are located on Cypress Mountain, a 30 minute drive from Vancouver. I’ve hiked this trail dozens of times in Winter and every visit feels like stepping into a snowy fairytale. I can confirm that it is one of the best snowshoe adventures near the city!

There are about 100 cabins along the trail. You’re free to wander as far as you like, but remember these are privately owned, so keep your distance and be respectful of anyone staying there.

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to find the cabins, the best places to start your hike, where to park, and tips for turning a simple winter walk into a magical adventure.

Everything You Need to Know About the Hollyburn Cabins

Why are the cabins there?

Let’s start with why the cabins are there…

After the Hollyburn Ski Camp/Lodge opened in January, 1927, Hollyburn Ridge became a popular place for people to build their own cabins to be close to the skiing action. In 1973, the owners of the cabins formed the Hollyburn Ridge Association in order to protect and preserve the Hollyburn Cabin area and to promote the recreational use and access to the public to the Hollyburn Ridge area.

The cabins are stilled used but now the trails also serve as one of the best snowshoeing trails near Vancouver. You can read more about the history of the Hollyburn Cabins here.

Where to park for the Cypress Mountain Cabins

Parking Lot Option 1 – small parking lot on side of road

There are two different routes you can take. I have marked the map below with the places to park. The first is a small carpark that you will see on your right that fits about 7 cars off the side of the road next to the trail. This is a very unofficial trail and is a longer hike to get to the first cabin. There is also more elevation involved in this route so if you are looking for some good exercise this might be the hike for you!

Parking Lot Option 2 – Hollyburn Nordic Area

Alternatively, you can park at the Cypress Mountain Hollyburn Nordic Area and do a slightly different trail. You will see the turnoff to the Cypress Mountain Hollyburn Nordic Area on your right a bit after the first smaller carpark. Once you reach the carpark, drive all the way to the end and park. The trail starts from here and it’s only around 250m until you reach the first cabin.

👉 Don’t plan a trip to Vancouver in Winter before reading this

Packing List for Your Day Hike

When hiking in the snow, 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.

• Micro Spikes – to stop you from slipping on ice!
• Waterproof outer layer
• Puffer Jacket – this is my favourite puffer jacket that you see in all of our photos
• Fleece mid-layer – my favourite fleece
• Merino hiking t-shirt – my favourites are from Icebreaker
• Fleece Leggings or water resistant snow pants
• Hiking boots or insulated hiking boots
• Warm merino hiking socks
• Hiking poles if required, however the trails are quite flat from the Nordic Ski Area
• Beanie
• Sunhat
• Sunscreen
• First aid kit

How to find the Cypress Mountain Cabins

There are not a lot of instructions online on where you are supposed to start the walk to the Cypress Mountain Cabins near Vancouver and so we got pretty confused the first time we went.

We ended up walking way too far and getting a bit lost. Don’t make this mistake! This is why we have provided instructions for the 2 different routes you can take. For each route, you will park in a different area.

Route 1 – from the smaller parking lot before the Cypress Mountain Hollyburn Nordic Area

If you choose to park in the smaller carpark that you arrive at before the Nordic Ski Area, once you have parked, look for the trail that goes into the forest. It is quite a wide trail which cars can use and if you have a 4wd you might even prefer to drive a little further and park further up the trail.

Keep walking and eventually you will reach an intersection where the right is a flat path and to the left is uphill. We chose to go left and found a few cute cabins up there, but I’m sure there would be more if you went right. It’s kind of like a choose your own adventure!

It takes longer to reach the first cabin via this route than route 2.

You will come to a few different places, where there are snowy paths on either side of the main path. Venture off onto these paths to find some magical cabins!

Tips
1. If you don’t have snow shoes, bring along some micro spikes because the road can get pretty slippery.
2. Bring along a toboggan for the sliding down the hills!
3. Wear sunscreen! The sun reflects off the snow and burns.
4. The cabins are privately owned. Please be respectful and don’t go climbing all over them. There also may be people staying in them.

Route 2 – From the Cypress Mountain Hollyburn Nordic Ski Area

Once you reach the carpark for the Hollyburn Nordic Area, drive all the way to the end of the carpark and park here. The trail is located at the end of the carpark. You will reach the first two cabins after about 250 metres. If you keep walking you will come more and more cabins. You can go as far as you want to before turning back to the carpark.

The Instagram Famous Cabin

There is an A-Frame cabin on the trail closes to the Hollyburn Nordic Area that has become quite “Insta Famous.” This can be found close to the start of the trail from the Hollyburn Nordic Area parking lot. It will be on your left-hand-side as you walk into the forest.

Our Thoughts

This is a fun day outing for the whole family and one of the best things to do in Vancouver in Winter. Walking through the snowy forest on Cypress Mountain in search of the cabins is such a magical experience and so much fun!

📷 Share your cabin photos or experiences in the comments or tag us (@oceanus_adventure) in your photos on Instagram!

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