Once you meet the East canyon trail, the walk is simple. by Taryn Eyton Turn left and follow the road across the bridge and into the Gold Creek parking lot where you started. Just make sure you dress accordingly of course! We will begin on the WEST canyon trail, hike up gold creek, connect with the East Canyon … NPS - Dan Kish. Required fields are marked *, Golden Ears Canyon Loop Hike (Golden Ears Canyon West & East Loop). I … Golden Ears Loop Route from Golden Ears to Blanshard is a difficult Mountaineering Route that requires vertical bushwacking, exposed ridgeline scrambling, roped vertical climbing and … Another beautiful waterfall at Golden Ears Provincial park is Upper Gold Creek Falls. create. From the parking lot, follow the wide and easy Lower Falls Trail beside Gold Creek. Follow the West Canyon Trail from the parking lot to Alder Flats. But that’s an easy walk. The Golden Ears Canyon Loop is an intermediate 12-kilometer hike from East Canyon Trail to West Canyon Trail, or vice versa. A few of us did the Golden Ears Canyon Loop and Upper Falls trail on this wet and soggy day. Your email address will not be published. The extensive system of trails within the park provides an excellent opportunity for hiking and horseback riding. You will quickly be back on a rooty and rocky single-track trail. Shortly after you'll come to a Y, go left. Check the forecast and pack extra clothing for the weather. At Alder Flats, the West Canyon Trail ends, and the Golden Ears Trail begins. The next section of trail is rough, rooty, and rocky. I covered that too. With over 50 kilometres of trails, there are countless hike … Initially, we had parked much further from the trailhead and we had to return to the parking lot again to go to this parking lot to start our hike. Sign Up or Log In. The trail to your left descends to cross Gold Creek on a bridge. Getting There: This hike is in Golden Ears Provincial Park in Maple Ridge. On a clear day, there are great views of Golden Ears Peak. The long and challenging route to the summit of Golden Ears heads right while you go left on the West Canyon Trail. Check their website for more details, Best season to do the chief hike: March to November. Trails near the West Canyon Trail. The trail system in the park is extensive with varying degrees of length and difficulty. The trail zigs up to the right, on an old logging road, and starts to climb uphill. Inside Vancouver is a multi-author blog, written by Vancouverites about Vancouver. Upper Falls via East Canyon Trail and West Canyon Trail Loop Old friends like Robie Reid, Judge Howay, Golden Ears, Edge Peak, Blanshard Needle and others. star star star star star_border. After the stiff climb, emerge from the forest on the wide East Canyon Trail, a former road. Read our tips for getting outdoors during COVID-19. The hike will begin along the West Canyon Trail before it becomes the Golden Ears Trail. Along the way, we will see some beautiful nature scenes including the lush forest, mountain views and the Lower Falls. Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Vancouver. Gold Creek lookout offers a very nice view of the creek. With snow blanketing the mountain tops, November is a great time for low-elevation valley bottom hikes. Blogroll. Ignore the turn-off to the Viewpoint Point Trail on your right, and continue for a few minutes to intersect the Menzies Trail. 34 trails on an interactive map of the trail network. Turn left to follow it downhill to the park road. It is an easier hike with a steeper section at the end. Follow the Lougheed Hwy East from Vancouver, turning off at the second Dewdney Trunk exit. It travels through lush forest along the banks of Gold Creek and passes by a beautiful waterfall. Once you will reach the bridge, you can take the west canyon loop but just a km ahead of the bridge, there is a Viewpoint point. The east trail is very basic open fairly flat and a good walk down to the connector bridge. Parking: Paved lot with large spaces for buses and RV's. Turn left and hike uphill to begin your return journey down the west side of the valley. This is a moderate one way trail to Half Moon Beach Campground in Golden Ears Provincial Park. 21 Reviews of Alder Flats (in Golden Ears) "Snow started fairly low at about 380m in the last 0.5 of the trail. Heads up: The park gate at Golden Ears Provincial Park is unlocked from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. in the winter. Continue on Golden Ears Way across the Golden Ears Bridge into Maple Ridge where it becomes 128 Avenue, then Abernethy Way. Situated in the Golden ears provincial park, the golden loop trails offers a very nice view of the mountains, river, waterfalls etc. However, I would suggest you start your hike along the lower falls trail. Most junctions are well signed, but bring a copy of the Golden Ears park map to help orient yourself. in Outside Easily accessible from the Gold Creek Parking lot, it is a relatively flat trail snaking along Gold Creek itself. This Provincial Park is a gooorgeous area to travel to and … Leave the highway at Exit 53 and follow the signs to turn left onto Golden Ears Way. Driving from Vancouver to the Golden ears takes around an hour and 20 minutes to reach to the trailhead. Continue through the park on the main road for 13km to a bridge. NOTICEBOARD. Location Map Golden Ears Provincial Park lies in the Coast Mountains 11 km north of Maple Ridge on the north side of the Fraser River. When you are ready to continue hiking, retrace your steps back to the East Canyon Trail, turn right and head back to the junction. Difficult. The Trail: This hike uses several trails to make a circuit in the Gold Creek Canyon. You can hear the water stream sound from the creek to your left but you might not see the water because of the forest. Here is the hiking trail profile that you would want to have a look at: Here is the list of landmarks that I followed: From lower falls trailhead to lower falls, the walk is pretty flat with a lot of viewpoints. Lower Falls is found within Golden Ears Provincial Park in British Columbia. Maple Ridge, BC 1 4.5 mi 7.3 km #6 Golden Ears Trail. Grabbed my gear and set out for the walk. Also, the trail here is pretty steep but not so long. Leave a trip plan so someone knows where you are going and when you will be back. Please mindful that once you reach the  West Canyon trailhead, you have to walk another 2 Km to reach back to the parking lot where you parked your vehicle. But before heading back to the trailhead, continue straight on the East Canyon Trail for a few more minutes to an outhouse and a spur trail heading left. West Canyon Trail is actually the first leg of Golden Ears but this review will just be on the canyon trail. The Golden Ears Canyon Loop is basically two fun hikes either side of Gold Creek Canyon, linked together by a bridge, so you can walk in a loop around Golden Ears Provincial Park. Turn left to follow it upstream for about a kilometre to another junction. I couldn't get to Alder Flats as I found out after some search that the bridge was out. Download KML trail map. Safety First: AdventureSmart recommends bringing a backpack with essential safety and first aid gear on every hike. You would want to stop and take a lot of pictures on the way. You will gain about 80 m of elevation in less than half a kilometre. There is an outhouse, garbage bin, recycling bin, and a tap designated for drinking water only. on November 2, 2020, Gold Creek from the bridge. © 2021 Tourism Vancouver. Eventually, this trail joins the East Canyon trail. After you have enjoyed the waterfall, turn right and head steeply uphill on the Connector Trail. ANFAHRTSBESCHREIBUNG: From the Golden Ears Park entrance, drive to the end of the pavement past the camp grounds and continue along the gravel road to it's end. The first part of the trail simply follows the East Canyon Trail a little over a kilometer and then turns right at a sign that says "Mount Nutt Viewpoints-difficult". Gold Creek Falls, reached by the Lower Falls Trail, is a popular hike in Golden Ears Provincial Park, near Maple Ridge, B.C.. Gold Creek Falls is a great hike for those camping in the park or visiting Alouette Lake. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites ... 0.5 mi 0.7 km #5 Loop Trail. ... Download Free KML Trail Map for the West Canyon Trail The West Canyon Trail is equipped with a free ... enabled cell-phone or in a GPS device. I have personally done the first two but have yet to tackle the big one. Maple Ridge, BC Difficult. The Trail: This hike uses several trails to make a circuit in the Gold Creek Canyon. Vietnam Tour: Traditional Wedding, Karaoke, Grand Lunch & Dinner, From Vancouver to the Golden Ears trailhead, Camping: there are a lot of camping sites near the parking lot. About 10 minutes after the lookout, the rough trail ends and an old eroded gravel road begins. Back on the main trail, follow the old road for about 3 kilometres passing through beautiful mossy forest and across several rushing creeks. ... East And West Canyon Loop Alder Flats. Situated in the Golden ears provincial park, the golden loop trails offers a very nice view of the mountains, river, waterfalls etc. Golden ears canyon loop has become one of the famous hikes near Vancouver especially after the construction of the bridge which joins the west canyon loop to the east canyon loop. Headed to the east parking lot at golden ears today. Keep watch of the markers. Golden Ears Peak from Viewpoint Beach. The first 1.6 km from the parking lot is a very gentle slope on a gravel path (East Canyon Trail), which is a good warm up. Though there are a number of campgrounds and parking lots, however, this is the parking lot where we decided to park our vehicle. Here is google map location of the parking lot. add_box. Golden Ears Park is one of those parks that you can enjoy no matter what the weather is like, especially if you decide to do the Golden Ears Canyon Loop. Gold Creek Falls is a very popular hike in Golden Ears Provincial Park, but an extension to include the Canyon Loop is definitely worth it! Turn left on 232 Street and follow it north. Hiking Gold Creek Falls & Canyon Loop in Golden Ears ... Brothers Creek, Blue Gentian Lake & Lost Lake Loop in West Vancouver « Previous Next » Best Hikes in BC Interactive Map. Refreshing Activities to Celebrate Spring in V... 10 Instagrammable Spring Locations Around Vanc... March’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Cyp... 9 Kid-Friendly Outdoor Things to Do in Vancouv... 8 Ways to Celebrate UN World Wildlife Day in V... Go from the Mountains to Beach in the Same Day... Find a Birding Spot Near Vancouver on the BC ... Fall Ecology Events Around Vancouver (In-Pers... November’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Gold Creek Canyon Loop, tips for getting outdoors during COVID-19. The East Canyon loop is situated east to the river and the accordingly, the west canyon loop is situated to the west of the river. Next Generation Hiking Trail Maps. A Non-Profit Trekking & Traveling Blog by Amar Shekhar. The West Coast Trail to the peak of Golden Ears Mountain is an ambitious, difficult and rewarding trail to hike. Oct 1, 2017. Golden Ears Provincial Park Hiking Key: E~2~CC~DF~KF~WF~V Length: 15 K Elevation: 300 m (not including loss) Pit Toilet: yes/parking lots Dogs: yes. Golden Ears is well known to those in the Lower Mainland. Difficult. Pause at the signed Gold Creek Lookout to gaze down to the bridge far below you. Follow the main upper canyon trail until branching trails eventually disappear after 2 km or so. From the relatively flat 5.5km Lower Gold Creek Falls Trail, to the 12km Canyon Loop Trail and the 24km Golden Ears Trail that takes you all the way up to the 1717 metre high peak. Author of The Girl from the Woods and a Travel writer from India looking forward to collect quirky tales from around the world, Your email address will not be published. Golden Ears Provincial Park Highlights As one of the largest parks in the province (62,540 ha), Golden Ears Provincial Park is prized for its recreational opportunities. There will be a Golden Ears Park sign on … Start at East Canyon Trail parking lot just past the yellow gate. Soak up the beautiful views of the canyon from the bridge, then head through the forest to another junction. On February 14th at 10:00 am we are hiking on the Golden Ears Canyon Loop. Go right at the roundabout onto 132 Avenue. The trail starts out easily enough with an easily graded gravel coated trail. You can admire the Lower Falls from the viewpoint here, or follow a faint and very rough trail a few minutes upstream to see Upper Falls. Follow it down to Viewpoint Beach on Gold Creek, which is a great place to have lunch. This trail is very scenic and offers some of the breathtaking sceneries of the mountains, forest, and river. A sign here points the way down the steep slope to the left to an alternative view of Lower Falls. It is a popular day hike for those seeking an enjoyable and relaxing hike. fullscreen. You will come to a point where there is a sign pointing you to Golden Ears to the left. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security soon after the trail transfers from gravel to a … Overall, I would say that the East Canyon loop trail was much prettier than the west Canyon part. These trails are called East canyon loop and the west canyon loop. Golden Ears Provincial Park mountain bike trail map. If there is snow or ice on the road, the park will be closed. It was nice. A little after the bridge to the gold creek lookout, the trail is uneven, narrow, and sometimes can become steep too. Then you'll come to a T with a sign post, go left. Both trails lead to Viewpoint Beach and Hikers Beach where the East/West Canyon Connector joins the two trails with a bridge, forming one continuous loop. Photo: Priscilla du Preez on Unsplash. This is a new bridge which now joins the west and the East canyon loop so it has become pretty easy to do the canyon loop hike now. After staring at the jagged 'ears' from all angle, I finally got to see them up close and in-person. From viewpoint beach, you have to return to the bridge. Follow Dewdney to 232nd St and take a left. East And West Canyon Loop. This loop route in Golden Ears Provincial Park is a great hike for a wet or cloudy day. Park here. Follow signs. Forested trail. To get there take Highway 1 east from Vancouver over the Port Mann Bridge. It’s a very steep trail, but it’s short and is worth it if you have the extra energy. The route passes several points of interest, including Viewpoint Beach, Hikers Beach, and the Gold Creek Lookout. The trail to Golden Ears begins in the West Canyon parking lot. This waterfall is stunning and a little harder to get to as it is not well marked. Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral Length: 3 miles (4.8 km) out and back trip Time: 1.5 to 2 hours round trip Difficulty: Moderate Elevation: 577 ft (176m) Location: Golden Canyon Trailhead located 2 miles south of CA-190 on Badwater Road. Maple Ridge, BC 0 Photos of Golden Ears Provincial Park - 4. Basically, there are two trails which you can take for the Golden ears hike. After 2.5 km reach Gold Creek Falls. Golden Canyon . Our goal is to give an insider’s view of Vancouver, to provide information, stories and opinions from the locals’ perspective about this great city. The completion of a bridge over Gold Creek in late-2015 connected the East Canyon and West Canyon trails and it's possible for hikers to do a loop through this area of Golden Ears Provincial Park. Hiking is a little different during the pandemic. Follow it as it becomes Fern Crescent and then enters Golden Ears Provincial Park. MAP & DIRECTIONS. From lower falls, look for the markers towards your right for the further trail. Lower falls is really beautiful and misty. Trail Stats: 12 km loop, 185 m elevation gain, 4 hours, moderate difficulty, dogs allowed on-leash. Hiking in Cypress Provincial Park: Which hike is the best? The material on this website may not be cached, distributed, reproduced, transmitted, or otherwise used without the prior permission of Tourism Vancouver. Access to the park is by vehicle via Dewdney Trunk Road through the Municipality of Maple Ridge. This is your return route. The trailhead starts at the very far end of the lot by the cement barricade. Most junctions are well signed, but bring a copy of the Golden Ears park map to help orient yourself.. From the parking lot, follow the wide and easy Lower Falls Trail beside Gold Creek. A few minutes later, arrive at another junction. GOLDEN EARS TRAIL: (12 km; suggested time: 7 hours; elevation change: 1,500 metres). Cross the bridge, then turn left into the Gold Creek parking lot. After Gold creek lookout, the trail is a descend and wide. Photo: Taryn Eyton, happiestoutdoors.ca. Mount Nutt is in Golden Ears Provincial Park and the trail was made between 2011 and 2013 by Alan Lizee and the Ridge Meadows Outdoor Club. Photo: Taryn Eyton, HappiestOutdoors.ca. Even on a moody day the views were spectacular. Golden ears canyon loop has become one of the famous hikes near Vancouver especially after the construction of the bridge which joins the west canyon loop to the east canyon loop. Turn right again and follow the trail to the bridge. From Alder Flats the Golden Ears Trail continues up a steep path to an old rail bed heading west. From here, enter the trail past the West Canyon/Golden Ears sign. This trail goes by Upper Falls, Gold Creek Upper Falls, Viewpoint Beach Campground, Viewpoint Beach, Hikers Beach, and Half Moon Beach. You can access this waterfall via the East Canyon trail. It gets steep from here.