I think we did in the dog . . . Lynn Canyon

Monday, June 20, 2011

I think we did in the dog . . . Lynn Canyon

by Jan Rankin on Mon, Jun, 20, 2011 05:49 PM

Categories:hiking,lynn valley,north shore,trails,vancouver,walking

I think we did in the dog . . .

I have lived most of my life in Richmond and Ladner. Technically, I think that makes me a ‘flatlander’. The closest thing to a hill is the Hwy 17 overpass in Ladner or the No 2 Road Bridge in Richmond. That said, there is the occasionally need to “get outta Dodge” and find something with a bit of elevation and fresher air. One of our favourite places to get away from it all is Lynn Canyon. It’s close, it’s free and there is spectacular scenery. Most of the walks and trails are easy (as long as you have better footwear than flip flops) and once you get beyond the suspension bridge and swim hole, most people don’t venture up those stairs so there is a lot of quiet particularly if you venture off the beaten path beyond Rice Lake or the Headwaters.

For my husband, it’s the perfect way to spend Father’s Day. Water, some snacks and at least 3-4 hours is what we usually plan for up there. Lynn Canyon is frequently misty (not foggy) and slightly cool with a bit of mugginess. Yesterday was no exception. No rain but enough moisture in the mist to make your hair quite wet and your clothing a bit soggy. Typical “raincoast” day on the North Shore. Love it!

We went past a usual route near Rice Lake and cut over to Seymour Mainline for the first time. It’s a paved road and I can see a long bike ride in my future. At about 3 kilometers up the road, there is trail cut in and there is a mountain bike trail inside. We walked a substantial amount on the Twin Bridges trail before looping back to the road. The drop off along the bike path looked insanely scary. One wrong move . . . Yikes! We could hear water but we did not have a vantage point at anytime to view.

The other side of the trail (back across Seymour Mainline) took us back to the junction of Rice Lake or Lynn Headwaters. We had actually been walking for about 3 hours and my dog was starting to struggle. (She’s a flatlander too!). Back at the Information Centre we opted for the ‘new shortcut’ back to the suspension bridge and our truck. By the time we got back, it took 2 of us to lift my muddy, exhausted dog into the back of the truck. Poor snoop (her name is Pebbles and she weighs about 80 pounds).

It is always interesting to go to a familiar place and find something completely new. We live in an amazing place. From flatlands to valleys and foothills in under 30!

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