Norvan Falls – North Vancouver

January 24, 2019September 4, 2022 Carl Blanchet 0 Comments Day Hikes, Dog Friendly, Drinking Water, Hiking, Intermediate Hikes, Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, Lynn Valley, North Vancouver, Parking Available, Smoking Free Zone, Toilets Available, Transit Accessible, Waterfalls

Norvan Falls located 7 km deep within Lynn Headwaters Regional Park is a popular hike as it offers long distance on well-maintained trail with minimal elevation gain. This hike ideal for trail running or spending a day within nature accompanied with a beautiful waterfall to reward yourself at the end.

Time (Round Trip): 4-5 hrs
Distance (Round Trip): 14 km
Difficulty: Intermediate
Season: Year-Round
Elevation Gain: 195 m
Scenery: ★★★☆☆
Camping: No
From Vancouver: 40 minutes
Public Transit: Yes (click here to plan route)
Dog Friendly: Yes (on-leash in sections)

At about 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Lynn Headwaters is a very popular location for hiking, picnicking or swimming. Parking is limited within the park, therefor you may have to park along the residential roads of Lynn Valley. Beware of parking time limitation, many streets allow for 2 hours of parking only. This may also add a couple KMs to your trek.

The trail starts in the vast Lynn Headwaters Regional Park and follows Lynn Creek roughly 7km to Norvan Fall, a lovely waterfall perfect to take a snack break. (add info here)

There are many alternate hikes within Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, many more casual such as Rice Lake, Lynn Peak and other challenging hikes such as Lynn Lake, Coliseum Mountain, Crown Mountain and more.

ESTIMATED DRIVING TIME FROM VANCOUVER: 40 MINUTES

The trailhead to Norvan Falls via Hanes Valley begins from Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. To reach Lynn Headwaters from outside of North Vancouver, take the fourth exit after Second Narrows bridge (Exit #21) onto Mountain Highway. Head north towards Lynn Valley for 2.4 km and take a right onto Lynn Valley Road. If you are coming from Lions Gate Bridge, follow the signs to the Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 heading East and continue until the exit 19 for Lynn Valley Road. Once on Lynn Valley Road continue North-East all the way to the end.

You will reach a 3 way stop next to the End of the Line General Store, continue straight, soon after you will notice an open yellow gate and clear sign for Lynn Headwater Park, follow through the gate and make sure to notice the park hours (which varies by season) as the gate gets locked from Dusk to Dawn daily. There is a parking lot a the far end of the road as well as 2 overflow parking lots before hand and an abundance of parking along side the road where permitted.

You will want to arrive early as parking gets full relatively fast. Make sure to exit the park prior to the closing hours, otherwise the authorities will be notified and a full search party will be initiated.

TRANSIT ACCESS TO LYNN HEADWATERS

From downtown Vancouver, take the Seabus across to North Vancouver. At the Lonsdale Quay bus loop, take bus #238 to Lynn Valley. Stay on the bus until the last stop at the end of Lynn Valley Road. Get off the bus and walk the remaining 1.6 km northbound to Lynn Headwaters. This will take you about 20 minutes.

Once you're off the bus, you continue straight at the stop and you will get to a fork in the road, take a right down the hill. At the bottom of the hill continue straight and do not cross the bridge. Follow that road for a bit and you will see a staircase on the right with a sign directing to Lynn Headwaters, head down the stairs which will lead you on the Varley trail to the parking lot at the very end of Lynn valley Road. This is where you would park if you had a car. Follow the trail past the parking lot across the bridge and over the river. Go to the map board and grab a map! Once you have a map go left (north) towards Norvan Fall and then Lynn Lake.

The second option you can do is, Once you're off the bus and you've gotten to the bottom of that hill, go right and take the small bridge over the river. Across the bridge ascend the uphill gravel path and remain left until you reach the start of Lynn Headwaters and continue accordingly from there.