Scenic Views · British Columbia
A short hike from the Cypress Mountain parking lot in Cypress Provincial Park, West Vancouver, to a clearing with views of Bowen Island and Howe Sound. Easy overall, with a steep gravel stretch near the end.
Bowen Lookout is a small clearing on the edge of Cypress Provincial Park that looks west over Howe Sound to Bowen Island, with other islands and the Coast Mountains around it. Most reviewers say the view does the job it promises: ocean, islands and peaks in one frame, close enough to Vancouver for an afternoon outing.
The trail starts from the Cypress Mountain ski area parking lot and runs roughly 2 km each way. Hikers describe open meadows and small ponds at the start, then shady forest, then a rocky, shaley section where most of the climbing happens. Several people call it easy with a few short steep pitches; one found the last third noticeably harder than the rest. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes up.
It's a good pick for families and newer hikers who want a proper view without a long day. Grey jays, Steller's jays and chipmunks hang around the lookout, and several visitors mention birds landing on their hands. Once at the top, there are a few concrete blocks to sit on, though the clearing fills up fast on sunny weekends.
Plan for conditions. One group hiking in late May found more than half the trail still under snow, and another warns that the trail line on Google Maps was off, so check a proper trail map. BC Parks requires a free backcountry access tag for the corridor, available at the resort. Reviewers mention paying for parking at times, so check what applies on the day, and park outside the gates if you might be out late.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 399 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.
