Scenic Views · Camping & Hiking · British Columbia
A rugged forest hike on Vancouver's North Shore, about 10 to 12 km return, to Kennedy Falls with a stop at the Big Cedar. Dog-friendly, with roots, creek crossings and a chain-assisted section.
Kennedy Falls is a craggy cascade at the end of a rainforest trail above North Vancouver, and the walk in is as much the point as the falls. The route passes stony creeks and the Big Cedar, a giant old tree that many hikers stop to see on the way.
Most people start from the end of Mountain Highway, where a gravel road leads to several trailheads. Reviewers put the round trip at 10 to 12 km and between four and five hours with a break at the falls. Hikers call it beginner to intermediate, but it's technical in places: roots, uneven ground, boulder hopping and one steep spot with a chain to hold. Decent runners or boots help.
It's popular with dog owners, and people of a range of ages manage it with reasonable fitness. The falls make a good lunch stop before heading back the same way.
Trail guides describe it as unmaintained, with blowdown and markers that can get lost, so pay attention to navigation. The parking lot fills up; one group waited for a space, and some hikers start from Lynn Headwaters Regional Park instead, where seasonal pay parking applies.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 324 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.
