Day Trips from Vancouver That Cost Less Than $50
Most of the best day trips around Vancouver cost less than lunch. Every place below has no entry fee listed or costs under $13 a person. Your real spending goes on gas, parking and coffee, and a few of these trips can cut even those.
This list covers the Shore, the Sea to Sky, Howe Sound, Bowen Island and the Fraser Valley. You get canyon bridges, waterfalls, a train wreck in the woods, a rebuilt Hudson’s Bay Company fort and a channel full of spawning sockeye. Each entry covers what you’ll see, why it’s there, when to go and how to get in without overpaying.
Timing matters this week. Weaver Creek’s sockeye peak runs October 15 to 25. Brandywine Falls’ gate and Lynn Canyon’s pay parking both end October 31. BC Parks’ free day-use passes aren’t needed at any of these parks right now, and the Canada Strong Pass ended September 7, so regular admission applies again at Fort Langley.
10. Whistler Train Wreck (Cheakamus Crossing, Whistler)
Where: Cheakamus Crossing, south end of Whistler
When: Open all year
Cost: No fee listed
Getting there: Cheakamus Lake Road, then right on Jane Lakes Road at Legacy Way
In 1956 a train derailed in the forest at the south end of Whistler. The boxcars were left among the trees, and over the years they’ve been covered in painted art. Seeing them is the reason to come.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler calls it an easy hike you can do in any season. The gravel route is 2.6 km and crosses a suspension bridge over the Cheakamus River. The area connects to the Sea to Sky Trail and to technical mountain-bike trails, so watch for riders.
To get there, turn south off Highway 99 onto Cheakamus Lake Road. Go right onto Jane Lakes Road at the Legacy Way intersection. The main parking area is on the right. The municipal page lists no fee.
It pairs well with Brandywine Falls on the same drive, as long as you go before Brandywine’s gate closes on October 31. Route details are on the Whistler trail network page.
9. Fort Langley National Historic Site (Township of Langley)
Where: Village of Fort Langley, Township of Langley
When: Daily 10 am to 4:30 pm; closed Dec 24, 25, 26, 31 and Jan 1
Cost: $10 adult, $8.50 senior, 17 and under free
Getting there: 48 km drive from downtown Vancouver
Fort Langley was a Hudson’s Bay Company fur-trading post on the Fraser River. The site has been rebuilt with rough-hewn timber buildings that show life in the 1800s. Costumed interpreters work the grounds, and you can talk with them as you go.
The Storehouse dates from the 1840s. It’s the only original building left. The bastions and upper gallery are closed for conservation work after wood testing, but the rest of the site is open. The village of Fort Langley around the fort has shops and cafés for after.
It’s the one paid stop on this list, and it’s still cheap. Admission is $10 for adults and $8.50 for seniors. Youth 17 and under get in free, so two adults and two kids pay $20. An adult annual pass is $24.50. The Canada Strong Pass ended September 7, so regular admission applies again.
The site is open 7 days a week, 10 am to 4:30 pm. It’s closed December 24, 25, 26 and 31, and January 1. Parks Canada puts it at a 48 km drive from downtown Vancouver. Hours and fees are on the Parks Canada Fort Langley page.
| Trip | How it’s charged | Family total |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Langley NHS | $10 per adult, 17 and under free | $20.00 |
| Bowen Island walk-on ferry | $12.45 per adult, $6.25 per child, return included | $37.40 |
| Lynn Canyon main lot, 4 hours, until Oct 31 | $3 per hour, per car | $12.00 |
| Lynn Canyon main lot from Nov 1, or east lot | Free parking | $0 |
| Shannon Falls, Brandywine Falls, Golden Ears | No day-use fee | $0 |
8. Brandywine Falls Provincial Park (between Squamish and Whistler)
Where: Highway 99, between Squamish and Whistler
When: Gate open 8 am to 8 pm until Oct 31; walk-in only after
Cost: No day-use fee
Getting there: Off Highway 99
Brandywine Falls drops 70 metres into a canyon, and you watch it from a viewing platform on the edge of a volcanic cliff. You get there by crossing a covered footbridge from the parking lot. The park also looks out over Daisy Lake and the mountains around it.
The name may come from a bet between two railway surveyors. They wagered a bottle of brandy on who could guess the height of the falls more closely. The lower falls area is closed because of unstable slopes and falling rock. BC Parks calls the canyon extremely unsafe, so stay on marked trails.
The gate is open May 1 to October 31. Until the end of the season it opens 8 am to 8 pm. After October 31 the gate closes and you can only walk in. In winter, don’t park outside the gate on the highway.
There’s no day-use fee. There’s also no water, and campfires aren’t allowed. If you want to drive in, you have until October 31. Gate details are on the Sea to Sky Parks Brandywine page.
7. Alice Lake Provincial Park: Four Lakes Trail (Squamish)
Where: Just north of Squamish, off Highway 99
When: Open in fall
Cost: No day-use pass needed; no fee listed
Getting there: Off Highway 99 north of Squamish
Four freshwater lakes make up most of this park. It’s named for Alice Rose, the first woman settler to hike and fish in the area. The Four Lakes trail is an 8 km loop that winds past all four.
If you have kids or need an accessible route, take the Alice Lake Loop instead. It’s an easy family walk and it’s wheelchair accessible.
Fall changes the trail. From September 15 to May 1, bikes are allowed on most of the Four Lakes trail. The section between Edith Lake and Alice Lake is closed to cycling permanently. Keep to the right and listen for riders behind you.
Alice Lake isn’t on BC Parks’ list of parks that need a day-use pass, and no day-use fee is listed. The park is off Highway 99 just north of Squamish. Check BC Parks for current conditions before you head out.
6. Porteau Cove Provincial Park (Howe Sound)
Where: Highway 99 between Lions Bay and Britannia Beach
When: Open all year; day use and parking until 10 pm (operator) or 11 pm (BC Parks)
Cost: No day-use fee listed
Getting there: 38 km north of Vancouver, entrance on Highway 99
Porteau Cove sits on the east shore of Howe Sound, 38 km north of Vancouver. BC Parks calls Howe Sound the most southerly fjord in North America. The day-use area has picnic tables right on the water and a pebbly beach piled with big driftwood. A short trail climbs to a lookout over the Sound.
It’s one of the more accessible waterfront spots on the Sea to Sky. The BC Ferries emergency pier has a paved walkway that wheelchair users can take out over the water. The park has accessible pit and flush toilets. Divers know it well for scuba diving. There are no lifeguards.
The park is open all year, and the operator says the day-use area and parking stay open until 10 pm (BC Parks’ own page gives 11 pm, so check before a late visit). Facilities are limited right now. The operator’s rate list covers only camping and cabins, with no day-use fee shown.
Bring your own water. Drinking water isn’t available in the park because of lead. Check BC Parks before you go for current facilities.
5. Shannon Falls Provincial Park and the Chief (Squamish)
Where: Highway 99, just south of Squamish
When: Open all year; reduced services after Oct 15
Cost: No day-use fee
Getting there: Entrance directly on Highway 99
Shannon Falls drops 335 metres over a series of cliffs, right above Highway 99. It’s the third-highest waterfall in BC, after Della Falls and Hunlen Falls. You reach the viewing area on an easy 350-metre walk. The park operator lists wheelchair access among the park’s facilities.
The day-use area has picnic tables and a trail link to Stawamus Chief Park next door. The Chief Trail is a different outing altogether. It’s steep and difficult, and BC Parks says it’s for hikers in good physical condition. Rockfall can happen anywhere in the park.
The park stays open in winter with reduced services. The operator’s full-service season ran March 15 to October 15. Stairs and trail treads get slippery in the cold months, and ice can fall, so wear shoes with real grip.
There’s no day-use fee. Park only in the marked lots. Illegally parked cars get towed, and the operator charges to unlock the gate for cars left in closed day-use areas. Conditions are posted on the BC Parks Shannon Falls page.
4. Golden Ears Provincial Park: Lower Falls Trail (Maple Ridge)
Where: North of Maple Ridge
When: Open in fall; no pass needed now
Cost: Free
Getting there: Dewdney Trunk Road, 232nd Street, Fern Crescent
BC Parks calls the Lower Falls Trail a popular, easy walk. It follows Gold Creek from the Gold Creek parking lot to the 10-metre Lower Falls. It’s about 2.6 km and roughly an hour each way, with 87 m of elevation gain.
Waterfalls are dangerous, and the trail report asks people not to swim in the falls. The connector loop to the East Canyon trail is steep and challenging, so skip it with kids. If you need a wheelchair-accessible route, the park has the Spirea Universal Access Trail.
The free vehicle day-use pass was required only from May 15 to September 7, 2026. You don’t need one now. Entry is free.
The park is 11 km north of Maple Ridge. Take Dewdney Trunk Road to 232nd Street, then Fern Crescent, and follow the road into the park. The trail report on file is dated May 19, 2026, so read the latest Golden Ears conditions before you go.
3. Bowen Island: Crippen Regional Park and Killarney Lake (Snug Cove)
Where: Snug Cove, Bowen Island
When: Open all year; 20-minute crossing
Cost: Ferry $12.45 (12+), $6.25 (5 to 11), under 5 free; return included
Getting there: Walk on at Horseshoe Bay
This is a cheap island trip from Vancouver. Metro Vancouver’s Crippen Regional Park starts a short walk from the Snug Cove ferry terminal. Trails lead through the forest to Killarney Lake. You don’t need a car on the island at all.
The foot-passenger fare is $12.45 for anyone 12 or older and $6.25 for ages 5 to 11. Kids under 5 ride free. You pay once at Horseshoe Bay, and the trip back is included. The crossing takes 20 minutes.
The Causeway, the Lady Alexandra Promenade and the Snug Cove picnic shelters are wheelchair accessible. Dogs must be on leash, and there’s an off-leash area at Killarney Meadows. In fall, a local club collects chum and coho salmon from Terminal Creek in the park. Camping, fires and smoking aren’t allowed.
Get to Horseshoe Bay by car or bus and walk on. Construction at the Horseshoe Bay terminal runs until 2030 and may cause delays, so leave some slack. Fares are on BC Ferries, and trail maps are in the Crippen Park brochure.
2. Lynn Canyon Park and Suspension Bridge (North Vancouver)
Where: Lynn Valley, District of North Vancouver
When: Daily, dawn to dusk; parking gates 7 am to 7 pm (seasonal)
Cost: Free entry; main lot $3/hr until Oct 31, free from Nov 1; east lot free
Getting there: End of Peters Road, or transit
The bridge hangs 50 metres above Lynn Creek. That’s about the height of a 15-storey building, and you can feel it sway as you cross. Below, the creek cuts through a forested canyon. The bridge is part of the Baden-Powell Trail, so you can keep walking once you’re across.
The park opened in 1912. Back then it cost 10 cents to cross the bridge. Today the park and the bridge are free, and the District of North Vancouver runs it. The Ecology Centre has nature exhibits and asks for a donation of $2 a person or $5 a family. From October to mid-April it’s open 10 am to 4 pm on weekdays and 12 pm to 4 pm on weekends.
Parking is the only real cost. The main lot charges $3 an hour, up to 4 hours, from March 1 to October 31, 8 am to 6 pm. From November 1 it’s free. The east Lynn Canyon lot, off the north end of Lillooet Road, is free all year. The parking-lot gates open 7 am to 7 pm, though those hours change by season, and the washrooms keep the same hours.
Parking is limited on weekends and holidays, and the operator asks you to take transit, walk or bike when you can. A weekday in November costs you nothing but the trip there. Check the Lynn Canyon site for current gate hours.
1. Weaver Creek Spawning Channel and Chehalis River Hatchery (Harrison Mills)
Where: Morris Valley Road, Harrison Mills
When: Weaver 8 am to 4 pm, Oct 1 to Dec 31; Chehalis 8 am to 3 pm daily
Cost: No fee listed on DFO pages
Getting there: Hwy 7 east from Mission about 30 km, then Morris Valley Road about 12 km
This is the trip with a deadline. Fisheries and Oceans Canada built the Weaver Creek channel in 1965 as extra spawning habitat for sockeye. It’s 3 km long and holds about 45,000 spawning adults. Recent returns have ranged from 1,000 to 100,000 fish.
DFO says sockeye spawn there from October 6 to November 1, with the peak on October 15 to 25. The channel is open 8 am to 4 pm every day from October 1 to December 31. Stay out of the water and leave the fish alone.
The Chehalis River Hatchery is on the same road, at 16250 Morris Valley Road. It was built in 1982. The self-guided tour takes about half an hour, and the site is paved with wheelchair access. Its posted hours are 8 am to 3 pm daily, but the DFO page currently shows a notice that the hatchery is closed to the public until further notice, so confirm by phone first. The best time to see adult salmon is mid-October through November.
Take the Lougheed Highway (Hwy 7) east from Mission about 30 km to Harrison Mills. Turn north on Morris Valley Road and drive about 12 km to Weaver Creek. Neither DFO page lists a fee. The Weaver Creek page carries a low-water notice saying the site could close at short notice, so call Chehalis Hatchery at 604-796-2281 before you drive.
| Place | Entry | Other cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lynn Canyon Park | Free | $3/hr parking, max 4 hrs, until Oct 31; free east lot |
| Shannon Falls | Free (no day-use fee) | None listed |
| Brandywine Falls | Free (no day-use fee) | Gate closes for season Oct 31 |
| Golden Ears (Lower Falls) | Free; no pass needed after Sept 7 | None listed |
| Bowen Island (Crippen Park) | Park free | Ferry $12.45 adult / $6.25 ages 5–11, return included |
| Fort Langley NHS | $10 adult / $8.50 senior / youth free | Annual adult pass $24.50 |
| Weaver Creek / Chehalis | No fee listed (free unverified) | Possible closure for low water |
| What | Window | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Weaver Creek sockeye spawning | Oct 6 – Nov 1 | Oct 15–25 |
| Chehalis Hatchery adult salmon | Mid-Oct – Nov | n/a |
| Brandywine Falls gate | May 1 – Oct 31 | 8 am–8 pm from Sept 15 |
| Lynn Canyon pay parking | Mar 1 – Oct 31 | 8 am–6 pm |
| Shannon Falls full service | Mar 15 – Oct 15 | Open in winter, reduced services |
When to go
- Weaver Creek sockeye spawn October 6 to November 1, peaking October 15 to 25. The channel is open daily 8 am to 4 pm until December 31.
- Brandywine Falls’ gate is open 8 am to 8 pm until October 31, then closes for the season.
- Lynn Canyon pay parking ends October 31. The main lot is free from November 1.
- Shannon Falls stays open in winter with reduced services. Full service ended October 15.
- Mount Seymour needed winter day-use passes last season, from December 19, 2025 to March 29, 2026. This winter’s dates aren’t posted yet. Watch BC Parks day-use passes.
Closed or limited right now
- Capilano River Hatchery in North Vancouver is closed to visitors until further notice while it’s renovated.
- At Bridal Veil Falls near Chilliwack, the trails to the falls were closed after a rockfall, posted August 2, 2026. The gate season ends October 31.
- The lower falls area at Brandywine Falls is closed.
- Weaver Creek may close at short notice for low water. Call ahead.
What to bring
- Your own drinking water. Porteau Cove’s drinking water is off because of lead, and the operator asks visitors to bring their own potable water.
- Shoes with good grip. Rocks, river edges and stair treads at Shannon Falls and the Chief get slippery, and ice can fall in winter.
- A printed or screenshot day-use pass if you head to Mount Seymour once winter passes start.
Etiquette and safety
- Stay on marked trails and out of closed canyon areas. At Brandywine Falls, BC Parks says there is no access to the lower falls area.
- Don’t swim in waterfalls. Golden Ears asks people to stay out of the falls.
- Rockfall can happen anywhere in Stawamus Chief Park, and the Chief Trail is only for fit hikers.
- At salmon sites, stay out of the water and don’t disturb spawning fish.
- Don’t count on lifeguards at park beaches such as Porteau Cove.
- Shared trails at Alice Lake and the Train Wreck carry bikes. Keep right.
Getting there without a car
Bowen Island is the easiest car-free trip here. Get to Horseshoe Bay, walk on for $12.45 return, and the Crippen Park trails start a short walk from the Snug Cove dock. Lynn Canyon’s operator also asks visitors to take transit, walk or bike when they can, since weekend parking is tight. The Sea to Sky and Fraser Valley trips are realistically drives, so share the car and split the gas.
| Place | Walk | Accessible option |
|---|---|---|
| Shannon Falls | Easy 350 m to viewing area | Crusher-dust trail works for most wheelchairs |
| Stawamus Chief (First Peak) | 1.5 km, 540 m gain, steep and difficult | None; fit hikers only |
| Porteau Cove | Short trail to Howe Sound lookout | Paved walkway on the ferry pier; accessible toilets |
| Whistler Train Wreck | 2.6 km gravel route, easy | Not stated |
| Alice Lake | Four Lakes loop 8 km | Alice Lake Loop is wheelchair accessible |
| Bowen Island (Crippen Park) | Forest trails to Killarney Lake | Causeway, Lady Alexandra Promenade, picnic shelters |
| Golden Ears (Lower Falls) | About 2.6 km each way, 87 m gain | Spirea Universal Access Trail |
| Chehalis River Hatchery | Self-guided, about half an hour | Paved, wheelchair access |
Pick by the calendar. The sockeye at Weaver Creek peak until October 25, and Brandywine’s gate shuts on October 31. After that, Lynn Canyon’s main lot goes free and the Shore costs nothing but the drive. Fort Langley and Bowen Island work any month. Check the official pages linked above on the morning you go, bring water and decent shoes, and you’ll spend more on coffee than on getting in.
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Photo credits
- Howe Sound from Horseshoe Bay (5946423510).jpg by Roy Luck, CC BY 2.0 (combined into a montage, cropped). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Shannon Falls – Squamish, British Columbia (6300941154).jpg by TravelingOtter from Houston, Texas, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (combined into a montage, cropped). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Queen of Capilano Ferry Approaching Snug Cove, Bowen Island, British Columbia.jpg by William Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 (combined into a montage, cropped). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Ferry from Bowen Island (5798688822).jpg by Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France, CC BY 2.0 (combined into a montage, cropped). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge 2016.jpg by kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Shannon Falls Provincial Park 04.jpg by Natulive Canada, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Porteau Cove Provincial Marine Park 01.jpg by Joe Mabel, CC BY 3.0 (resized). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Brandywine Falls Whistler.jpg by Kaden Van Buren, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Train Wreck Forest (102846587).jpeg by Billy Bush, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Killarney lake – Bowen Island.JPG by Shaundd, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Fort langley nhs 2.jpg by Napa, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized). Via Wikimedia Commons.
- Golden Ears Provincial Park (33703688810).jpg by GoToVan from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0 (resized). Via Wikimedia Commons.
