Lynn Canyon Park and Ecology Centre

Located between Mount Seymour and Grouse Mountain, Lynn Canyon Park is a popular hiking destination noted for its lush secondgrowth temperate rain forest. The original 90-meter (295-ft) trees were logged in the early 1900s and a few of the huge stumps with circumferences of up to 11 meters (36 ft) can still be seen lying on the forest floor. Some of the stumps have springboard notches left by lumberjacks of the time. Several marked trails, some of them steep and rugged, lead through the canyon, with longer hikes heading into surrounding park land. Many of the trails, however, are gentle strolls through Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar. If you venture far enough into the forest it is possible to see black bears, cougars, and blacktail deer, but most visitors keep to the main trails where they are more likely to see squirrels, jays, woodpeckers, and banana slugs, which can grow to lengths of 26 cm (10 inches). There are wonderful views from the 50-m (164-ft) high suspension bridge that crosses the canyon. From here, it’s a short walk to 30 Foot Pool, a popular summer spot for sunbathing and swimming. A 40-minute walk takes hikers to the beautiful Twin Falls. The nearby Ecology Centre offers guided walks, shows natural history films, and features interesting displays on the ecology of the area.

Under Great places