Lions Bay city guide

Lions Bay at a glance

Lions Bay is a small village on the eastern shore of Howe Sound, just north of Horseshoe Bay along the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Homes climb steep, forested slopes between the highway and the mountains, with the water of Howe Sound spread out below. Above the village rise the twin peaks known as the Lions, which give the community its name and appear on the skyline across much of Metro Vancouver.

With fewer than 1,400 residents and about two and a half square kilometres of land, it is one of the smallest municipalities in Metro Vancouver. There is no downtown in the usual sense, just a small commercial area with a general store and a café, a marina with dry boat storage, the village office and a school. Most of the village is quiet residential streets.

Lions Bay suits hikers, beachgoers and anyone after a quick escape from the city. For residents, it offers mountain-and-ocean living with a close-knit community feel.

A short history

Lions Bay lies within the territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation, whose name for the area is Ch’ích’iyúy Elx̱wíḵn. In Coast Salish legend, the two peaks above the village are sisters who were transformed into mountains, and many people still call them the Twin Sisters.

For much of the 20th century the area was a summer camping spot reached by boat. That changed in the 1950s when rail and then Highway 99 pushed up the coast, opening the slopes to permanent homes. Residents first organized a water improvement district in the 1960s, and the Village of Lions Bay was incorporated on 2 January 1971. In 1999 it amalgamated with the neighbouring community of Brunswick Beach to the north.

Top things to do in Lions Bay

Beaches

• Lions Bay Beach Park has a sandy beach sheltered by a log boom, a swimming float, washrooms and change rooms. Dogs are not permitted.
• Kelvin Grove Beach and Marine Park, a short distance south, is a small cove popular with scuba divers and dog owners.

Hiking

• The Lions: the hike from Lions Bay toward the West Lion gains about 1,500 metres and takes fit hikers six to eight hours return. The final scramble is exposed and only for experienced, well-equipped hikers.
• Tunnel Bluffs: a steep forest climb from the Sunset Trailhead to rocky viewpoints over Howe Sound and Bowen Island.
• Mount Brunswick and Mount Harvey are demanding day hikes that also start from Lions Bay trailheads, with big views over the Sound.
• Volunteer-maintained trails also weave through the village itself.

Safety on the trails

These are serious mountain routes. Start early, carry the ten essentials, check conditions and turn back if the weather changes. Lions Bay Search and Rescue, a volunteer team based in the village, regularly responds to hikers in trouble on the steep terrain above.

Food and drink

Lions Bay is not a dining destination. Its small commercial area has a general store, which includes a rural liquor outlet, and a café with beer on tap. They are handy for coffee, snacks and picnic supplies before a hike or beach afternoon. For a wider choice of restaurants, head south to Horseshoe Bay and West Vancouver or north to Squamish.

Where to stay

Lions Bay is almost entirely residential, with very little visitor accommodation. Most people visit as a day trip from Vancouver or the North Shore. If you want to be close by, look at West Vancouver, especially around Horseshoe Bay, or continue up the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Squamish for a wider range of lodging.

Getting around

Highway 99, the Sea-to-Sky Highway, is the only road in and out of Lions Bay. Stopping or parking on the highway shoulder is not permitted, and crossing the highway on foot is illegal and dangerous.

Transit: TransLink’s 262 bus links Lions Bay with Horseshoe Bay and Caulfeild in West Vancouver, generally hourly, with extra trips in summer. Stops include the Kelvin Grove Way on-ramp, the village’s municipal campus on Crosscreek Road, the Brunswick Beach underpass, Lions Bay Avenue and Tidewater Way. From downtown Vancouver, take a bus to Horseshoe Bay and transfer to the 262.

Parking is tightly managed. Most streets below the highway are reserved for residents with permits, and fines are high. Visitors can use three small pay lots:

• Sunset Trailhead lot (about 18 stalls): hourly or daily rates, up to 72 hours for overnight hikers.
• Lions Bay Beach Park lot (about 22 stalls): open 8 am to 10 pm.
• Kelvin Grove lot (about 24 stalls): open 8 am to 10 pm.

At Brunswick Beach there is no visitor parking below the highway; use the designated free parking above the Highway 99 interchange. On sunny weekends the lots fill early, so arrive early or take the bus.

Seasons and events

Lions Bay has a mild, wet coastal climate, but the mountains above the village hold snow well into spring and sometimes early summer. The high trails are usually snow-free from mid-summer into the fall; outside that window, upper routes can be icy or avalanche-prone. Summer is the best time for the beaches, and the village is at its busiest on hot weekends.

Lions Bay is too small to host large annual festivals. For bigger events, residents and visitors head to West Vancouver, Vancouver or Squamish.

Living in Lions Bay

Housing in Lions Bay is almost all detached homes, many built on steep lots with long stairs or driveways and sweeping views of Howe Sound. Rentals are scarce and homes come up for sale only occasionally.

Lions Bay is part of the West Vancouver School District, and the village has its own small elementary school; older students travel to schools in West Vancouver. Daily errands usually mean a drive to Horseshoe Bay, Park Royal or Squamish.

The village suits people who love hiking, the ocean and a quiet, tight-knit community, and who are comfortable relying on a single highway. Practical notes: Highway 99 can close because of collisions, rockfall or storms, so keep supplies at home; winter driving on steep village roads calls for good tires; and if you have guests, make sure they know the parking rules.