Lions Bay-Britannia Beach

Stretching along the eastern shore of Howe Sound, Lions Bay to Britannia Beach is a series of small communities and parks offering some gorgeous views, outdoor recreation and 30 km of some of the most spectacular driving in Canada. For many travellers, the area is quickly passed through on the way to Whistler, but if you have the time, there are some options if you want to stop and explore.

Understand
Beginning north of West Vancouver and extending northwards along the coast to Shannon Falls Provincial Park, the area is dominated by Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains. The mountains are steep so there is very little area for settlement, so it makes for dramatic scenery but just a handful of communities and parks — Lions Bay, Porteau Cove, Furry Creek and Britannia Beach.

Historically, the area was important for its logging and mineral resources. These industries have declined so the focus has shifted to tourism and accommodating the spillover growth from Vancouver, Whistler and Squamish.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

By car
The only road in and out of the area is the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Hwy 99), which connects the communities to West Vancouver and Vancouver to the south and Squamish and Whistler to the north. It is roughly a 30-45 minute drive from Vancouver.

Get around
A car is the main way of getting around. You can cycle, but Highway 99 is hilly and windy, and the traffic moves fast.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel. Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

By bus
Bus route 262 travels between Lions Bay and Caulfeild Village in West Vancouver with a stop along the way at Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal. The bus generally runs hourly. From Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, passengers can transfer to bus routes 250 or 257 to reach downtown Vancouver.

Other communities in the area north of Lions Bay, such as Porteau Cove and Britannia Beach, are not reachable by public transit.

Hiking the Howe Sound Crest
Running along the ridge of the Coast Mountains from Porteau Cove south to the Cypress Bowl ski area in West Vancouver, is the Howe Sound Crest Trail. This 29-km hike passes over or by some thirteen peaks and many lakes, tarns and alpine meadows, including the Lions, the distinctive two bumps seen on the Vancouver skyline. Tackling the entire 29-km hike should be planned carefully as campsites and sources of freshwater are limited. However, if you don't mind walking up a mountain, access points from Lions Bay and Porteau Cove make for popular dayhikes that offer some tremendous views and ample exercise. These hikes access high mountain terrain and are often under snow cover from November through June (and sometimes longer, depending on weather conditions). Trailheads near Highway 99 are:

Buy

 * There is a general store in Lions Bay next to the cafe.
 * There is a souvenir shop at the entrance to the Britannia Mine Museum in Britannia Beach.

Eat
Restaurant options are few in this area. There are a couple of coffee shops/cafes and a restaurant associated with the golf club. More diverse food options are available in Squamish and West Vancouver.



Sleep
Like restaurants, accommodation options are fairly sparse and lower end. More options are available in Squamish and Vancouver.



Connect
Cell phone coverage exists along the highway, although it can get weak at times. If you go hiking, cell signal will be variable. Expect to encounter blind spots.

Cope
From Lions Bay, the nearest hospitals are in North Vancouver and Squamish, and take roughly the same amount of time to reach. If you are north of Lions Bay, the hospital in Squamish will be closer.

Go next
The Sea-to-Sky Highway continues on through Squamish to Whistler and Pemberton. There's excellent hiking and camping at Garibaldi Provincial Park, 30-40 minutes north.