GUIDED TOURS of OLD GROWTH in WEST VANCOUVER
Every year the OGCS conducts free guided tours of old-growth areas in West Vancouver. There are two sets of tours, one in publicly accessible old-growth areas and one in the Old Growth Conservancy. Tours start at 10 AM and typically take 3 hours.
TOURS ARE FREE BUT RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. EMAIL YOUR PREFERRED DATE TO ogcs.wv@gmail.com.
Unfortunately, children under the age of 10 and dogs cannot be accommodated. Tours may be cancelled due to unfavourable weather. A release of liability will be provided and must be signed before the tour.
Publicly Accessible Old-Growth Area Guided Tours
The tour of Lighthouse Park takes you through one of the most impressive old-growth areas in West Vancouver. The tour moves at an easy pace and stays on-trail at all times, though they do include some hills.
The tours on West Lake Road visit two of the largest trees in the area. This tour is partially off-trail and explores more rugged terrain.
Note that pay parking is in effect at Lighthouse Park. Many prefer to get an annual pass at the West Vancouver website here.
- Sunday, July 5 – Lighthouse Park
- Tuesday, July 7 – West Lake Road
- Saturday, July 11 – West Lake Road
Old Growth Conservancy Guided Tours
Tours of the Old Growth Conservancy offer a rare opportunity to go into the apex of the Conservancy. Starting on a short trail, participants learn about the characteristics of an old-growth ecosystem and see them firsthand. The second part of the tour ventures off-trail into areas not normally open to the public and into the apex of the Conservancy where there are trees over 900 years old.
Tours meet at 10:00 AM in Parking Lot #5 on Cypress Bowl Road, next to the Conservancy. Tours take 3 hours or longer and much of it is off-trail including steep terrain, fallen trees and underbrush. Sturdy footwear is required. The pace is quite slow and dressing warmly in layers is recommended. Please bring water, a light lunch and optionally a hiking pole for stability.
Monday, August 17– FULLWednesday, August 19– FULL- Saturday, August 22
Sunday, September 06– FULL- Friday, September 11
Sunday, September 13– FULL
Private Tours
We are proud to offer free public tours as part of our commitment to conservation education. Private tours of the Conservancy for groups of five or more may also be arranged, subject to availability. A standard flat fee of $100 typically applies; however, we are committed to equitable access and are pleased to discuss reduced rates or fee waivers for schools, First Nations groups, and community organizations.
To book a private tour email us at ogcs.wv@gmail.com.
Self-Guided Tour
Guided tours all full? Does your schedule not match ours? No problem! The self-guided tour lets you choose your own time to walk through the Old Growth Conservancy and learn about the characteristics of an old-growth ecosystem. All it takes is a GPS-enabled smartphone.
- Install the free STQRY Guide app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
- Download the Old Growth Conservancy Self-Guided Tour.
- Start the tour and read the Getting There section before going to the Conservancy.
