Deep Cove is probably the most photogenic corner of Metro Vancouver. A small cluster of heritage cabins and a 4-block main street sits at the mouth of Indian Arm — a 30-kilometre-long fjord stretching north into the Coast Mountains — and the protected waters of the cove make it one of the best kayaking destinations in the region. Deep Cove Kayak has been renting kayaks and paddleboards from the village beach since 1971, and a rental plus an hour on the water is one of the classic Metro Vancouver summer experiences.
The main hike is Quarry Rock: 3.8 km round trip, about 300 metres of elevation gain, and a payoff view of Indian Arm from a granite outcrop at the top. It's one of the most popular short hikes in Metro Vancouver and on any sunny weekend the parking lot fills by 9am. The Baden-Powell Trail also begins (or ends, depending on direction) in Deep Cove, running all the way to Horseshoe Bay on the far western end of the North Shore — about 48 km of genuine mountain hiking.
The village itself is worth a stop even if you don't hike or kayak. Honey's Doughnuts is a Deep Cove institution — the queues are long on summer weekends — and there are several good restaurants and coffee shops on Gallant Avenue. Panorama Park, directly on the beach, is free and has picnic tables, a playground, and one of the prettiest waterfront views in the Metro Vancouver area.
How to get there
By car, it's a 25-minute drive from downtown Vancouver via the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge and Mount Seymour Parkway. By transit, the 211 bus from Lonsdale Quay runs to Deep Cove (about 45 minutes).
Local tips
- Arrive before 9am on summer weekends for parking
- Honey's Doughnuts is the signature treat
- Deep Cove Kayak rents kayaks and paddleboards by the hour
- Quarry Rock is a moderate hike — not easy, not hard