When the weather is fine, Needle Peak is one of the best accessible hikes within a few hours drive from the city. There are amazing views and a luscious alpine meadow next to a clear glacial lake that is prime for camping.
Not particularly well signposted at the Zopkios Rest area right at the Coquihalla Pass you will find the start of the hike here. I suggest either leaving Vancouver early by six am to do the fifteen kilometre hike in one day or starting in the afternoon if you plan on camping overnight.
The track ascends steeply and is initially very unrewarding. After about ninety minutes you will reach a fork where you can choose to visit Flatiron or Needle Peak. Turning right towards Flatiron there's an amazingly clear blue lake where you can find the campsite sheltered below the summit. This area tends to have some ice all year around.
The Needle Peak summit has a relatively challenging 'out and back' three kilometre track with some rope segments. Wear sturdy boots and by the time you've gotten to the top the amazing views will help you forget all about the thirty minute scramble to get there!
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