Summary:

Length: 11.9km
Elevation gain: 623m
Time: 3h 8 mins moving time, 3h 16 mins total
Starting point: Sunset Drive parking lot

I did not stop talking about this hike for the entire weekend after it (frankly, I still talk about it). It was a gray December day in Vancouver, but 12km and lots of elevation later, we were under clear blue skies. Tunnel Bluffs is an amazing hike, and here are my thoughts, stats, and tips.

We started this hike at the Sunset Drive Parking lot, which unfortunately cost us $15. Warning: the first 2.2km of this hike cover 97% of the elevation (I did the math). It was steep and foggy, with little to see on this way up. But once you pass the 2km mark, it’s nice and flat. When we went, there was a bit of snow on the ground, but nothing required snowshoes. 

Somewhere in the middle, there are two creek crossings. Both have log bridges, with a rope railing on one side. The logs were ICY since it had been a rainy and cold week. I was thankful for my borrowed micro-spikes, which gave me some peace of mind while crossing the logs. Be careful on these parts. 

It is hard to describe the view at the top. I scrambled up the last bit of rock and could not believe what I was seeing past the ridge. We were above an ocean of clouds, looking at a fluffy white blanket that extended in every direction. A few of the bigger islands peaked out the top, like icebergs. Snow-capped mountains were to the north, with a blue sky backdrop. It was unreal!

You won’t want to leave the summit, but your parking pass hours are ticking away. We descended through the fog to get back under the clouds and headed back to Vancouver. I can’t wait to go back and do Tunnel Bluffs for sunset!