The backcountry at Lynn Headwaters Regional Park in North Vancouver is officially closed for the cold season.

As of Tuesday, October 29, the backcountry region extending on all roads beyond Norvan Falls and areas of the subalpine Grouse beyond Dam Mountain and Thunderbird Ridge are closed to outdoor enthusiasts, North Shore Rescue said Sunday.

Popular hiking routes will reopen in 2025, when weather permits and conditions are safe.

“This is not a maintained trail in winter and leads to steeper terrain over rocky and rocky fields. It can get really cold out there,” said North Shore Rescue team leader Scott Merriman.

“Unless you are prepared to travel in winter terrain with mountain gear, this is not a place you should be.”

A casual hiker who ventures onto popular winter hiking routes “can get into trouble pretty quickly,” Merriman added.

A change of season doesn’t necessarily mean hanging up the hiking boots, however. Merriman recommends a number of other trails that are safe and enjoyable to hike even when the weather changes, including those on the “mountain front” and others in Seymour and Cypress parks.

Merriman noted that the closures provide a good opportunity to warn hikers of the potential dangers of hiking in the mountains this time of year.

The time change — clocks moved back an hour Sunday to mark the end of daylight saving time for another year — “often catches hikers off guard,” he said.

Those venturing out over the next few weeks should keep in mind that nightfall will come an hour earlier than usual, he said, and that trail lengths and equipment hiking should therefore be adapted to changing conditions.

The change in weather brings its share of dangers, Merriman added.

“We saw our first snowfall of the year on the local mountains, so it’s pretty easy for conditions to change from those experienced in the city to those experienced on the trails,” he said.

“Starting your hike in running shoes and then finding yourself in snowy, slippery terrain is definitely not the situation we want people to find themselves in.”

Merriman recommends hikers do their due diligence and research trail conditions before embarking on their hike, considering micro-crampons and snowshoes, and bringing the essentials needed for this season. year, such as waterproof clothing, navigation devices, light, a fully equipped helmet. charged phone and plenty of food and water.