Hiking the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Vancouver
Kraig AdamsJul 2023 · Solo
- Days
- a day and a half
- Cost
- See his costs
- Lodging
- Tent
North America · Canada
Howe Sound Crest Trail
Coast Mountains, British Columbia
- Distance
- 19.3 mi31.1 km
- Days
- 1.5 daysa day and a half
- Elevation gain
- 5,233 ft1,595 m
- High point
- 5,213 ft1,589 m
- Season
- Mid-July
- Lodging
- Tent
Hikes / North America / Howe Sound Crest Trail
In July 2023 I hiked the Howe Sound Crest Trail, the ridge walk above Howe Sound just north of Vancouver, in a day and a half. It was my first time in Vancouver. I started in the afternoon at the Cypress Mountain ski area, climbed past St. Mark's Summit and over Unnecessary Mountain, and camped on the ridge below the West Lion, one of the two rock peaks the city calls the Lions. The next morning I went north along the crest over Thomas, James and David Peaks to Magnesia Meadows, Brunswick Lake and Deeks Lake, and down to Highway 99 by Porteau Cove. About 19.3 miles by my GPS: 6.3 on the first day and 13 on the second. It's the trip from my film Hiking the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Vancouver.
Kraig Adams
Effort at this pace: Very hard · about 13 mi (21 km) and 3,489 ft (1,063 m) of climbing a day over 2 days, up to 5,213 ft (1,589 m). Our grade for the days given, worked out from distance, climbing and altitude a day; it isn't the trail's usual difficulty rating (under Basics) and doesn't rate exposure, terrain or weather.
Where these numbers come from
From Kraig Adams's GPS recording and guide.
From Kraig Adams's GPS
The route, day by day
Elevation197–5,213 ft19.3 mi
From Kraig Adams's GPS. Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (USGS 3DEP, SRTM) on AWS · Rivers & lakes © OpenStreetMap contributors
Tap a day for his map of it
Download GPX300 KB · free
Each day and variant (2 files)
- Day 1: Cypress Mountain, the Bowen Lookout turnoff, St. Mark's Summit, Unnecessary Mountain and my camp below the West Lion (6.3 mi / 10.2 km) 98 KB
- Day 2: Thomas, James and David Peaks, Magnesia Meadows, Brunswick Lake, Hanover Lake, Deeks Lake and the Highway 99 trailhead (13.0 mi / 21.0 km) 201 KB
The film
Watch it first
Hiking the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Vancouver
Before you go
The basics
- Start
- Cypress Mountain ski area, about 2,980 ft (909 m), above West Vancouver
- Finish
- The Porteau Road trailhead on Highway 99, about 300 ft (90 m), just south of Porteau Cove
- Usual difficulty
- Experienced hikers only past Bowen Lookout (BC Parks). Rooty, rocky, with scrambles between the Lions and Magnesia
- Best time
- Mid-July. I hiked on July 18 and 19, 2023. Day 1 was hotter than expected, but with lots of tree cover. There were barely any snow patches, plenty of flowing water on the second half toward the lakes, and the bugs were crazy. They didn't bite, but they tried to go in your eyes, your ears and your nose.
- Permits
- None. No reservation and no camping fee
- Getting there
- My way in, 2023. This was the first of four hiking films I shot in two weeks up and down the Pacific Northwest, with just a carry-on and three rental cars from three airports. I flew from New York to Vancouver the day before. Locals had told me to go to Nemesis Coffee, so I did. Because the trail is point to point, I asked for help, and a local subscriber went way out of his way to come after work, pick me up at the end of the trail where I'd left my car, and drive me to the beginning. I started walking at the ski area at 4:45 p.m.
- Lodging
- Tent
From Kraig Adams's guide
Costs and gear
From Kraig Adams's guide
Safety
Rescue numbers
- Emergency: 911.
Phone signal
- Not reliably.
- BC Parks says it's unreliable on the trail.
Insurance
- Search and rescue is free in BC, helicopter included.
Bail-out points
- Day 1, Cypress Mountain to the Lions. Before Unnecessary, the easiest way off is back to Cypress; the Mount Unnecessary trail also drops steeply to Lions Bay. From the Lions the Binkert trail goes down to Lions Bay, a steep descent with very little parking in the village (pay parking, up to 72 hours, in 2026). Turn back if you're behind your plan by St. Mark's, if fog closes in (BC Parks says to stay where you are if you get lost or disoriented), or if you haven't got enough water for the night.
- Day 2, The Lions to Highway 99. Before Magnesia Meadows, the quickest ways off are back to the Lions and down the Binkert trail to Lions Bay, or on to Magnesia and down the Brunswick trail to Lions Bay, which is steep. Past Brunswick Lake it's quickest to keep going to the highway. If the scrambles over James and David Peaks are more than you want, or fog hides the markers, stop: camp at Magnesia Meadows or turn back to the Lions rather than push on.
From Kraig Adams's guide. For planning, not navigation: check before you go.
Their films and versions
Creators who've done it
1 creator so far: Kraig, 1.5 days, tent.
Hiking the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Vancouver
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Typical: a day and a half (the hike's facts).
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Planning questions about Howe Sound Crest Trail, answered only from this page's facts, the creators' versions and hikers' public tracks, with where each answer comes from. When the data doesn't say, the answer says "not given".
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Answered from the data
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Howe Sound Crest Trail?
I did it in a day and a half: an afternoon to the Lions and a full day to the highway. You could do it as a really big day hike, but sleeping up on the ridge with the sunset was the whole point for me. Most people take two days; a slower pace or a later start makes it three.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
How much does Howe Sound Crest Trail cost?
I didn't keep a list of what this trip cost me.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
When is the best time to hike Howe Sound Crest Trail?
Mid-July. I hiked on July 18 and 19, 2023. Day 1 was hotter than expected, but with lots of tree cover. There were barely any snow patches, plenty of flowing water on the second half toward the lakes, and the bugs were crazy. They didn't bite, but they tried to go in your eyes, your ears and your nose.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
Do you need a permit for Howe Sound Crest Trail?
No, in 2026: no permit, no reservation and no fee. You can camp anywhere along the trail north of Strachan Meadows; BC Parks names Magnesia Meadows, Brunswick Lake and Deeks Lake as the best areas.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
Is the Howe Sound Crest Trail open?
Yes, in October 2026: BC Parks listed no closure. Construction started at Magnesia Meadows, Brunswick Lake and Deeks Lake on September 16, 2026. The trail is usually snow-free from about July to early October, and the section by the ski area is open to hikers June 1 to October 31.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
How long is the Howe Sound Crest Trail?
BC Parks gives 29 km (18 miles) one way, from the Cypress Mountain ski area to Highway 99 just south of Porteau Cove. My GPS recorded 19.3 miles (31.1 km) over two days: 6.3 to my camp below the West Lion, then 13 to the highway.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
Is there water on the Howe Sound Crest Trail?
Not reliably on the first half: BC Parks says there's no reliable water between Strachan Meadows and Magnesia Meadows. From Magnesia on there are tarns, streams and lakes. Treat all water.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
Can you hike the Howe Sound Crest Trail in one day?
Fast, strong hikers do, in about 12 to 14 hours. It's long and committing, with scrambles over James and David Peaks in the middle, and exhausted day hikers are a common rescue call.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
Where do you park for the Howe Sound Crest Trail?
Overnight parking at Cypress Mountain is free but only allowed in Lot 3B; cars left elsewhere are towed. The trail ends at the Porteau Road lot on Highway 99, with no public transit, so you need two cars or a ride.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.