I’ve done all of these trips, some of them multiple times. I’ve also done lots of other backpacking trips across BC that didn’t make the list, so you can rest assured that these are the best of the best.

For each trip, I’ve got all the details you need to make it happen: difficulty, duration, distance, best time to go, fees, reservations, and links to trail guides.

The trips on this list are:

• Vacation-worthy – you won’t mind travelling a bit to get there
• Located all over BC including near Vancouver, on Vancouver Island, and in Eastern BC including the Rocky Mountains.
• For hikers of all abilities – there are trips for both beginners and experts, and lots in between. (I’ve also got a whole list of Easy Backpacking Trips In BC For Beginners.)
• Great for any vacation length from quick overnighters to long-weekend-length trips to week long epics.
• Great for planners or last-minute trips: A few of these trips require reservations, but most do not.

Here’s a handy map I made for you that shows the locations for each of my picks for the best backpacking trips in BC.

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Best Backpacking Trips Near Vancouver

Howe Sound Crest Trail

Duration: 2-4 days

Distance: 31.7 km traverse

Difficulty: Very Challenging

Fees and Reservations: None.

The Trail: The Howe Sound Crest Trail is very rough and difficult. Honestly, it is more like a route in some places and requires occasional hands-on scrambling moves as you traverse a chain of rocky summits high above Howe Sound near Vancouver. If you’re up for the challenge, the views are worth it.

More Info:

• Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.

Watersprite Lake

Duration: 2 days

Distance: 17 km round-trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: Both the hut and campground require reservations and fees.

The Trail: Watersprite Lake is an Instagram sensation thanks to its ice blue water and dramatic rock tower. We can credit the BC Mountaineering Club for building the trail to the lake along with a cabin and campground. I think it’s one of the best hikes in Squamish.

More Info:

• Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.
• Make cabin reservations through the BCMC.

Elfin Lakes

Heads up: Day passes are required at Garibaldi Lake in summer and early fall. However, if you have a backcountry camping reservation, you don’t need a day pass. Learn more in my guide to BC Parks day passes.

Duration: 2 to 4 days

Distance: 22 km round-trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and camping fees are required.

The Trail: Even though the hike to Elfin Lakes is on an old road, it’s worth doing since the views are so incredible. You can see Mount Garibaldi/Nch’kay and lots of glaciers. Its worth spending more than one night at the Elfin Lakes campground or Elfin Lakes Shelter to do some of the great day hikes.

More Info:

• Find details on this hike in my Elfin Lakes hiking guide and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.
• Booking camping and the hut through BC Parks.
• Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.

Get My Book…

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

Garibaldi Lake

Heads up: Day passes are required at Garibaldi Lake in summer and early fall. However, if you have a backcountry camping reservation, you don’t need a day pass. Learn more in my guide to BC Parks day passes.

Duration: 2 to 4 days

Distance: 18 km round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and fees are required for camping.

The Trail: Located just north of Squamish, Garibaldi Lake is one of the most popular backpacking trips in BC. But it’s also one of the most picturesque with tumbling glaciers, alpine meadows, and unique volcanic geology. From the lake, you can tackle incredible day hikes like Black Tusk and Panorama Ridge.

More Info:

• Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.
• Booking camping and through BC Parks.
• Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.

Russet Lake

Duration: 2 days

Distance: 25 to 29 km round trip

Difficulty: Challenging

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and fees are required for camping and the hut.

The Trail: Nestled into the mountains above Whistler, Russet Lake is home to a backcountry campground and a luxurious hut. There are two ways to get there: a steep trail from the village or an undulating traverse across mountain summits from the top of the Whistler Gondola via the High Note Trail.

More Info:

• Find details on this hike in my guide to hiking and backpacking at Russet Lake and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.
• Booking camping and through BC Parks.
• Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.
• For hut reservations, see the Spearhead Huts Society.
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Joffre Lakes

Heads up: Day passes are required at Joffre Lakes in summer and early fall. However, if you have a backcountry camping reservation, you don’t need a day pass. Learn more in my guide to BC Parks day passes.

Duration: 2 days

Distance: 10 km round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and fees are required for camping.

The Trail: The chain of three Joffre Lakes near Pemberton make up one of the Vancouver area’s most popular day hikes. But leave the day-time crowds behind by scoring a coveted reservation to camp at the Upper Lake. Listen for chunks of glacier crashing down the rocks on warm days. This is also one of my picks for the best easy backpacking trips in BC.

More Info:

• Find details on this hike in my Joffre Lakes hiking guide and my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.
• Booking camping and through BC Parks.
• Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.

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Sunshine Coast Trail

Duration: 8-14 days

Distance: 180 km traverse

Difficulty: Challenging

Fees and Reservations: None.

The Trail: The Sunshine Coast Trail winds through the forests along the length of the upper Sunshine Coast near the town of Powell River. Hike by the ocean, through old-growth forest, and across mountain tops, staying in rustic backcountry huts along the way.

More Info:

• Find details on shorter backpacking trips you can do on sections of the SCT in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.
• For full details on the trail, pick up a copy of The Sunshine Coast Trail Guide Book by R. E. Walz or visit the Sunshine Coast Trail website.
• Some sections of the Sunshine Coast Trail are hikeable all year and made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia.
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Heather Trail

Duration: 2 to 5 days

Distance: 45 km round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and fees are required for Buckhorn and Kicking Horse campgrounds. Nicomen Lake Campground is first-come, first-served and fees are required.

The Trail: The Heather Trail is Manning Park’s signature trail. With a start high in the alpine, you stay above treeline in meadows of wildflowers for nearly the entire length. Take a side trip to summit Three Brothers Mountain and dip in chilly Nicomen Lake.

More Info:

• Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.
• Booking camping and pay fees and through BC Parks.
• Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.

Frosty Mountain

Duration: 2 to 3 days

Distance: 14 km round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are required year-round. Reservations are required between late July and late October.

The Trail: Frosty Mountain is the highest mountain in Manning Park and it has panoramic views. Break up your hike by camping at Frosty Creek camp. Plan your visit for fall when the larch tree needles turn golden.

More Info:

• Find details on this hike in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia, and my Frosty Mountain trail guide.
• Booking camping and pay fees through BC Parks.
• Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.

Get My Book…

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

A one-stop resource for backpackers in beautiful British Columbia.

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

Best Backpacking Trips on Vancouver Island

Juan de Fuca Trail

Heads up: The Juan de Fuca Trail will be closed in 2025 due to significant storm damage. It is not possible to hike the entire trail, but you can visit and camp at Mystic Beach and East Sombrio Beach.

Duration: 3 to 5 days

Distance: 47 km

Difficulty: Challenging

Fees and Reservations: Camping fees are required. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

The Trail: The Juan de Fuca Trail is a gorgeous coastal trail is easier to access than the West Coast Trail thanks to first-come, first-served camping and trailheads close to Victoria. But the hike is just as challenging and spectacular, making it easy to include on a list of the best backpacking trips in BC.

More Info:

• Get details on this hike in my Juan de Fuca Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
• Pay fees through BC Parks.
• The JDF is hikeable all year and made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia.
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

West Coast Trail

Duration: 5-8 days

Distance: 75 km

Difficulty: Challenging

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and camping fees are required. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees.

The Trail: The West Coast Trail is Canada’s premier multi-day backpacking trip. It follows the wild coastline for 75 kilometres, up and down ladders, across cable cars, through mud holes, and along beautiful beaches as it travels between the isolated towns of Port Renfrew and Bamfield.

More Info:

• Get details on this hike in my West Coast Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
• Make reservations and pay fees with Parks Canada.
• Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.
• The West Coast Trail opens in May and made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia.
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Della Falls Trail

Duration: 2-5 days

Distance: 32 km round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: No reservations or fees are needed for camping. But if you want to take a water taxi to the trailhead, you’ll need to book in advance.

The Trail: Della Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in BC at 440 m tall. (Some sources claim it’s the tallest waterfall in Canada, but that’s not true.)

The hike starts with a boat trip across Great Central Lake. From there you hike up a river valley to the base of the falls. Allow time for the 6 km side trip to Love Lake where there is an incredible view of the entire waterfall from above.

More Info:

• Get all the details in my Della Falls Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Get My Book…

Backpacking on Vancouver Island

Discover Vancouver Island’s best day hikes and overnight trips

• 25 backpacking trips and 10 day hikes throughout Vancouver Island
• Info about permits, reservations and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

Wild Side Trail

Duration: 2 days

Distance: 22 km round trip

Difficulty: Easy

Fees and Reservations: No reservations required but you must pay trail fees and water taxi fees.

The Trail: The Wild Side Trail takes you along the shoreline of Flores Island in Ahousaht First Nation territory. Most of the hike is along incredible sandy beaches. The trail is a short water taxi ride from Tofino. This off-the-beaten-path hike doesn’t get many visitors, making it one of the quietest hikes on this list of the best backpacking trips in BC.

More Info:

• Get details on this hike in my Wild Side Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
• The Wild Side Trail opens in May and made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia
• It’s also on my list of the best easy backpacking trips in BC.
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Circlet Lake and Mount Albert Edward

Duration: 2 to 3 days

Distance: 31 km round trip

Difficulty: Challenging

Fees and Reservations: No reservations required (all campsites are first-come, first-served) but you must pay camping fees.

The Trail: Summit Mount Albert Edward, one of the highest peaks on Vancouver Island. On the way, you’ll stay at tiny Circlet Lake. This Strathcona Provincial Park trip starts at Mount Washington and is a rite of passage for many Vancouver Island hikers.

More Info:

• Get details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
• Pay fees through BC Parks.
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Bedwell Lakes

Duration: 2 to 3 days

Distance: 22 km round trip

Difficulty: Challenging

Fees and Reservations: No reservations required (all campsites are first-come, first-served) but you must pay camping fees.

The Trail: Climb steeply up through the forest to emerge on the granite shores of Bedwell and Baby Bedwell Lakes, each with their own campground. Intrepid hikers can continue to isolated Cream Lake, which makes a great day trip destination. The trailhead is in a remote area near Buttle Lake in Strathcona Provincial Park.

More Info:

• Get details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
• Pay fees through BC Parks.

Elk River Trail and Landslide Lake

Duration: 2 to 3 days

Distance: 22 km round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: No reservations required (all campsites are first-come, first-served) but you must pay camping fees.

The Trail: Follow the trail through a beautiful forest alongside the shady Elk River to its terminus at picturesque Landslide Lake and great views of Mount Colonel Foster. There are two campgrounds along the river to choose from. Find the trailhead along the highway to Gold River.

More Info:

• Get details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
• Pay fees through BC Parks.

Nootka Trail

Duration: 3 to 5 days

Distance: 35 km traverse

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: No reservations required. You must pay camping fees. You also need to book in advance for the water taxi or float plane.

The Trail: Arrange a water taxi or floatplane to shuttle you to the Nootka Trail on Nootka Island near Gold River. It’s a remote coastal hike that sees few visitors but has incredible scenery. Highlights include sandy beaches, wolf sightings, Calvin Falls, and the tiny Mowachaht First Nation village of Yuquot.

More Info:

• See my trip report from my Nootka Trail hike. Get details on this hike in my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
• Pay camping fees to the Mowachaht/Muchalaht Nation
• The Nootka Trail made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia.

Get My Book…

Backpacking on Vancouver Island

Discover Vancouver Island’s best day hikes and overnight trips

• 25 backpacking trips and 10 day hikes throughout Vancouver Island
• Info about permits, reservations and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos
• Advice for extending your trip
• Points of cultural and natural history

Get the book

North Coast Trail

Duration: 4 to 5 days

Distance: 43 to 59 km traverse

Difficulty: Very Challenging

Fees and Reservations: No reservations required (all campsites are first-come, first-served) but you must pay camping fees. You also need to book the water taxi in advance.

The Trail: The rough and rugged North Coast Trail follows the coastline around the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Start with a water taxi from Port Hardy, then get ready for lots of mud, steep hills with rope assists, and rocky beaches.

More Info:

• Get details on this hike in my North Coast Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
• Join the Cape Scott Park Facebook group for the latest trail conditions.
• Pay fees through BC Parks.
• The North Coast Trail is a great destination between May and September, so it made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

Cape Scott Trail

Duration: 3 days

Distance: 47 km

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: No reservations required (all campsites are first-come, first-served) but you must pay camping fees.

The Trail: The Cape Scott Trail follows an old settler’s route through the muddy forest to the wild beaches at the north end of Vancouver Island. Choose from several campsites on sandy beaches, then day hike out to the Cape Scott Lighthouse.

More Info:

• Get details on this hike in my Cape Scott Trail guide and my book, Backpacking on Vancouver Island.
• Join the Cape Scott Park Facebook group for the latest trail conditions. For camping fee info, see Cape Scott Provincial Park.
• Pay fees through BC Parks.
• The Cape Scott Trail is hikeable all year, so it made my list of the best spring backpacking trips in British Columbia
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.

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Best Backpacking Trips in Eastern BC and the Rocky Mountains

Kaslo Lake

Duration: 2 to 3 days

Distance: 18 km round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: No reservations required for camping (all campsites are first-come, first-served) but you must pay camping fees. Reservations and fees required for the hut.

The Trail: Hike into the backcountry of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park near Nelson to camp next to Kaslo Lake. Follow beautiful trails through the alpine to viewpoints and peaks. You can also book the palatial Kokanee Glacier Cabin nearby.

More Info:

• See Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park for trail info.
• Pay fees through BC Parks.
• See the Alpine Club of Canada for cabin reservations.

Eva and Jade Lakes

Duration: 2 days

Distance: 12 to 18 km round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and camping fees are required. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees.

The Trail: This alpine hike is easily accessible thanks to the paved Meadows in the Sky Parkway at Mount Revelstoke National Park. Walk through the alpine to a beautiful campsite on the shores of Eva Lake, an easy distance for beginners and made my list of beginner-friendly backpacking trips in BC. If you want more solitude, head over a pass to Jade Lake.

More Info:

• Get the details in my Mount Revelstoke National Park guide.
• Make reservations and pay fees with Parks Canada.
• Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.

Mount Assiniboine

Duration: 4 to 6 days

Distance: 52 to 55 km round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and camping fees are required. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees if you camp in Banff National Park on the way to the trail.

The Trail: The scenery at Mount Assiniboine is postcard-worthy, but getting there can be a challenge. The hike itself is long, but not too difficult and the camping at Lake Magog is gorgeous. But it requires reservations in both a BC Park and Banff National Park, which can be tough to arrange.

More Info:

• See my huge Mount Assiniboine hiking guide for trail info and reservation strategies.
• Make reservations and pay fees for camping in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park through BC Parks.
• Make reservations and pay fees for camping in Banff National Park on the way to Assiniboine with Parks Canada.
• Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.
• Join the Mount Assiniboine Facebook group for updates on trail conditions.
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
• It’s also on my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies.

Rockwall Trail

Duration: 4 to 5 days

Distance: 55 km traverse

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and camping fees are required. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees.

The Trail: The spectacular Rockwall Trail traverses the mountains of Kootenay National Park near Banff, climbing up and over several high passes. There are glacier views, alpine lakes, and the best wildflower meadows I’ve ever seen. I think it has the best effort to reward ratio of all the backpacking trips in BC.

More Info:

• Get details on this hike in my Rockwall Trail guide.
• Make reservations and pay fees for camping with Parks Canada.
• Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.
• Join the Rockwall Trail Facebook group for updates on trail conditions.

Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline and Whaleback Trails

Duration: 2 to 3 days

Distance: 29.4 km loop

Difficulty: Challenging

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and camping fees are required. You will also need to pay National Park entry fees.

The Trail: Combine several trails in Yoho National Park near Field to make an epic loop that takes in the spectacular Iceline and Whaleback Trails. The views of nearby peaks and waterfalls are breathtaking. Choose from two backcountry campgrounds along the way.

More Info:

• Get trail details in my Yoho Valley Loop backpacking guide.
• Make reservations and pay fees for camping with Parks Canada. Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.
• This hike is on my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies.

Berg Lake

Duration: 2 to 4 days

Distance: 42 km round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees and Reservations: Reservations and camping fees are required.

The Trail: The incredible Berg Lake Trail near Valemount follows the Robson River uphill to Berg Lake, named for the glaciers crashing into it from Mount Robson, the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. Plan to spend a few days in the area to tackle spectacular day hikes.

More Info:

• Get details on this hike in my Berg Lake Trail guide.
• Make reservations and pay fees for camping through BC Parks. Use my guide to making backcountry camping reservations to get ready to book.
• You can get to this hike without a car! It’s on my list of car-free backpacking trips in BC.
• It’s also on my list of the best backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies.

BC Backpacking in Your Inbox!

Sign up to receive a bi-monthly newsletter from Taryn at Dawn Outdoors stuffed with the latest on backpacking in BC including:

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Final Thoughts

So there you have it: 25 recommendations for the best backpacking trips in BC. How many of these trips have you done? Is there an amazing backpacking destination that I left off the list? Tell me in the comments.

Get My Books

Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia and Backpacking on Vancouver Island

Discover BC’s best backpacking trips

• 40 backpacking trips within a few hours of Vancouver
• 35 backpacking trips and day hikes on Vancouver Island
• Info about permits, reservations, and campground facilities
• Detailed maps and photos

Get the books

MORE BC BACKPACKING DESTINATIONS:

• 24 Easy Backpacking Trips In BC For Beginners
• 11 Best Backpacking Trips in the Canadian Rockies
• 35+ Places to Go Backpacking in BC Without A Car
• 25 Spring Backpacking Trips in British Columbia
• Backcountry Huts in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies

BC BACKPACKING RESERVATION INFO:

• How to Go Backpacking in BC Without Reservations
• How to Make Backcountry Camping Reservations in BC
• BC Backpacking Reservation Dates You Need to Know

The post 25 Best Backpacking Trips in BC appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I’ve hiked this trail countless times and the view at the end always amazes me. While the first half of the trail is fairly straightforward, the second half is rough and if you aren’t paying attention, you might get off track.

Since I’ve hiked this trail so many times (and it’s in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia), I can help you plan the best route to St. Mark’s Summit and give some tips on how to find all the viewpoints.

In this guide, I’ve got everything you need to know to hike to St. Mark’s Summit. It includes:

• Trail stats including how long it takes, difficulty, best time to go, and more
• Tips for hiking to St. Mark’s Summit including what to pack and how to prep
• Trail map that shows all the key locations I mention in this post
• How to get to St. Mark’s Summit – detailed driving directions
• Step-by-step hiking directions so you know what to expect
• Winter hiking and snowshoeing tips for St. Mark’s Summit

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

St Marks Summit Trail Stats

Here are the basic stats that you need to know about hiking the St. Mark’s Summit Trail:

Location: The St Marks Summit Trail is located on the southern part of the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Cypress Provincial Park in West Vancouver. It starts next to the lodge at Cypress Mountain Ski Resort.

Duration: 3.5 to 4.5 hours

Distance: 11.5 km

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: ~600 m of elevation gain

Best Time to Go: Mid-June to early November when the trail is snow-free. Pick a clear day to enjoy the views. The trail has significant avalanche danger in the winter (see the snowshoeing section below.)

Day Passes: As of 2024, you do NOT need a BC Parks day pass to hike to St. Mark’s Summit. A few years ago, you did need a day pass for Cypress Provincial Park, but that hasn’t been the case since 2021. Read my guide to BC Parks day passes for more info.

Toilets: There are toilets in the Black Mountain Lodge and Cypress Creek Lodge next to the parking lot. There are no toilets on the trail.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed on this trail but BC Parks rules require them to be on a leash. Use caution near the viewpoints – a dog nearly died here a few years ago when it slipped out of its harness and went over the edge of the cliff.

Bears: This area has black bears. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray.

Indigenous Context: The St Marks Summit Trail is in the traditional territory of the Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

What’s with the name? Sometimes spelled “Saint Mark’s Summit”, the peak got its name because for many years St. Mark’s Anglican Church operated a summer camp in Lions Bay below the mountain.

Tips for the St Marks Hike

• Check the weather before you go. City weather forecasts are useless in the backcountry. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Saint Mark’s Summit like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)
• Check trail conditions online using AllTrails or Instagram. This is especially important in the spring or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy.
• Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder, windier, and rainier in the mountains than in the city.
• Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. The trail is very rocky and rooty in places. It can also be muddy. Regular running shoes don’t have enough grip or ankle support.
• Bring water and snacks. It is not safe to drink the water from the creeks without boiling, filtering, or treating it because you never know if people or animals have pooped or died upstream. Gross! (I use a Katadyn BeFree to filter water.)
• Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.
• Pack out all your garbage. There are no garbage cans here so you must take your garbage home with you. Leaving it on the trails attracts animals.
• Bring a camera – it’s gorgeous and you will want tons of pics! But leave the drone at home. Drones aren’t allowed in BC Parks without a commercial filming permit.
• Be Bear aware: There are black bears in this area. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray. Read my bear safety tips for more info.

St Marks Summit Trail Map

While the first half of the trail is easy to follow, the second half is rough and can get confusing. Pay close attention to trail markers, especially on the switchbacks. There have been lots of Search and Rescue call-outs for hikers who accidentally went off-trail. I recommend using a GPS mapping app like All Trails+ Gaia GPS to stay on track.

I made a map of the St Mark’s Summit Trail for you using Gaia GPS. Click through to zoom in (and download the GPX track).

You can also use the Cypress Provincial Park map, but it isn’t very detailed so I don’t find it very helpful.

St Marks Summit Driving Directions

The trailhead is about 45 minutes from Vancouver. There is no public transportation to the trailhead so you will need to drive yourself. You can also take a taxi or an Uber, but it can be expensive and sometimes drivers won’t want to come pick you up afterwards.

Here are step-by-step driving directions to the St Mark’s Summit trailhead:

• From Vancouver, go north over the Lions Gate Bridge.
• Follow signs along Marine Drive and Taylor Way to get onto Highway 1 westbound.
• Take Exit 8 onto Cypress Bowl Road.
• Follow Cypress Bowl Road up the mountain to its end at the Cypress Creek Lodge. There is lots of parking in the huge lot.

Here are Google Maps driving directions.

St. Marks Summit Hiking Directions

The route to Saint Mark’s Summit is mostly on the Howe Sound Crest Trail. However, there are a few different options for starting the hike.

My recommended route below adds about 0.5 km more distance than the most direct route. But it includes a walk through a unique subalpine meadow and a great viewpoint. On the way back, my route takes the most direct way to the parking lot.

To help keep you on track, here is a brief overview of the key distances on the hike to St. Mark’s Summit:

Trailhead to the HSCT Junction Info Kiosk

To start the hike, walk through the parking lot and past the lodge. Depending on when you visit, the restaurant and cafe here may be open. Just past the end of the lodge, go straight onto the Yew Lake Trail leading into the trees. A minute later, follow the trail as it goes around the bottom of the ski lift and continues into the forest.

Ignore a trail heading left a few minutes later. It goes uphill to Black Mountain, Cabin Lake, and Eagle Bluffs. Continue straight. The trail here is part of wheelchair accessible loop so it is wide and flat. The babbling waters of Cypress Creek are to your left.

A few minutes later, arrive on the shores of marshy Yew Lake, which is more of a pond. Stay on the trail as it goes around the lake and then curls right into a swampy meadow with some small ponds. Ignore a trail going right – this is the other half of the Yew Lake Trail.

Instead, to straight onto the Old Growth Trail. Walk back into the forest, which includes some huge Old Growth trees. At a fork, you can go either right or left – they meet up again less than 100 m later. A minute after the two trails meet up, emerge onto an old gravel road. This road is also known as the Howe Sound Crest Trail West (HSCT West).

Turn left and follow the road for a few minutes until the road ends and a trail goes right. Head uphill on switchbacks. This is the first real climb of the hike and it is steep in places. About 0.6 km later after gaining about 90 m, reach another junction.

Turn left and follow the trail gently downhill to Bowen Lookout. There is a great view down to Howe Sound, Bowen Island, and the Sunshine Coast. The trees are growing up a little bit and starting to block the view, but it’s still a great place to take a break.

When you are ready to continue, retrace your steps back to the HSCT West. Turn left and follow it uphill for a few minutes to a junction. There is a large info kiosk sign here with a trail map. The HSCT East heads downhill to the right.

HSCT Junction Info Kiosk to Strachan Meadows

From the info kiosk, turn left onto the main Howe Sound Crest Trail. There is a brief gap in the trees here with a distant view of the Lions.

Follow the trail down a small hill. The trail curls north and stays fairly flat for the next kilometre. Keep an eye out for some huge trees through here.

You’ll cross two creek gullies. In the early season, these will be wet, but they mostly dry up by the end of summer. When you pass through these gullies notice how there are bushes here instead of trees. That’s because avalanches roar through here every winter and spring.

About 3.9 km from the start, reach a bridge in an open area known as Strachan Meadows. If you need water, this is the only reliable place on the hike to get it. But be sure to filter or treat it first as it is not safe to drink.

Strachan Meadows to the Summit

The first few minutes after the bridge continue along on the same wide and well-maintained gravel trail you have been following since the beginning. The trail heads up a few switchbacks and eventually, the smooth gravel disappears and the trail becomes very rough, rooty, rocky, and eroded.

BC Parks has slowly been working on upgrading this trail for over 10 years, but due to chronic underfunding, they are only able to fix a few dozen meters of trail per year. And the remaining trail keeps getting more and more eroded. If you want to help make a change, write to your MLA to ask them to increase the BC Parks budget and focus on trail maintenance projects.

Pay close attention to trail markers as you work your way up the deteriorating trail. Many hikers have gotten lost in this section when they accidentally went off-trail. About 4.8 km from the trailhead, the trail reaches the top of a ridge.

The next few minutes are almost flat as you walk through the forest on a broad ridge top. But about half a kilometre later the trail starts to climb again, sometimes with the help of wooden stairs.

About 6 km from the start the trail starts to flatten out and you go through some mucky areas and past some tiny ponds. There are some sections of boardwalk to keep you out of the mud, but in other places, its unavoidable.

Reach the main viewpoint 6.3 km from the trailhead. You can scramble up onto the rock outcropping to the left of the trail to get a great view of Howe Sound and its islands. You can also look across to a clifftop perch jutting out to the north and slightly lower. That’s the lower viewpoint.

To get to the lower viewpoint, continue on the main trail for a few more minutes, then follow a faint trail to the left. This trail is not officially maintained and in a couple of places is very steep. Be careful as you follow it down to the viewpoint. There are actually several trails here so choose the most travelled and safest options.

You’ll get a panoramic view from the lower viewpoint, but be careful as the drop-offs are deadly. A dog nearly died here a few years ago when it slipped out of its harness. And please make room for others at the viewpoint. It might seem like a great place to chat and have lunch, but you’ll be preventing other people from enjoying the view if you sit down here.

When you are done, make your way back to the main trail. Some trails from the lower viewpoint go north to connect with the HSCT on its way to Unnecessary Mountain and beyond to the Lions and eventually Porteau Cove. Make sure you are going south if you want to get back to the parking lot!

Note: None of the viewpoints are at the true peak of St. Mark’s Summit. It’s about 20 minutes higher in the trees to the east of the trail. There are a few faint boot paths through the trees to get there, but the summit itself is in the forest with no views, so few people bother.

Summit Back to the Trailhead

To get back to the trailhead, retrace your steps past the main viewpoint, down past the mucky ponds, across the ridge, and down the switchbacks. Continue on the smoother trail over the bridge in Strachan Meadows, and then through the gullies in the flat section.

Arrive back at the Info Kiosk Junction 9.9 km into your hike. You can follow your earlier route back to the parking lot, but instead, I recommend a more direct route.

From the kiosk, go straight on the HSCT East (don’t turn right onto the HSCT West towards Bowen Lookout). Follow the trail downhill. Within a few minutes, it turns into a gravel road. A few hundred metres later, look for a sign pointing to a trail going right. You can stay on the gravel road and follow it onto a ski run, but the trail is much nicer.

Turn right onto the trail and take it downhill into a beautiful forest. The trail emerges onto another gravel road next to a huge green water tower a few minutes later. Follow the road (which is actually a ski run) downhill. At an open area on your right about 200 m later, you can choose to stay on the ski or go right onto a forest trail one last time.

The ski run route and the forest trail route meet up in front of the lodge within a few minutes. Follow the path along the side of the lodge to head back to the parking lot and finish the hike.

Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing to St Mark’s Summit

With plowed road access to the trailhead thanks to its location at Cypress Mountain ski area, it can be tempting to think that St Mark’s Summit makes a great snowshoeing destination.

However, it is a much more challenging and potentially dangerous trip in winter. The trail markers are harder to see, so it is easy to get off track. You will need to be comfortable with navigation. I use All Trails+ or Gaia GPS.

Each winter there are several Search and Rescue call-outs for lost skiers and snowshoers in this area. It has lots of steep cliffs and terrain traps. Several people have died when they got lost in the snow and then either succumbed to hypothermia or fell off cliffs looking for a way back to the trail.

The trail also has dangerous avalanche terrain, especially between the junction of the two branches of the HSCT and the bridge in Strachan Meadows. Right after the junction, the trail passes through several avalanche chutes. Each winter, avalanches come roaring down these chutes, right across the trail. One year a friend of mine was crossing one of these chutes in the spring and was knocked down by a small avalanche. Thankfully the outcome wasn’t worse!

The first part of the trail up to Bowen Lookout makes a great snowshoe trip since it isn’t in avalanche terrain (and it’s on my list of the best places to snowshoe near Vancouver).

But you should not attempt the trail to St Mark’s Summit past Bowen Lookout in winter unless you have winter navigation experience and avalanche training. Check the avalanche forecast before your trip.

The trail to Saint Mark’s Summit is one of the most popular trails in Vancouver, which isn’t surprising since it has such an amazing view. If you have questions about the trail, ask them in the comments. I’d love to help.

READ NEXT:

• The 10 Best Hikes in Vancouver – A Local’s Guide
• BC Parks Day Passes 2024 – Everything You Need to Know
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Get my book: Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia
• The Best Hikes in Squamish, BC (From a Local)
• The Best Hikes in Whistler: A Guide to All the Trails

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