View Mount Harvey in a larger map
What: 1652m. A good climb with breathtaking views.
Where: Mount Harvey is located off the Howe Sound Crest Trail between Porteau Cove and Lions Bay, BC.
| Difficulty: |
4/5 |
Challenging trail that offers a little bit of everything |
| Runnability: |
2/5 |
Popular lower section of trail offers a good warm-up. Some light scrambling in the alpine |
| Peak view: |
5/5
|
Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound |
| Scenery: |
4/5 |
Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views. |
| Children: |
2/5 |
Challenging from distance perspective. |
| Dogs: |
3/5 |
Some steep bits on the last push |
Route overview: Mount Harvey approached from the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST) from either the north (Porteau Exit off #1) or the south (Lions Bay). From the HSCT, the dogleg to Harvey follows a wide ridge then climbs steeply up to the peak from the south. .
Trip distance: From Porteau exit parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 25 km. From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 13 km.
Trip time: From the Porteau parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 5-8 hours. Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead at Porteau Exit. From Lions Bay, anticipate 3-5 hours. Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay. This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.
Safety:
- Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
- GPS spotty under tree cover
- Emergency shelter at Magnesia Meadows. Firehall in Lions Bay.
- Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion
Name Origin: Named about 1859 by Captain Richard of the HMS Plumper, after Captain John Harvey (1740 - 1794), captain of HMS Brunswick, 98 guns, in the battle of the "Glorious First of June", 1794, and died soon thereafter of wounds incurred.
Headwaters for: Some small streams.
Getting there: From the north: Drive to the Porteau Road exit off Highway #1. There is a parking area for users of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. If your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, you may want to continue approximately 4 kilometers up the dirt road to the trailhead. From the south: Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1. Parking is a challenge. Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking. Warning: Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!
Route Details: The HSCT to the base of Mount Harvey is well traveled. Few people take the relatively-short detour to the peak of Harvey.
Lions Bay to Harvey Ridge (3-4 hours)
- park where you can. Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
- take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km. Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
- HSCT to Magnesia Meadows shelter is clearly marked. At Harvey ridge, look for small trail uphill to left
Harvey Ridge to Peak (1- 1.5 hours)
- Small side trail to Harvey is marked, but easy to miss.
- follow wide saddle down then climb steeply uphill to the peak
- magnificent 360-degree view of Howe Sound peaks and islands
- return via same side trail to HSCT
Porteau Exit to Harvey Ridge (3-5 hours)
- From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
- Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker. If you are driving, best to park vehicle here
- well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with a series of 3 beautiful lakes to a red-roofed shelter below Brunswick Mountain
- continue uphill along HCST to Brunswick Ridge then down through Magnesia Meadows to red-roofed shelter
- continue south along HCST next to a small lake then up to a ridge.
- Harvey Ridge to Peak as above
Neighboring peaks:
- Bagger Challenge peaks Fat Ass Peak, Hat Mountain, Wettin Peak, St. David Peak and St. James Peak are relatively close. Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner
Submitted by: Ean Jackson and David Crerar
More information:
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