DePencier Bluffs


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What:  1230m.  A family-friendly bagging adventure with great views.  

Where:  De Pencier Bluffs are located in Seymour Provincial Park, North Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty: 1/5  Easy trail.  Relatively short distance
Runnability: 4/5 Mostly runnable. Some eroded, rooty bits.
Peak view: 4/5
Great views of city and mountains.  Partially obscured.
Scenery: 4/5 Good variety of mountains views, lakes and woods.
Children: 4/5 Short distance with several options.
Dogs: 1/5 Not allowed in provincial parks.

Route overview:  Single track and/or gravel road. Several access options.

Trip distance:  Roughly 5km return from the parking lot.

Trip time:  Budget 1 - 2 hours out and back from the parking lot.  This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety: 

  • Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
  • GPS coverage is excellent
  • Many visitors.  Shelter and emergency personnel at ski area
  • Recommend you bring a light version of your Baggers Companion. 

History: Named after the most reverend and mountaineer A.U. de Pencier (1866-1949) the Anglican Archbishop of New Westminster.

Headwaters for:  Seymour River.

Getting there:  Take Seymour Parkway to Mount Seymour Road and the Mount Seymour ski area.  Once in the ski resort parking lot, go to the far north end of the parking lot at the base of the Mystery chairlift.  Note that it's pay parking.

Route Details:  The trail to De Pencier Bluffs is surprisingly not well traveled. There are several ways to get to the peak.  Here's our recommended route:

  • Parking lot to Mystery Lake.  Find the trail to the east side of the Mystery Chair.  It's quite well traveled and marked at the trailhead.  Eroded, with lots of roots. 
  • Mystery Lake to Chairlift mid-station.  Follow the shore of Mystery Lake to the right and about 90-degrees from where you entered.  The trail heads up a little valley that winds-up at the mid-station of the chairlift.  Note:  you can also take the gravel road up to this point if you are in a hurry.
  • Chairlift to Peak.  Looking uphill under the chairlift, go 90-degrees to your right uphill through a field of heather along a very narrow, barely visible trail.  When the trail comes to a cliff, go right.  Continue uphill around a little lake.  There's a bit of scrambling as you make your way up the final pitch, but nothing too challenging.  View from the top is breathtaking on a clear day!
  • Peak to Chairlift.  It is possible to take a different trail around the back side.  As you come down from the peak, look for the trail to your left.  Stay right.  It will come out on the trail you took from Mystery Lake to the chairlift.  Go right and up to the ski lift to take the road, or left on the trail to Mystery Lake.

Neighboring peaks:

  • Mount Seymour, Runner Peak

Submitted by:  Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information: 

  • not much out there!


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