Deeks Peak


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What:  1672m.  A rewarding climb with great views.  

Where:  Deeks Peak is located just off the northern end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail near Porteau Cove, BC.

Difficulty: 3/5  Sparsely-marked trail with some light scrambling
Runnability: 2/5 Popular lower section of trail offers a good warmup.
Peak view: 4/5
Unobstructed views of surrounding peaks and valleys
Scenery: 4/5 Old growth, second growth forests.  Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes.
Children: 3/5 Aggressive distance.
Dogs: 4/5 Minimal water on access trails.

Route overview:  The trail to Deeks Peak can be broken down into 4 sections:  Highway #1 to trailhead, trailhead to Deeks Lake, Deeks Lake to the alpine and lake to the summit.  The first section can be driven with a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  The second section is on the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) and is very well marked.  The third section and final sections are less traveled and less well flagged.

Trip distance:  From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 16 km. 

Trip time:  From the parking lot at Highway #1, roughly 4-6 hours.  Subtract 1-2 hours if you drive to the trailhead. 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 Brunswick Lake.
  • Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion. 

Name Origin: Named after John F. Deeks, owner of the Deeks Gravel and Rock company that operated in the area in the early 1900s.

Headwaters for:  Some small streams..

Getting there:  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.

Route Details:  The trail to Deeks Peak is relatively well traveled to Deeks Lake.  The remaining section is less traveled and flagged.

Highway to Trailhead (1-2 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

Trailhead to Deeks Lake (1-2 hours)

  • trail continues on a dirt road for about 1 km, then narrows.  Pass a lookout of the valley on your right
  • well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with waterfall to the right
  • pause to soak in the view of surrounding peaks at Deeks Lake

Deeks Lake to Alpine (1-2 hours)

  • follow trail along south end of the lake past a few campsites then across a small boulder field to base of a steep climb.  Watch for sign to Windsor Peak.
  • nice singletrack takes you steeply uphill through tall trees with minimal undergrowth. 
  • At Peak 5400 sign, stay left.  You will eventually arrive at a small lake in the saddle between Deeks and Mount Windsor

Lake to Deeks Peak (1.5 - 3 hours)

  • the trail to the peak is poorly flagged.  Follow left side of lake and look for tape to your left at far north-eastern end.  Bushwhack through heather and low bushes until you find a narrow trail uphill
  • at ridge, go left and predominantly uphill.  Climb and descend ridge until you come to a seemingly impassible cliff
  • stay left next to base of cliff face.  Scramble over some boulders then continue on narrow trail up to the peak.  There are a couple ways to reach the peak with the easiest way apparently being to approach from the back.
  • rocky peak with big rock cairn.  Sign the guest book!
  • there is a route that continues along the ridge, down the neighboring valley and will eventually return to the highway, but it is very poorly marked.  Recommend you return via the route you took

Neighboring peaks:

  • Bagger Challenge peaks Windsor Mountain, Gotha 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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