Hollyburn Mountain


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What:  1325m.  An easy bag with excellent views.

Where:  Hollyburn Mountain is located in Cypress Provincial Park above West Vancouver, BC.

Difficulty: 2/5  Well-marked trail
Runnability: 4/5 Popular Baden Powell Trail offers many opportunities to open it up
Peak view: 4/5
Partial views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery: 4/5 Mostly second growth forests. Ocean views.  Creeks.
Children: 5/5 Child friendly
Dogs: 1/5 On leash.  Check for other potential restrictions in BC Parks.

Route overview:  Hollyburn Mountain is located in Cypress Provincial Park above West Vancouver, BC.

Trip distance:  From the Cypress parking lot, roughly 3 km. 

Trip time:  From Cypress parking lot, plan for 1 - 3 hours.  This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety: 

  • Cellular coverage is inconsistent, but usually available.
  • GPS spotty under tree cover
  • Ski lodge at Cypress.
  • Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin:  The name Mount Hollyburn was adopted in 1937 after being known as Holly Burn, presumably due to a grove (burn) of holly bushes.

Headwaters for:  Some small streams.

Getting there:  Drive to Cypress Mountain Provincial Park.  Turn right at cross-country ski area.  Free parking at trailhead.

Route Details:  Hollyburn is between the Cypress Bowl downhill ski area and Hollyburn cross-country (XC) ski area.  There are 2 primary routes.

From downhill ski area

  • Take Baden Powell (BP) Trail south.  Trail entrance is between parking lot and ski slope on north side and is well marked
  • narrow, well-traveled singletrack trail is eroded and rooty.  Cross 2 creeks before coming to a wide, open cross country ski trail that is covered in blueberry bushes in the summer and fall
  • go left and uphill along well-traveled, well marked trail to peak

From crosscountry ski area

  • trailhead is on left side of parking lot before you reach the XC ski rental area
  • take well-marked trail uphill under powerlines.  Where terrain flattens, look for signs to left
  • follow singletrack along XC ski trail uphill to peak

Neighboring peaks:

  • Bagger Challenge peaks St. Marks, Black Mountain and Mount Strachan 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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