Long

time

Capilano Night Run - Mardi Gras - Long Course Description

km

~6:00

meet at the soccer field behind Griffin Recreation Center – 851 West Queens Road, North Vancouver

to 6:20

registration

6:25

photo

6:30

Reference Point (RP) #0. Start/Finish – 3 metal posts at north entrance to soccer field

00.0

This first section gets you to Capilano Canyon via the scenic route

- cross the driveway, then follow fence on left around river. Suffer through the sneers as you cut through the skateboard park. On the far side of the skateboard park, go uphill and left on trail that cuts along side of ravine

- where trail meets the street (Colwood Drive), go right to next intersection (Thorncliffe Drive) then left a few blocks to where street ends at Dudley Place Park. Go right onto Newmarket Drive then almost immediately left onto Crescentview Drive. About 50m after the bend in Crescentview, find entrance to Murdo Fraser Park on your left. (If you reach Highland Blvd, you’ve gone 25m too far!)

01.1

- descend concrete stairway. At bottom of stairs, go right at first trail and over little bridge. Pass duck pond and cool log cabin. Stay right and up Mackay Creek. After crossing bridge, go straight then follow path right and uphill thru tennis courts.

RP #1. There’s a fountain on your RHS near the last tennis court. Assume it doesn't work.

01.5

- go right onto Elizabeth Way. Pass playground. Go right at first street (Paisley Road) up short hill and keep straight toward ‘no exit’ sign at intersection (St. Annes Drive.)

- Street curves left and ends at trail. At clearing, cross Ridgewood Street carefully and head left for intersection with Capilano Road.   Cross at the stoplight and go right and uphill on the sidewalk on the west side of Capilano Road.  

02.3

- pass Capilano Suspension Bridge. Cimb hill.  Pass entrance to Capilano River Park. Climb hill.  At stoplights at top of hill, go left onto Eldon Road toward the canyon

03.2

- Take path marked with a Trans-Canada Trail sign on left at bend in street. You will drop down to a road crossing. Immediately opposite is a yellow gate. At gate, go left onto marked with a Trans-Canada Trail sign. (Chinook Trail.)

This section through the Capilano Canyon is mostly on narrow, rooty trails.

6:45

- Follow Chinook/Trans-Canada Trail markings.  Begin a gnarly bit of steep climbs and descents in the deep woods with the river always to your left.  After about 100m on a fairly wide path, you'll go down toward the river.  Take the steps back up the side of the canyon.  (Don't go left and down to the river.)  

- after a nasty descent through rocks and roots, you will pass thru a bike gate and come to a large intersection (Pipeline Trail). Go straight (Coho Loop Trail).

04.5

- with the river to your left, pass the Cable Pool lookout, a bridge and a picnic shelter then come to a paved traffic circle in front of the fish hatchery.  Cross the paved road below the traffic island and rejoin trail immediately opposite. (Small bridge over creek that ends in concrete culvert.) Take the trail about 15m, then turn left and head uphill

05.1

- this steep bit takes you out of the canyon to a fountain at Cleveland Dam. Hug an old Doug Fir as you gasp for breath. At the dirt road, continue straight (to parking lot) and up a long set of stairs. At the top of the stairs, turn left.

7:00

RP #2 – Cleveland Dam washrooms and water fountains. Assume the washrooms will be closed and no water in the fountain.

05.9

- cross the dam and take the dirt road downhill to your left. You will now be descending the canyon with the river to your left. At the second intersection after about 100m, stay on the dirt road leading downhill and away from the dam. In about 200m, you will come to Trans Canada Trail / Giant Fir Trail to your left. Take steep stairs down.

06.8