XTC Up Course

Fast
Time

Up - Course Description

km

07:30

Reference Point - Griffin Gym – Start / Finish. Griffin Recreation Center is at 851 West Queens Road, North Vancouver. There's lots of free parking. Showers, a hot tub, steam room and gym are also available for a $5.00 drop-in fee. Run distances measured from the north sidewalk of Queens Road at Del Rio.

08:00

Start. Queens Road and Del Rio Drive

0.0

1. Mosquito Creek. This section takes you straight up the side of a mountain from the city to the edge of civilization.

- run north (toward mountains) to end of Del Rio then straight onto gravel trail. Stay straight on trail heading uphill.  In about 500m, you'll notice a spillway on your right. Keep heading uphill with the rushing river on your right (Don't cross little yellow bridge!)

- In about 1.5K, pass under wooden bridge (Montroyal Blvd.)  Continue uphill with river to your right. Pass through 3 large boulders in the path. Gravel trail gets steeper. At end of gravel trail (2 big boulders and a pile of smaller ones) keep heading uphill on narrow rocky path with river to your right.

- after 10m, path veers left and almost disappears. Zigzag up steep canyon wall. When you reach the road (Skyline Drive) turn right and continue uphill to parking area under power lines.

08:15

Reference Point – Skyline Drive. Parking lot.

2.9

2. The Dogleg. This nasty out-and-back section gives you a chance to see everyone in the event. If weather permits, take in some spectacular panoramas of the city below and Mount Baker, Washington.

- Go right and pass through orange metal gate. Continue steep uphill. Stay left on main road at rock "5053" address cairn and again near top when you pass a private driveway. Just after pavement ends, look for trail to the right marked Baden Powell. Take steep, rocky trail downhill to driveway and green-roofed shed

08:20

- just before shed, turn sharply left along dirt path. Pass above houses with green and orange metal roofs, then downhill. Cross bridge over Mosquito Creek.

3.8

- on far side of bridge, follow wide dirt/gravel access road. Big green water tanks are on your left. At yellow gate, take small deeply-eroded path on left up steep embankment and stay right under power lines. Go underneath the tower of power, then right onto wide trail under power lines

- follow wide trail under power lines as it snakes eastward toward the horizon. You will pass through a grey metal gate. Cross paved driveway (4350 St. Mary's Avenue) and continue on smaller trail directly opposite.  Count three (3) towers from here!

08:30

- you will pass directly under a tower of power then head steeply downhill on narrow, rocky trail. If you are lucky, you will see Mt. Baker on the horizon. Pass a tower on your left and trail turns into a rocky creek bed. Partway down the hill, you will come to a tower on your right. There are 2 huge, old tree stumps directly opposite. Turn around here!.

6.5

- follow trail under power lines back uphill, then cross over paved driveway and go through grey metal gate at 4350 St. Mary's Avenue. On a clear day, you can make out a thin straight line of a trail above the houses on the horizon. (The Crunch.)

08:40

- follow gravel trail under power lines back to canyon edge. Go underneath the tower of power and onto small, steep trail. (Do NOT follow Baden Powel trail marker!) Turn right at bottom and go through yellow gate and up gravel road. Big green water tanks will be on your right. Cross Mosquito Creek Bridge

9.2

- go right, then left and uphill on rocky trail. Pass orange then green roofed houses on your left. At junction with driveway, turn immediately right and go up steep, rocky path. When trail opens into wide, overgrown gravel road, go left. Follow road downhill to 2 orange metal gates framing a parking area.

08:45

Reference Point – Skyline Drive. Parking lot.

10.1

3. Grouse View. This fast section takes you under power lines to Grouse Mountain base station and downhill to Cleveland Dam

- continue straight through parking area, past the orange metal gate and downhill under power lines. (Do NOT follow paved road!) You will pass over 2 small bridges above a dry dam

- continue straight and under power lines. Pass through an orange metal gate into gravel parking area. Stay left along lower road next to fence and pass through a maintenance area. At yellow metal gate next to paved road, turn left

11.4

- follow Nancy Green Way downhill through residential area facing traffic. You will pass Cleveland Park on your left near the bottom of the hill. Cross street when it is safe to do so and cross parking lot marked 'Cleveland Dam.'

12.6

09:00

Reference Point - Cleveland Dam. Fountain, washrooms and parking lot.

13.5

4. The Capilano Loop. Get up close and intimate with a magnificent rainforest canyon.

- take road to your left immediately after fountain and before information board. It will snake downhill and away from the dam. Pass a big concrete block building on your right. Stay on main road about 75m, then take first trail downhill to your right. (Note metal snorkel-shaped pipe opposite trail entrance.)

- trail goes steeply downhill over wooden steps and through a grove of ancient old growth trees. You will pass over several small bridges. Just before the paved road, take trail right. When trail reaches traffic circle at fish hatchery, follow road to right then go straight onto trail between picnic gazebo and information board

- keep river on your right as you go down the canyon. Pass picnic gazebo. Go up and down wooden bridge ramp. (Do NOT cross river!) Go right and on trail next to river. Pass Cable Pool lookout. Continue uphill and close to canyon edge on Coho Loop trail.

- at "T" intersection (Pipeline Trail), turn right and steeply downhill over Pipeline Bridge and across river. If you fear heights, don't look down!

- stay right at small stone wall and go over little footbridge. River is now on your right as you make your way back up the canyon. Stay on main trail past bridge. (Do NOT cross bridge to fish hatchery!) At next intersection, go left and uphill on steep, narrow switchback. (Giant Fir trail.) Note 2 huge Douglas firs at top.

- take small trail on right (don't drop down to gravel trail). 500 year old Grandpa Capilano is behind the cedar fence in front of you. Be sure to give him your regards, as he brings good luck! Trail goes up steep set of wooden stairs. At the top, go right onto wide gravel road. You are now on the Trans-Canada Trail (TCT) .

09:15

- with canyon on your right, continue uphill on road until clearing just before Cleveland Dam. Turn left and uphill on wide gravel access road. Stay on this road until it ends at a high fence. Go left and follow trail to paved road

17.5

- at pavement (Glenmore Drive), go left and cross when it safe to do so. The trail continues on your right after about 60m

5. The Crunch. Viewed from the air, the course from here to the Picnic Area traces a straight line across Cypress Mountain under or near the telephone lines. This relatively short, but steep section takes you straight uphill along the Trans Canada/Baden Powell trail. Pass through back yards in the British Properties area of West Vancouver then leave civilization behind.

- cross a little bridge and a flat section, then head uphill with a park on your right. Carefully cross Glenmore Drive. (Note bus shelter and telephone on right.)

- climb a steep bit. Carefully cross St. Giles Road (near Barnham Road).

- Take steep stairs in front of you. Carefully cross Greenwood Road (at St. Andrews). Continue straight ahead and up.

09:30

Reference Point - Millstream Road. Street parking. Millstream Road at Craigmohr Drive. Last place to meet your support crew until you reach the Picnic Area. You will recognize this spot by the green metal gate on driveway leading to a small power station.

18.2

- continue uphill on steep, narrow trail under telephone lines. At top of wooden steps, trail will veer right into the forest. At first trail intersection, go left over the little bridge and head back toward telephone lines. Cross swampy area on corduroy then a little wooden bridge over Hadden Creek.

- At "T" junction with wide, rocky trail (Brothers Creek Fire Road), turn right and uphill. At next trail intersection under telephone lines, go left and uphill. At clearing on the lower side of the lines, turn right.

6. Canyon Crawl. Welcome to just about every size and quality of trail you can imagine...with a net uphill grade. While the steepest climb is behind you, you will continue uphill for the most part crossing many bridges over many canyons.

- cross several small canyons and many bridges of varying sizes and states of repair.

09:45

- stay straight at sign for Incline Railway trail. Note Viewpoint #10 as you approach Brother's Canyon. At Brothers Canyon, drop steeply down canyon edge. As you cross Brother's Creek, check out the waterfall!

19.9

- At top of canyon, go right and uphill into the woods. At junction with Brothers Creek trail, stay straight. Cross a long stretch of corduroy just before reaching the telephone lines

09:50

- trail drops into a fairly wide fire road. Turn right and uphill back to telephone lines where you come to an opening at edge of Lawson Canyon. Immediately as you head back into the forest, you will see a trail fork with the Baden Powell trail going steeply uphill and the Skyline Trail going left. Go left onto Skyline Trail. There is a steep downhill section into the canyon and an old bridge

20.3

- as you come out of the canyon, enter a nasty section of roots, rocks and mud. Beware the slippery old corduroy just before you get back to the telephone lines.

- follow rough single track trail under the lines. Expect wet shoes if it has rained recently. Pass first by Lower Brewis trail, then further up, Upper Brewis as you continue under telephone lines. Cross a deep canyon

- enjoy a nice stretch of trail in the woods. Look for remnants of an old forest fire. Cross canyon with 2 bridges

22.5

- in next stretch of forest, trail goes around a huge overturned stump then over tiny bridge with 3 slats before regaining the telephone lines. Drop down into small canyon

22.7

- regain telephone lines a while, then cross canyon with 2 bridges.

- back to telephone lines, then a shallow canyon with a new bridge.

10:05

- back to telephone lines and single-track. The trail widens and improves markedly. Crank it up. The Picnic Area isn't far!

23.3

- at the large Cypress Provincial Park sign, turn left onto the gravel driveway. Go clockwise around the circular driveway. Carin is next to information board.

10:15

Reference Point - Picnic Area. The Rotary Bluff cairn.

25.0