Baden Powell Hike: Horseshoe Bay to Grouse Mountain
The Baden Powell Trail Vancouver runs across the North Shore mountains for about 50km from Horseshoe Bay in the west to Deep Cove in the east.
Along the way you climb up the mountains making up Mt Cypress ski resort, cross the feet of Grouse Mountain, Mt Fromme, and Mt Seymour before descending into the quaint little village of Deep Cove.
It’s one of the most famous trails on the North Shore and is used by many daily for hikes, runs, and mountain biking.
Back in 2020, I completed the Baden Powell hike from Grouse to Deep Cove and have been looking to do the other section for a while now.
The remaining half is from Horseshoe Bay to Grouse Mountain climbing up to the top of Black Mountain and Eagle Bluffs from Horseshoe Bay and then across the x-country ski area along the bottom of Hollyburn Mountain before a long descent towards Capilano Dam and a short climb back up to rejoin the trail at Grouse Mountain.
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Hiking Baden Powell Trail, North Vancouver: Horseshoe Bay to Grouse Mountain
The Baden Powell trail is typically broken down into four sections. From west to East this is Horseshoe Bay to Cypress, Cypress to Grouse Mountain, Grouse Mountain to Lynn Valley, and Lynn Valley to Deep Cove.
Starting from Horseshoe Bay there’s a long ascent up to the top of Eagle Bluffs but from there to Grouse it’s almost all downhill.
The Baden Powell is well-marked if you’re familiar with the tree tags from hikes around Vancouver. Besides the boulder field on the way up to Eagle Bluffs, most of the terrain is fairly easy to hike up.
Do take extra care on these boulders Horseshoe Bay as it’s very easy to sprain an ankle and need to call Search and Rescue.
I personally prefer the other half of the Baden Powell, but this side has its pluses too! Here’s everything you need to know about hiking this section of the Baden Powell Trail.
Horseshoe Bay to Grouse Mountain
- Distance: 22 km
- Duration: 3-5 hours mostly hiking since the first section is steep and too much snow to run at the top
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 1 337 m
AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.
Logistics: How to hike the Baden Powell Trail
We only have one vehicle (our trusty Elvis the Van) and with the prices of gas, we opted to use public transit. It’s actually a great option for hikes on transit in Vancouver!
You can catch the bus from downtown Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay, and then pick up a bus down from Grouse Mountain or rent an EVO.
There are always lots of EVOs in the Grouse Mountain parking lot and it’s one of the reasons I say that you don’t necessarily need a car in Vancouver.
Depending on the time of year you’re hiking (ie. spring or fall) you’ll likely hike past a lot of streams. Using a Sawyer Squeeze (or similar) filter means you can fill up your water on the go.
Alternatively, Cypress Bowl has a water fountain in the cafe and the backcountry registration/washroom hut towards the back of the parking lot.
Hiking Guide to Baden Powell Trail
Here’s the route I followed when running/hiking the Baden Powell trail.
Baden Powell: Horseshoe Bay to Cypress Bowl
Starting from the village of Horseshoe Bay we began our climb by running back out of the village and to the start point marked on the Baden Powell trail map above.
Once you cross under the highway, you’ll run on the road for a very short section before making a left where there’s a small parking lot and the start of the Baden Powell Trail.
The trail starts off with a reasonable climb on gravel in the forest with some short steep sections.
You’ll soon come to a junction with a sign pointing you right toward Whyte Lake. Take the left to head towards Eagle Bluffs and the Baden Powell Trail.
You’ll begin to climb again and soon you’ll come out to a BC Parks sign marking the boundary of Cypress Provincial Park. Stick to the Baden Powell Trail as it gets rocky.
There’s a creek to cross over and then the trail climbs steeply up through the forest finally emerging at a boulder field.
Take your time navigating the boulder field as a lot of accidents happen here with sprained ankles requiring rescue from SAR.
Stick to the right-hand side and look for orange markers or spray paint on the rocks as you go up.
After the boulder field, you’ve done the hardest part of the Baden Powell hike but there’s still a bit of a climb to go!
Follow the route up through the trees and the rocks and round the corner to reach Eagle Bluffs. This is a good time to take a break and enjoy the view before you enjoy the descent!
After taking in the views at Eagle Bluffs, walk away from the viewpoint and look for the markers taking you into the forest to continue your Baden Powell hike.
Follow the trail up a small ascent until you come out at Cabin Lake.
The trail can get a bit confusing here either sending you up to Black Mountain or straight back down towards Cypress Bowl and the parking lots.
I’d recommend keeping an eye on the GPS for this section, especially if still snow-covered as it was when we went as the trail isn’t super obvious at this point.
When you start descending you’ll follow the trail alongside the ski run right back down to the parking lots and the Cypress Bowl area.
Baden Powell: Cypress Bowl to Grouse Mountain
From Cypress Bowl, there are a couple of restrooms and places to fill your water bottle up before you head off to the next section of the Baden Powell hike.
The Baden Powell picks up again through the forest at the bottom of the Easy Rider Quad Chair. It’s pretty flat through the forest as you go parallel to the road towards the cross country ski area.
Once you meet the x-country area, you’ll follow the wide trails and Baden Powell signs. You’ll make your way past the fourth lake and First Lake, with a few rolling hills, but nothing too steep.
As you pass First Lake, you’ll start making the long descent down leaving Cypress Provincial Park behind. The trail is a near-continuous descent with a few boardwalks and bridges as you join up with some of the Brothers Creek Loop.
At the end of the descent, you’ll make a left and have a choice to either stick to the trail through the forest or go along a wider gravel path that runs parallel to the forest.
The trail continues in a straight line as you work eastwards towards Capilano Dam and Grouse Mountain.
There are a few road crossings as you enter a more urban area before the final wooded section on the approach to Capilano Dam.
Once you’ve reached the dam, you can continue up to Grouse Mountain via the Grouse Grind Grouse Mountain hike or the BCMC, or just catch the bus down from the parking lot at the dam.
Best hikes near Horseshoe Bay Vancouver
Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver offers access to a variety of scenic hikes. Here are some of the best horseshoe bay hikes:
- Whyte Lake Trail: A tranquil forested trail leading to a peaceful lake.
- West Knob Trail: A lesser knob trail and peak, not much of a view, but a great hike for peak baggers!
- Whytecliff Park: Coastal trail offering stunning views of Howe Sound the trails have views of the rugged coastline, tidal pools, and the chance to spot marine life.
- Lighthouse Park: A nice park with a network of trails with views of the iconic Point Atkinson Lighthouse. Trails range from easy to moderately challenging.
- Eagle Bluffs via Baden-Powell Trail: A more challenging hike offering panoramic views of Vancouver, the Lions, and Howe Sound. The Eagle Bluffs trail from Horseshoe Bay is harder than from Cypres.
- Bowen Lookout Trail: My favorite easy hike in Vancouver with a viewpoint overlooking Bowen Island and Howe Sound.
- St. Mark’s Summit via Howe Sound Crest Trail: A popular viewpoint on the Howe Sound Crest Trail with panoramic views of the Tantalus Mountain Range, Howe Sound, and Vancouver Island. Starting from Horseshoe Bay makes this much harder and longer than from Cypres Bowl.
- Mount Strachan: A less busy trail with views of The Lions and Howe Sound.
When hiking in the Horseshoe Bay area, always check trail conditions in advance, carry the 10 essentials, and let someone know your planned route and return time.
FAQs about the Baden Powel Trail Horseshoe Bay to Grouse
Can you camp on the Baden Powell Trail?
There is no camping available on the Baden Powell Trail. For that reason, it’s uncommon to complete the entire Baden Powell trail in one day if you’re hiking (unless you plan a super long day!).
How long is the Baden Powell trail?
The whole Baden Powell Trail is around 50 km with a lot of elevation change along the way.
Final thoughts on the Baden Powell trail Horseshoe Bay to Grouse
This is one of those Horseshoe Bay trails near Vancouver BC that provides a challenging half-day hike or trail run in North Vancouver’s mountains and forests.
This hike involves crossing a boulder field, climbing up from the sea to the summit of Black Mountain, and then winding down through the forest until you come out by Capilano Dam.
It’s a challenge, but it’s a great hike in Vancouver too.
I’ve suggested some other options if you’re looking for a Horseshoe Bay hiking trail above and if you’re looking for more things to do. in Horseshoe Bay, be sure to check out this Horseshoe Bay lookout platform which has incredible views!
You can also continue from the Baden Powell trail Grouse Mountain to Deep Cove which is my favorite section of this trail.
Last Updated on August 22, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
