The Hollyburn Mountain Hike in the Cypress Bowl Ski Area is just 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver making it a great Vancouver hike if you want to escape the city but not go too far.
There are plenty of trails for people looking to go hiking in the Cypress Mountain area. Hollyburn Mountain, one of the three mountains making up the area (the others being Black Mountain and Mount Strachan) is one of the most popular hikes in the area alongside St Mark’s Summit.
Great as both a winter hike in Vancouver and a summer trail, Hollyburn Mountain has fantastic, beautiful views of Howe Sound and downtown Vancouver with relatively minimal effort.
If you’re planning on doing the Hollyburn Mountain hike in Cypress Provincial Park, here’s what you need to know.
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Hollyburn Mountain hike
Cypress Mountain hiking offers accessible hikes that are ideal if you don’t want to travel far. One of my favourite Cypress Mountain trails is the Hollyburn Mountain hike which has great views of The Lions and downtown Vancouver.
It’s the perfect hike to do if you only have half a day, or aren’t quite up for a full day’s hike.
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.
Hollyburn Mountain Hiking Guide and Hollyburn Snowshoe Guide
The winter and summer routes to the Hollyburn hike vary slightly. This Vancouver hiking guide covers both since the Hollyburn snowshoeing trail requires some extra considerations.
Hollyburn Mountain Snowshoeing
If you’re planning some Hollyburn trail snowshoeing this is the route you need to follow. I think this is one of the best winter hikes in Vancouver and it’s one I’ve done multiple times.
Note that the Hollyburn Peak winter trail is different from the summer one as that way you avoid having to pay a trail use fee at the Hollyburn Nordic ski area.
From the parking at Cypress mountain nordic ski lot, walk back along the road and look for flagging tape on your right that signals the free Hollyburn snowshoe trail.
For the Hollyburn Mountain winter trail, you’ll soon meet up with the main trail, but this way means you don’t need to pay for a trail pass.
As you head uphill, to the left of the power lines, you’ll pass between the second and third lake after 10-15 minutes. Continue straight following the, often well-trodden, path as you hike past the fourth lake on your right.
As the trail begins to flatten out, you’ll come to Triangle Lake Walk around the right-hand side of Triangle Lake and soon you’ll meet up with the summer trail to Hollyburn Mountain.
Continuing onwards you’ll come to a signpost, make a right here, and head uphill some more as the trail weaves back and forth.
Continue uphill until you reach a bench with a good view of Grouse Mountain.
From here, head uphill again until the trees begin to thin out and you come to a rocky area which is Hollyburn Peak.
Make your way to the top of this rocky area and you’ve arrived!
Enjoy the views of Georgia Strait, The Lions, and the surrounding north shore mountains.
Head back downhill the way you came and enjoy the views of downtown Vancouver along the way. They’re especially great if you’re timed your hike with the sunset!
If you did buy a trail pass, why not stop off at Hollyburn Lodge Cypress, for a warming hot chocolate!?
Hollyburn Mountain hike in summer
If you’re hiking in summer and not doing a Hollyburn Mountain snowshoe trail, you can walk to the BC Parks map board and then follow the uphill trail next to the power lines.
After around 15 minutes you’ll come to Fourth Lake on your left. Look out for a sign and a warming hut which is used often in winter and then turn left to follow the trail to Hollyburn Mountain.
Along the way, you’ll pass through some bushy meadows (popular with bears in autumn!) and come to a junction at about 20 minutes in. Take the path to the right as signposted.
Continue uphill until you reach a bench with a good view of Grouse Mountain. From here, head uphill again until the trees begin to thin out and you come to a rocky area which is Hollyburn Peak.
Make your way to the top of this rocky area and you’ve arrived!
Enjoy the views of Georgia Strait, The Lions, and the surrounding north shore mountains.
Head back downhill the way you came and enjoy the views of downtown Vancouver along the way!
Hollyburn Mountain ski touring
You can also do a ski tour up to the top of Hollyburn Mountain. There are numerous ways to do this with many local ski tourers starting from the Hollyburn parking lot as you would for snowshoeing.
When I ski toured Hollyburn Mountain I started from the lower car parks along the Cypress Bowl Road.
From there we worked our way up through the trees until we reached the summit of Hollburn Mountain.
Then, for the Hollyburn Mountain skiing route, we came back down through the steep trees until we got to the car park.
We did this several times over the Christmas vacations once as the snow was so good.
However, do be aware that it can get very icy if you choose this trail through the trees and then it’s not nearly as fun.
Hollyburn Mountain Trail Stats
Know what you’re getting into before hiking this Vancouver trail.
- Time: 3.5 hours
- Distance: 7.6 km
- Elevation: 430 m (Hollyburn Mountain Elevation is 1 326 meters, 4 350 feet)
- Trailhead: Parking lot for Cypress cross country skiing area
- Distance from Vancouver: 45 mins
- Hollyburn Mountain map of the route
What to pack for the Hollyburn Peak trail
The hiking gear you’ll need varies with the season.
- Browse my essential day hike packing list here.
- For those sunny summer hikes, don’t forget your sunscreen, sunglasses, multiple layers, ample water, and bug spray. Additionally, always carry items from the 10 Essentials for hiking list.
- For guidance on hot-weather attire, see my post about what to wear while hiking in warm climates.
- For specific gear suggestions, delve into my posts on top-performing hiking leggings and ideal summer hiking outfits.
- For Hollyburn winter trail hikers, once the snow sets in, at the very minimum, you should have microspikes. In heavy snow conditions, snowshoes become indispensable.
- Layer up with a fleece, a snug insulated jacket, and a protective layer against wind and water. And of course, don’t leave home without hats, gloves, and a good backpack. Plus, always ensure you have water and some energizing snacks on hand – they’re among the 10 hiking must-haves!
- Considering a hiking date? Here’s how to nail that hiking date outfit while keeping it stylish.
- The Hollyburn Mountain trail conditions are generally pretty good but do look out for signs.
How to get to the Hollyburn Mountain trailhead
The trail for Hollyburn Peak starts at the cross-country area of Cypress Mountain Ski Resort.
There is one free parking area at Hollyburn Ski Parking Lots and the rest are $10 for the day.
During the ski season often gets busy with both skiers and snowshoers as this is a popular place to snowshoe near Vancouver.
What to know before doing the Hollyburn Mountain trail
- Best Time to Conquer Hollyburn Mountain: Hollyburn Mountain welcomes hikers throughout the year. However, if your trek falls between late autumn and spring, you’ll need to pack microspikes due to frequent snow and icy patches on the path.
- Stay Wise in the Wilderness: As you relish the beauty of the trails, show respect to the environment, terrain, and fellow adventurers. Embrace the three Ts for a safer journey: trip planning, training, and taking along the essentials. Consult AdventureSmart, a commendable guide, to be well-prepared before embarking on your outdoor expedition.
- Adhere to the Leave No Trace Principles: Preserve the pristine beauty of nature by ensuring you don’t leave any mark behind.
- Pet-friendly Path: Hollyburn Mountain is accommodating to our furry friends. Just ensure your dog is on a leash.
- A Note for Snowshoers: If you opt to snowshoe up Hollyburn Mountain, be wary of encroaching upon the paid trails of the Cypress Nordic area. To steer clear of this, retrace your steps along the road (direction of the downhill region) and search for a trail flagged with tape. This marks your free passage to Hollyburn Peak. Safe and respectful hiking!
FAQs about the Holly Burn trail
Can you camp on Hollyburn Mountain Vancouver?
Hollyburn Mountain camping is not permitted.
How long does it take to hike Hollyburn?
Depending on the season, conditions and the hiker’s fitness, it takes between 3-5 hours to hike Hollyburn Mountain and back.
Do you need a pass for Hollyburn?
You do not need a BC Parks day pass for hiking Hollyburn Mountain.
Final thoughts on the Hollyburn Cypress hike near Vancouver
The Hollyburn Mountain Cypress area hike is one of my favorite hikes in British Columbia for the impressive views you get without having to travel far from the city.
I’ve done this hike numerous times both in summer and winter, on skis, as a Cypress Hollyburn snowshoe trip and while wearing trail runners in spring and I’ve never been disappointed!
If you’re looking for great hikes near Vancouver then you’re in luck as there are just SO many like the Hollyburn Vancouver hike as well as easier ones. I’ve also put together guides on the best Vancouver hikes in Spring and where to hike in the fall in Vancouver.
Be sure to check out my Vancouver travel guides too for more fun things to do in Vancouver and summer activities in Vancouver.
For other awesome hikes near Vancouver like the Hollyburn Peak hike, be sure to check out this guide to the best hikes in Squamish and these easy Whistler hikes.
Last Updated on September 5, 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.