Ultimate Guide to the Brunswick Mountain Hike near Vancouver

Brunswick Mountain is the tallest peak on the North Shore so I just had to hike it.

I’d done many of the other hikes in this area including St. Mark’s Summit, Mount Harvey, and the Lions Binkert Trail, but had yet to tick off Mt Brunswick until fairly recently.

It’s a long hike with a lot of elevation (as you’d expect from being the highest peak on the North Shore).

There’s also a narrow ridge to cross at the summit of Mount Brunswick (which you’ll have likely seen photos of), but it’s so worth the effort to see this beautiful view!

Most people access this trail from Lions Bay village along the Sea to Sky Highway heading north out of Vancouver. It’s notoriously difficult to park here, but I’ve included all the information you need to know about parking below.

There are so many beautiful hikes in Vancouver and this is one of the best.

The Brunswick Mountain scramble at the top had put me off doing it solo but last summer I finally convinced my husband to come hike it with me.

If you’re planning on hiking Mt Brunswick – the highest mountain in Vancouver – here’s everything you need to know about the Brunswick trail, what to pack, and what to expect.

Hiking the Mt Brunswick trail

Below you’ll find everything you need to know about the Brunswick Mountain Lions Bay hike.

If you’re looking for more Vancouver hikes I’ve plenty on the blog and, if you’ve any questions about this Vancouver hiking trail, ask away!

The Mt Brunswick hike

If you parked at the Sunset trailhead parking lot you’re at the trailhead!

For those who parked at the Lions Bay Elementary School, work your way back up to this parking lot by walking along the road.

If you’ve hiked The Lions, Mt Harvey, or Tunnel Bluffs from Lions Bay, this is the same trailhead and the hike starts out on the same gravel old logging road.

The climb starts off fairly gentle and then switchbacks a bit steeper.

You’ll pass a concrete structure and shortly after this, there’s a path that goes straight away, or one that goes round to the right. Follow the trail to the right. 

After around 2km total, you’ll reach a split in the trail and there are a couple of small signs pointing you straight ahead towards Brunswick Mountain. 

From here the path is flat for a little while.

You’ll cross over Magnesia Creek using a log bridge. Luckily there’s a hand rail as it’s a bit nerve-wracking! 

As you continue there’s a junction to your left which is signposted for Hat Mountain and Tunnel Bluffs.

Stay right and head uphill. Depending on what time of year you hike Mt Brunswick then the path might be very overgrown.

Luckily, when we hiked the plants had been trimmed down so it wasn’t too bad. 

The trail then begins to climb and there are a series of switchbacks.

At around 5 km into the hike, you’ll be able to enjoy some views of Howe Sound.

Make the most of it as things get very steep from here on in!  

Soon you’ll reach a junction for the Howe Sound Crest Trail.

When you reach this, continue straight following the sign for Brunswick Mountain. (Going left takes you towards Brunswick Lake, and right towards Magnesia Meadows, The Lions, and then St Mark’s Summit and the Cypress Provincial Park and Cypress ski area along the Howe Sounds Crest Trail).

The steepest part of the trail is still yet to be taken on!

There’s some exposed rock and a bit of scrambling here. Keep your eyes open for the spray paint markings, in orange, on the rocks as you work your way up. 

Eventually, you’ll reach the saddle which leads up to the summit of Brunswick Mountain and Brunswick Peak.

For some people who have a fear of exposure or very tired legs, this is the best place for you to stop for today. The ridge is narrow, rocky, and very exposed.

You can’t afford to fall. 

If you do decide to climb the ridge, the views over Howe Sound are amazing and worth the effort. Which, after all, you should expect having climbed the highest peak in the North Shore mountains.

From the top of the Mount Brunswick Hike, you can see The Lions, Mount Unnecessary, Crown Mountain, Grouse, Mount Harvey, and we could even see Black Tusk in Whistler and Garibaldi Provincial Park on the day we summited! 

You can continue on to the eastern peak of Brunswick Mountain but the risk/reward doesn’t seem worth it since the view is basically the same as you’ll get from the west peak.  

Heading back, take the same trails you came in on. 

Brunswick Mountain hike statistics

Know what you’re getting into when hiking Brunswick Mountain British Columbia.

• Difficulty: Hard – big elevation change and some exposure
• Distance: 15k m
• Elevation: 1,600 m
• Brunswick Mountain hike time: 5-8 hours 
• Trailhead: Sunset Drive parking lot/the school gravel lot in Lions Bay
• Brunswick Mountain map on AllTrails+

What to pack for the Mt Brunswick trail

What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.

• Check out my day hike packing list here.
• If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
• Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
• Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
• If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
• You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
• You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
• Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.

What to know before going

Before doing the Brunswick Mountain trail, consider the following important things to know:

• Best time to hike Brunswick Mountain: In summer when the days are longer and there’s little chance of snow. 
• Be adventure smart: Remember to respect the terrain, environment, and other users while you are enjoying the trails. Follow the three Ts—trip planning, training, and taking the essentials. AdventureSmart is a great resource to help you get informed before heading outdoors.
• Pack your 10 essentials 
• Remember to leave no trace
• Howe Sound Crest Trail Camping: Camping on the Howe Sound Crest trail is allowed. You can find areas on the Brunswick Lake hike (near the lake, or Magnesia Meadows Shelter).
• Brunswick Mountain elevation is 1 788 m above sea level.
• Brunswick Mountain weather: Always check the weather before heading out and plan accordingly.

How to get to the Brunswick Mountain Trail and Lions Bay parking

The most popular way to get to the summit of Brunswick Mountain is to hike from Lions Bay.

If you’re planning on hiking the Howe Sound Crest Trail you could also begin the hike at Cypress Bowl and add Mt Brunswick to the trip.  However, this post focuses on the Mt Brunswick trail from Lions Bay.

Lions Bay is about 40km north of downtown Vancouver and to get there you just take Highway 99 out of Vancouver towards Whistler.

Come off at the Lions Bay Drive/Oceanview Road exit, take a left onto Cross Creek Road and a right onto Center Road where you’ll go passed the fire station on your right.

Continue on the road taking a left at Bayview and then up the hill and taking a left again on Mountain Drive.

Carry on Mountain Drive until you reach a dead end and a small parking lot this is Sunset Trailhead Parking Lot.

Brunswick Mountain parking

The parking lot is really small (space for about 15 cars) and fills up very early first thing in the morning (usually full by 7 am).

You also need to pay to park here. As of 2023, it’s $24 a day and multi-day hikers can pay in advance for up to 3 days.

If this parking lot is full then you can find additional parking in the school further downhill. This is free when school is not in season but also fills up quickly. If you don’t mind the additional uphill walk you can park here and save yourself $24.

Lions Bay does a lot of ticketing and towing so make sure you follow the parking rules which you can see here. Tickets cost around $200 otherwise, making for a very expensive hike.

Alternatively, you can get to the Mount Brunswick trailhead using public transport. It’s one of Vancouver’s hardest hikes accessible on transit!

Final thoughts on Brunswick Mountain Vancouver trails

The Mount Brunswick hike Vancouver is one of the harder hikes near the city. It’s on par with hikes like the Lions hike and Crown Mountain in terms of elevation gain.

As the highest hike in BC’s North Shore, you could even call this Mount Vancouver (although most would probably consider that to be Grouse Mountain since you see that easily from downtown Vancouver.

For another beautiful hike in the Lions Bay area, check out the Lions Bay loop trail.

If you’re looking for more difficult hikes near Vancouver, be sure to check out all my hiking guides. I’ve got trip reports and guides to hikes like Wedgemount Lake north of Whistler which is one of the most beautiful Whistler Lakes and a tough hike, or check out these Squamish hikes like the Sea to Summit trail underneath the Whistler gondola.

Last Updated on September 15, 2023 by Hannah