Crown Mountain, visible from downtown Vancouver, towers behind Grouse Mountain. It was appropriately named due to its crown shape over 150 years ago by an English captain charting the area. This very challenging hike offers some phenomenal views from its summit, deep in the North Shore Mountains. There are three main ways to reach the amazing Crown Mountain.
- Tremendous views of Vancouver
- View mountains all the way to Squamish!
- Skyride to Grouse is fantastic
- See grizzly bears on Grouse!
- Multiple routes, gondola, hike or run
- Short trail to Crown Mountain
- Very challenging, but fun trail
- Well marked trail is easy to lose
- Snow restricts access until summer
- Several hiker fatalities over the years
Hike in Vancouver
Black Mountain Brunswick Mountain Burnaby Lake Burnaby Mountain Coliseum Mountain Crown Mountain Cypress Falls Deeks Peak Deep Cove Deer Lake Dog Mountain Goat Mountain Goldie Lake Grouse Hollyburn Mountain Kitsilano Beaches Lighthouse Park Lynn Canyon Lynn Peak Mt Elsay Mt Fromme Mt Hanover Mt Harvey Mt Seymour Mt Strachan Mystery Lake Pacific Spirit Rice Lake St Mark's Stanley Park The Lions Unnecessary
As it is located near Grouse Mountain, the most direct way to reach it is via Grouse Mountain. You can either hike the Grouse Grind for free or take the SkyRide for about $50 (return). From the Grouse Mountain Chalet the hike to Crown Mountain is 9.4k return and should take about 5 or 6 hours to complete. If you hike/run the Grouse Grind as well then add 2.9 kilometres to the journey there and 3.5 kilometres to the return (via the BCMC trail adjacent to the Grouse Grind) to get back to your car. The third and most challenging way to access Crown Mountain is by beginning and ending at the Lynn Headwaters Regional Park trailhead. This is a tough, but amazing 20k (one way) route to Crown Mountain through the amazing Lynn Valley. This access route to Crown Mountain often opens in late June or even July, Check at the trailhead before you head out on the trail make sure that the trail past Norvan Falls is open. From the Grouse Chalet on Grouse Mountain follow the path under the Peak Chair until you reach the trailhead and hiker check-in station. From here you follow the marked trail to Crown Mountain. You can either hike via Dam Mountain, or take the easier Alpine Trail. Both are roughly the same distance, but the Alpine Trail is a bit easier.
The trail then leads to Little Goat Mountain the descends into Crown Pass. There are several chain assisted sections here and some tricky scrambling, however, nothing too technical. Goat Mountain is just .7k from the main trail to Crown Mountain and well worth the look if you have the energy. There are few creeks along the Crown Mountain hike so ensure that you bring lots of water.
Trailhead Directions to Crown Mountain
The parking area at the base of the Grouse Grind and Grouse SkyRide is just 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Leaving Vancouver via the Lions Gate Bridge take the right hand lane after the bridge into North Vancouver. At the first set of lights you will need to then turn left on Capilano Road. Follow this to the Grouse Mountain parking lot. There are pay parking lots or you can park for free on the street nearby.
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