Coliseum Mountain is one of several beautiful hikes in the Lynn Valley's beautiful Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. It's not terribly difficult, but it is very long. 12 kilometres from the trailhead to the summit. More than half of that, 7 kilometres is along the very easy Headwaters Trail. The final 5 kilometres is at times challenging, but manageable by most.
Snow prevents access until summerWonderfully far into the wildernessTrail is not too hard, but very longSome muddy sections of the trailNorvan's Castle, huge Western Hemlock!Amazing views from the summitRelatively quiet trail most daysAmazing tarn for a swim at the top
Gate to parking lot locked until 9amTragically no camping allowed!
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
The route is well marked along the way with flagging tape, so the main safety concern is the distance of the trail. 24k roundtrip will take most hikers 8+ hours, so be prepared with lots of food and start early. At a decent hiking pace you should reach the summit in 4.5 hours and take 3.5 hours back to the trailhead. But of course that doesn't include marvelling at the views from the top or the various stops along the way. If you are an avid trail runner, you will love the Coliseum Mountain trail. Few people, tremendous views and a challenging distance. Give yourself 2 hours up and 1.5 hours down if you keep a good pace. There are plenty of water sources to fill up on water along the route as well as an inviting, very small lake near the summit to jump into.There are a few amazing stops on the way to the summit of Coliseum Mountain. The first big one is Norvan Falls, 7k from the trailhead at Lynn Headwaters Park. This beautiful falls is the sole destination for many people to this park, and when you see it you will know why. A beautiful falls at the end of a beautiful trail along Lynn Creek. The next amazing sight along the trail, further up towards Coliseum Mountain is within the mighty old growth forest the trail ascends into. Once you hit the old growth, and you will know when you have, keep your eyes out for trail markings to your right at Norvan Pools. This will lead you to Norvan's Castle, one of the world's largest Hemlock trees.
At the summit of Coliseum Mountain you have tremendous views all around. Vancouver, the nearby Crown Mountain, Goat Mountain, Mount Fromme, Lynn Peak and Cathedral Mountain. As well as the more distant Lions at a much less recognizable angle. The imposing mountain, just north of Coliseum is Mount Burwell, less than an hours hike away and yet another beautiful peak in the amazing Lynn Valley.
Lynn Headwaters Regional Park is located in North Vancouver, about 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Take Highway #1 from downtown Vancouver and then the Exit #19 Lynn Valley Road. Follow Lynn Valley Rd for 3.5k to Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. Park at this trailhead or one of the overflow parking lots. Follow the popular route to Norvan Falls by the Headwaters Trail. At Norvan Falls you will be taking a right, ascending quickly to Coliseum Mountain another 5k away. Remember that the gates to the parking lot close after dusk and if your car is there when they close them, you may be assumed to be lost or injured. There is a hiker registry at the trailhead which records who, what, when and where you are hiking in the park. This a necessary precaution to take for such an enormous park with lots of potential dangers to face.
