Mount Strachan Hike RatingMount Strachan is part of the trio of mountains, also Black Mountain and Hollyburn Mountain that form a bowl, or Cypress Bowl that give the resort its name.  The Cypress part of the name comes from the Cypress or yellow cedar that fills the valley. Both Strachan and Hollyburn are easy hikes from the Cypress Resort parking lot.  Mount Strachan is a short but beautiful hike that can be done in just a couple hours from the trailhead at Cypress Mountain Resort.

  • Vancouver Hiking Trails ProTrailhead starts at Cypress Mountain
  • Vancouver Hiking Trails ProBeautiful views from the top
  • Vancouver Hiking Trails ProDogs are welcome
  • Vancouver Hiking Trails ProOccasional bear sightings!
  • Vancouver Hiking Trails ProOn the Howe Sound Crest Trail
  • Vancouver Hiking Trails ProPlane wreckage from a 1963 crash!
  • Vancouver Hiking Trails ProLess busy than nearby trails
  • Vancouver Hiking Trails ProBeautiful drive to Cypress
  • Vancouver Hiking Trails ConSnow can persist into July!
  • Vancouver Hiking Trails ConVery easy to lose the trail

Hike in Vancouver

Moderately Difficult Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverBlack Mountain Difficult and Steep Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverBrunswick Mountain Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverBurnaby Lake Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverBurnaby Mountain Difficult and Steep Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverColiseum Mountain Difficult and Steep Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverCrown Mountain Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverCypress Falls Difficult and Steep Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverDeeks Peak Moderately Difficult Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverDeep Cove Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverDeer Lake Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverDog Mountain Moderately Steep Pay Use Trail - Hike in VancouverGoat Mountain Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverGoldie Lake Steep Trail - Hike in VancouverGrouse Moderately Difficult Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverHollyburn Mountain Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverKitsilano Beaches Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverLighthouse Park Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverLynn Canyon Difficult and Steep Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverLynn Peak Difficult and Steep Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverMt Elsay Moderately Difficult Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverMt Fromme Very Steep Technical Terrain - Hike in VancouverMt Hanover Very Steep Technical Terrain - Hike in VancouverMt Harvey Difficult and Steep Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverMt Seymour Moderately Difficult Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverMt Strachan Moderately Difficult Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverMystery Lake Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverPacific Spirit Easy Trail No Dogs - Hike in VancouverRice Lake Moderately Difficult Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverSt Mark's Easy Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverStanley Park Moderately Difficult Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverThe Lions Difficult and Steep Dog Friendly Trail - Hike in VancouverUnnecessary

It's a nice taste of the Howe Sound Crest Trail that extends to the horizon from here. For Strachan you can start near the main lodge walk directly up the gravel road and start along the Yew Lake trail.  This immediately gets you into deep forest as you ascend toward the Howe Sound Crest Trail.  There are excellent signs at all the trail junctions.  The Howe Sound Crest Trail comes to a fork at about 2.5 kilometres from the trailhead near Cypress Mountain Lodge.  Taking the trail to the right takes you to Mount Strachan in about 15 minutes.  Past the Mount Strachan North Peak and Mount Strachan South Peak you can continue by following the Mount Strachan Trail which in turn connects to the Baden Powell Trail returning you to where you began near the Cypress Mountain Lodge.  Roundtrip, this circle route is 6 kilometres and should take about 2 hours.  Mount Strachan is part of the 29k Howe Sound Crest Trail as it lays at the one end of this span at the Cypress trailhead.  Among the hiker friendly mountains (from Cypress north) on the Howe Sound Crest Trail are: St Mark`s Summit, Unnecessary Mountain, The Lions, Mount Harvey, Mount Hanover, Brunswick Mountain and finally Deeks Peak.

Mount Strachan

Driving Directions to Mount Strachan

Driving - Vancouver Hiking TrailsThe Mt Strachan trailhead is very easy to find.  It is found at Cypress Mountain Resort in West Vancouver (free parking and free to use the trails).  From downtown Vancouver follow the signs across the Lions Gate Bridge as if you were going to Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway.  From Sea to Sky Highway #99 (aka Highway #1), about 10 minutes from the Lions Gate Bridge take the #8 Exit to Cypress Provincial Park.  There are clear signs on the highway for this exit so you can't miss it.  Follow this road all the way to the end and park at the Cypress Mountain Resort Ski area.  Right next to the main, huge Cypress Creek Daylodge, you will see three ski lifts.  The one on the left of the three is called the Lions Express.  In between the Lions Express lift and the daylodge you will see the well marked trailhead for the Howe Sound Crest Trail.  Instead of following trails, the easiest way to get to the summit of Strachan is to walk up the ski runs (as no trails take you directly to Strachan).  Hike up past the Lions Express to its left and continue up, bearing left until you reach the summit.

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