Trip 073 - September 12, 2014 (Friday)

Crown Mountain Trail Hike

Lynn Headwaters Regional Park

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Distance From Vancouver (South End of Lions Gate Bridge) to Grouse Mountain parking lot: 7.4 km. Turn left onto Capilano Road in North Vancouver right after crossing the Lions Gate Bridge. Or use Capilano Road exit from Highway 1 and go North. Upon arriving to the Grouse Mountain parking lot, either take a gondola or hike up via Grouse Grind (a very tough trail) to the Grouse Mountain Recreational Area. Then, follow the signs to the bear habitat, and, upon reaching a fork with three roads, take the middle one to reach the trailhead in about 5 minutes. Our Goat Mountain Trail Hike trip report has the exact directions to the trailhead.

Liked: Mountain views, the views of Metro Vancouver, and available hiker registration.

Of note: Crown Mountain is a dangerous trail, and is for experienced hikers only. Hiking boots and poles are essential. Not recommended for hiking, unless the ground is dry. The trail is popular. Getting to the trail means hiking The Grind first, or paying a substantial price for a gondola ticket. On the return trip, one must pay $10 for Gondola to go down, as downhill travel on The Grind is prohibited.

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Backroad Mapbook (2010 edition) Coordinates: Page 11 (North Vancouver) D7-D6.

Crown Mountain Trail is located in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, and is accessed through the Grouse Mountain entrance. This is by far the most dangerous and challenging hike we have done up to and including the year 2014. Though you don't see much until the end of the trail, the views from the top are excellent. Be careful, though - aside from the challenge of the trail itself, the peak of the mountain is very steep and narrow, and accommodates only one person at a time.

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0a-0b. Here is a map of the Crown Mountain Trail, courtesy of Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.

Lynn Headwaters Trails Map

Crown Mountain Trail Map

1. We took Grouse Grind to get to the trailhead, and our time today was 1 hour 11 minutes.

Grouse Grind Timer

2. Once you get to the top, you still need to walk for just over one kilometer to get to the hiking area. There are no signs pointing in that direction, so follow the painted footsteps to the grizzly bear habitat.

Grouse Mountain Recreational Area BC Canada

3. For detailed instructions on how to get to the trailhead, check out our Goat Mountain Hike Trip Report. You would eventually reach this information stand, which was moved a few hundred meters back. This is where you can register for your hike, so that the rescuers would know on which of the numerous trails to look for you, if needed.

Lynn Headwaters Regional Park Information Stand at Grouse Mountain Recreational Area

4. The hike starts. Note, that there are no signs to Crown Mountain until further down the trail, so keep going without taking any side trails, and you'll get there.

North Vancouver Hiking - Grouse Mountain Recreational Area BC Canada

5. A few stretches of the Ridge (or Alpine?) Trail are challenging, but it's child's play compared to what awaits you on the Crown Mountain trail.

Hiking Trail Grouse Mountain Recreational Area British Columbia

6. Forty minutes past the info stand, the Crown Mountain appears on your right side.

Crown and Camel Mountains Seen From Hiking Trail Grouse Mountain Recreational Area BC Canada

7. Only the left peak is climbable (the actual Crown Mountain), and that's where we are heading today. The right peak is called The Camel.

Photo of Crown Mountain and Camel Mountain

8. One hour into the hike, there is a split. To the right is the trail to Goat Mountain and Goat Ridge, while to the left is the way to Crown Mountain and Hanes Valley.

9. Here is the split. We took the path to the left. This is where the tough hiking really begins.

British Columbia Hiking - Crown Mountain Trail near North Vancouver

10. And, right away, the final glimpse at the destination before you actually get there.

Hiking in North Vancouver Area - Crown Mountain Trail

11. What happens next is that, first, you descend down a very steep terrain, and, then, after you reach the Hanes Valley Route split, you climb up an equally steep terrain. We are descending here.

Crown Mountain Trail - Hiking in BC Canada

12. There are chains to assist through some stretches, but hiking this trail when the ground is wet or, let alone, icy, would be asking for trouble. Still descending.

Chains on Crown Mountain Hiking Trail BC Canada

13. Forty minutes after the Goat Mountain split, having done all the descending, you reach the Hanes Valley Route split (a one-way route to the second part of Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, where Norvan Falls etc is located), and begin your ascent.