25+ of the Best Difficult Hikes near Vancouver
Table of Contents
Having previously written about the best beginner friendly hikes and intermediate hikes near Vancouver, this post rounds it off with the best difficult hikes near Vancouver. These hikes will test your mettle, with massive distances and elevation gain, as well as plenty of off trail hiking and potentially simple scrambling. All of the hikes on this list are summer appropriate hikes and should generally be attempted without snow. For details on timing, follow the link to each specific hike. Every hike on this list is a 5* hike that will offer outstanding views. These are some of the best hikes in the vicinity of Vancouver for those capable of completing them.
The hikes will be split up as follows:
- Easily Accessible – These hikes will generally be accessible in any vehicle and the majority of the hike will be on a trail (though not necessarily signposted). Most of these hikes are either relatively popular or very popular in the peak season.
- Less Accessible – These will typically require an element of off road driving and/or self navigation in the backcountry, without any trail or signage to follow. Many of these hikes will be quiet, potentially without seeing anybody the entire day.
Easily Accessible Difficult Hikes in Vancouver
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 15.1Km
Elevation Gain: 1,555m
Highest Elevation: 1,788m
Average Gradient: 20.60%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Brunswick Mountain is the highest peak in the North Shore mountains, standing high above other nearby peaks and the Howe Sound below. During the summer it is one of the most popular hikes on the North Shore, thanks largely to the incredible panoramic views from the top, particularly of the Howe Sound but also of the nearby iconic peaks like the Lions and Mount Harvey.
Most of the hike follows an obvious trail, with the final stretch requiring some simple scrambling. Some people stop at the subsummit, which offers largely comparable views to the true summit. The trailhead is easily reached with paved (and paid) parking, though it does fill up very quickly in the summer, so you will likely want to arrive before 7am. A worthwhile alternative to Brunswick Mountain is the nearby Mount Harvey from the same trailhead.
Difficulty: Difficult (Lower Lot) Moderate (Upper Lot)
Distance: 14.5km (Lower Lot) 9.5km (Upper Lot)
Elevation Gain: 1,465m (Lower Lot) 800m (Upper Lot)
Highest Elevation: 2,213m
Average Gradient: 20.21% (Lower Lot) 16.84% (Upper Lot)
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours (Lower Lot) 5 – 6 Hours (Upper Lot)
– Moderate: 7 – 8 Hours (Lower Lot) 4 – 5 Hours (Upper Lot)
– Fast: 5 – 7 Hours (Lower Lot) 3 – 4 Hours (Upper Lot)
Brandywine Mountain is a summit near Whistler that is quickly growing in popularity due to its relative ease of access, beautiful alpine meadows and stunning panoramic views from the top. Due to the difficulty of this hike, many people opt to hike to Brandywine Meadows & camp overnight before summiting Brandywine Mountain the next day.
There are two trailheads for this hike depending on where you are able to park. The lower parking lot should be accessible for pretty much all vehicles. Alternatively, and preferably, if you have a 4×4 or even a high clearance vehicle you can park at the upper parking lot which significantly reduces the amount of elevation gain and distance and turns this difficult hike into a more moderate hike.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 13Km
Elevation Gain: 1,400m
Highest Elevation: 1,953m
Average Gradient: 21.54%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Flora Peak is a summit in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park in the Fraser Valley. While this hike is somewhat popular, due to the challenging nature of the trail you can expect to see far fewer people than many hikes of similar quality.
The views from the peak, and for much of the latter half of the hike, are incredible. In particular the views above Chilliwack Lake are jaw-dropping, but the sheer number of iconic mountains you can see from the summit are endless. This is one of few hikes down Chilliwack Lake Road that is accessible in a 2WD car as the entire road is paved. Furthermore, most of the hike follows an established trail, making navigation very straightforward.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 26Km
Elevation Gain: 1,780m
Highest Elevation: 1,716m
Average Gradient: 13.70%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 12 – 14 Hours
– Moderate: 10 – 12 Hours
– Fast: 8 – 10 Hours
The Golden Ears are a duo of peaks in Golden Ears Provincial Park. Recognizable throughout Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, the Golden Ears and the surrounding peaks make for an iconic massif, similar in recognition to the Lions on the North Shore and the Black Tusk in Garibaldi. Many hikers aspire to summit Golden Ears peak, but it’s no mean feat and should be left to confident and capable hikers and scramblers.
While there is a maintained trail for much of the hike, the final 250m of elevation is more of a route than a trail, involving class 3 scrambling. While most of the scramble has limited exposure, route finding is a necessity and a wrong turn could end up in some precarious spots. This hike is also 2wd accessible, with a paved road to reach the trailhead.
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 18.5Km
Elevation Gain: 1,900m
Highest Elevation: 2,090m
Average Gradient: 20.54%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 9 – 11 Hours
– Moderate: 8 – 9 Hours
– Fast: 7 – 8 Hours
Mount MacFarlane is a mountain located in the Chilliwack River Valley, and is a relatively popular hike in the region. That being said, due to the significant difficulty of this hike, only the most capable of hikers tend to do this one in a day.
At 1,900m elevation gain over just 18.5km, this is one of few hikes that have an average gradient above 20%, making it one of the steepest and most strenuous hikes in the region. It’s a relentless ascent that never gives you any respite, providing a constant assault on your calves on the way up, but even more so on your knees coming down. That effort, however, is richly rewarded with staggering panoramic views from the summit of Mount MacFarlane, as well as one of the most majestic lakes you will find anywhere, the sapphire blue Upper Pierce Lake. Most of the route follows an obvious trail, and the trailhead is accessible in any car.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 31Km
Elevation Gain: 1,600m
Highest Elevation: 2,133m
Average Gradient: 10.40%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 10 – 12 Hours
– Moderate: 9 – 10 Hours
– Fast: 7 – 9 Hours
Panorama Ridge is a ridgeline above Garibaldi Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park, between Squamish and Whistler. Due to its alpine meadows, glacier lakes, iconic mountains, colossal glaciers and incredible panoramic views, Panorama Ridge is easily one of the most popular hikes in British Columbia.
At 31km this is obviously a very long hike, but don’t let that fool you into thinking this is too difficult to complete in a day, many people, if not most people, do so. That being said if you want to spread out the climb it’s possible to camp at either Garibaldi Lake or Taylor Meadows and spread the hike over two days. A camping reservation through BC Parks is required for this, of course.
There is no scrambling on this hike and the entire route is easy to follow. The trailhead is accessible for all vehicles.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 10.30Km
Elevation Gain: 820m
Highest Elevation: 2,090m
Average Gradient: 15.92%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 6 – 7 Hours
– Moderate: 5 – 6 Hours
– Fast: 4 – 5 Hours
Needle Peak is likely the most popular hike in the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area, seeing many visitors during its short summer window when the peak is snow free.
While the hike to Needle Peak is a relatively short one, the final 1km to the summit involves some technical scrambling with mild exposure, requiring some nerve. The views from Needle Peak, and even well before the summit, are quite stunning. You’ll get staggering views of the Flatiron, Yak Peak, Vicuna Peak, Guanaco Peak, Zopkios Peak, Coquihalla Mountain, Silvertip Mountain, Mount Baker and the Zupjok/Llama/Alpaca Peak trio to name some.
Many people opt to combine Needle Peak with the Flatiron into one longer day trip. Camping is also popular in the area, with many people camping at the lake beneath the Flatiron. The trailhead is accessible to all vehicles.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 17.00Km
Elevation Gain: 1,325m
Highest Elevation: 2,050m
Average Gradient: 15.59%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Goat Mountain West is a fairly popular hike located in the Mount Baker Wilderness in northern Washington, thanks to its straightforward trail and rewarding views of Mount Baker, Mount Sefrit and Mount Shuksan in particular.
The entire hike to the false summit follows an established, yet steep trail, with amazing views once you break out of the treeline. It’s also possible to reach the actual, slightly higher summit, but this involves some scrambling as well as some travel on a permanent snow patch.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 15.90Km
Elevation Gain: 1,150m
Highest Elevation: 2,423m
Average Gradient: 14.47%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Mount Rohr is a summit that’s easily visible while driving along Duffey Lake Road near Pemberton, and makes for a fairly popular hike in the summer, especially from parties camping at the nearby Rohr Lake looking for a more adventurous outing. It’s also a popular ski touring region once the snow settles in.
The hike up to the lake is mostly a simple forested trail, which is often muddy throughout due to a number of creeks running through the area, and a high amount of foot traffic. The final climb up to the lake is a steep boulder field that will prove challenging with overnight packs. There is a reasonable amount of space at the lake for camping, though no designated campsites nor any facilities. From the lake the remainder of the hike is through a long valley, involving a combination of boulders and dirt trail, to the base of Mount Rohr. The final climb up Rohr is steep but technically simple, with minimal use of hands required.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 16Km
Elevation Gain: 1,325m
Highest Elevation: 702m
Average Gradient: 16.56%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Slhanay Peak and the Stawamus Chief are a pair of summits located in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park near Squamish. As individual hikes these are both great days out, but it’s actually possible to combine these two hikes into one fantastic outing by using a via ferrata traverse from Slhanay Peak directly over to the third peak of the Stawamus Chief, before descending down to the second and first peak and back to the trailhead in one long, looped hike.
While this is a challenging hike, it’s easier to do these summits as one big trip than it is to do each of these hikes individually, though the traverse over from Slhanay Peak to the Chief has some challenges that may put some people off.
Sections of the traverse include a via ferrata, otherwise known as an iron road, which is essentially an assisted rock climb through the use of fixed iron bar steps and ropes. These sections are brief but will require some nerve and upper body strength to pull yourself up a cliff face to the summit of the third peak of the Stawamus Chief.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 28.5Km
Elevation Gain: 1,750m
Highest Elevation: 2,319m
Average Gradient: 12.2%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 10 – 12 Hours
– Moderate: 9 – 10 Hours
– Fast: 7 – 9 Hours
The Black Tusk is one of the most iconic summits in Garibaldi Provincial Park and Southwestern BC as a whole. This prominent peak can be seen throughout the Sea to Sky region and leaves hikers and tourists in awe at its majestic pointed spire of a summit. Standing at an elevation of 2,319m, The Black Tusk is a stratovolcano as evidenced by its jagged, jet black appearance. It stands high above its nearby summits and almost demands respect with its sheer omnipresence in the region.
Hiking to the summit is fairly challenging but it’s certainly not the steepest hike, with an average gradient of 12.2%, generally considered a moderate gradient. While this is a long hike, it is more than possible to hike the Black Tusk as a day hike, even when combined with Garibaldi Lake. You can, however, choose to spread the hike over two days by camping at either Garibaldi Lake or Taylor Meadows before continuing on.
Along with Panorama Ridge and Garibaldi Lake, the Black Tusk is one of the most popular hikes in Garibaldi Provincial Park
Less Accessible Difficult Hikes in Vancouver
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 25.70Km
Elevation Gain: 1,900m
Highest Elevation: 2,247m
Average Gradient: 14.79%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 10 – 12 Hours
– Moderate: 9 – 10 Hours
– Fast: 8 – 9 Hours
MacDonald Peak is a prominent mountain situated on the eastern fringes of Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park, visible from most summits in the Chilliwack River Valley and requiring a demanding hike and some moderate scrambling in order to reach the summit. Fit parties will often combine MacDonald Peak with the nearby Mount Webb, which only adds another 2km and 200m elevation gain to the day. Webb is much easier and requires no scrambling in order to reach the summit.
The hike begins from the day use parking lot of the Chilliwack Lake Campground, before beginning a long, arduous slog in the forest to Radium Lake. From here the trail continues out of the forest and up to a saddle between the two peaks. From the saddle hikers can follow an intermittent trail leading towards MacDonald Peak, before scrambling up to the summit. The scramble is mostly class 2, with some low class 3 sections with mild exposure.
Some parties may consider splitting this hike up over a couple of days, camping at Radium Lake on day 1 before summiting both peaks the next day and hiking back out.
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 25.4Km
Elevation Gain: 1,670m
Highest Elevation: 2,409m
Average Gradient: 13.15%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 11 – 13 Hours
– Moderate: 10 – 11 Hours
– Fast: 8 – 10 Hours
Mount Callaghan is a mountain located at the very north of the Callaghan Conservancy near Whistler. It’s a backcountry, unmarked hike/scramble that should only be attempted by experienced and confident hikers. Summiting Mount Callaghan begins by hiking to Ring Lake, which is a beautiful and serene trail through forest, alpine meadows and two stunning lakes, Conflict Lake and Ring Lake.
While the trail to Ring Lake is defined and somewhat trafficked, it’s poorly maintained, usually very muddy, not so well marked and requires a creek crossing that could pose difficulties the earlier in the summer you attempt it. Once at Ring Lake the ascent up Mount Callaghan is seriously steep, unmarked, requires some scrambling and is mostly on loose boulders. Exposure is never too serious, though you will need to be comfortable with heights as the higher you get the more unnerving the scramble becomes.
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 20Km
Elevation Gain: 2,150m
Highest Elevation: 2,835m
Average Gradient: 21.50%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 12 Hours – Overnight
– Moderate: 10 – 12 Hours
– Fast: 9 – 10 Hours
Mount Weart is the second highest peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park, behind Wedge Mountain, and the 11th highest summit in all of SWBC. Featured prominently in Scrambles in SWBC, Weart is a significant outing with over 2,000m elevation gain from the trailhead.
Parties can choose to either tackle Mount Weart in one long, challenging day, or they can overnight at Wedgemount Lake before continuing on to summit the next day. While splitting this over two days might seem the obvious choice, it does mean lugging up overnight backpacks to Wedgemount Lake, which is a 1,200m elevation gain hike in itself. Some people prefer to go fast and light and tackle Weart in one long day.
The trail to the lake is very straightforward, albeit steep, thanks to being an official trail in a provincial park. Beyond Tupper Lake there is no maintained trail, with self navigation through some intimidating backcountry terrain a requirement. Most of the hike is quite straightforward, albeit steep and loose, with plenty of travel on scree and rocks. If going earlier in the summer snow might be on the trail, in which case microspikes/crampons and an ice axe may be worthwhile. Many people opt to take a helmet due to the loose rocks throughout the hike. The final scramble up to the summit is mostly hiking with some class 2, unexposed scrambling at times. At no point on the hike should you ever be exposed to a significant fall.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 14Km
Elevation Gain: 1,385m
Highest Elevation: 2,421m
Average Gradient: 19.79%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 9 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 8 – 9 Hours
– Fast: 7 – 8 Hours
Sun God and Seven O’ Clock Mountains are a duo of peaks located north of Pemberton, accessed via Tenas Creek FSR off of the well groomed Birkenhead Lake FSR. The latter FSR is driveable in any vehicle, but Tenas Creek FSR requires at least an SUV with reasonable clearance to navigate some cross ditches. This FSR is usually overgrown and might leave pinstripes on your vehicle’s paint, but it’s otherwise usually driveable to the very end, where the hike begins.
These peaks are not frequently hiked, with the majority of the hike self navigated through backcountry terrain, with little in the way of trails or markers to follow. Most of the terrain is technically simple, with a variety of boulders, meadows and dirt to gain each summit. The scrambling on the hike is simple and unexposed and at no point should you ever feel particularly uneasy.
While perfectly manageable as a day trip, some people opt to split this hike up over a weekend, camping at the stunning lake conveniently situated between the two peaks.
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 18.80Km
Elevation Gain: 1,580m
Highest Elevation: 2,485m
Average Gradient: 16.80%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 10 – 12 Hours
– Moderate: 9 – 10 Hours
– Fast: 8 – 9 Hours
The Train Glacier Traverse is a backcountry hike near Pemberton that summits 5 peaks while circumnavigating the entire Train Glacier. The hike passes through the very popular Semaphore Lakes region before summiting Face Mountain, Faceless Mountain, Caboose Peak, Tender Mountain and Locomotive Mountain, and can be completed as either a day hike from the trailhead, or as an overnight by camping at Semaphore Lakes. Camping at the lakes does not save that much effort though, as the lakes are only 2.5km from the trailhead.
The traverse can be completed either clockwise or counterclockwise, but most parties prefer to go counterclockwise as ascending Face Mountain is the most challenging part of the day. It is also much easier to ascend Face Mountain than descend it, as route finding is the most challenging part of the climb.
Access to the Semaphore Lakes areas is from The Hurley River FSR, which is typically a well groomed FSR suitable for most vehicles, though AWD would be beneficial.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 11Km
Elevation Gain: 940m
Highest Elevation: 2,122m
Average Gradient: 17.10%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 9 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
Tricouni Peak is a summit located between Squamish and Whistler, typically accessed via Squamish Valley Road. Situated above stunning alpine lakes and meadows, Tricouni Peak is a gem of a hike for those that can access it.
Indeed, accessing Tricouni Peak comes with some challenges, with the typical approach coming from Branch 200 off of Squamish Valley Road. This road is a rugged FSR that is inaccessible for a 2WD, and will challenge an SUV thanks to its steep gradient, rocky terrain and consistent cross ditches.
The stats above assume starting the hike from the parking area at 1,200m elevation, but only the most competent of 4×4’s will be able to reach this. Some SUV’s with good ground clearance can likely reach 920m elevation where there is another parking area, and other vehicles may stop earlier along the FSR wherever parking is available.
Featured prominently in Scrambles in SWBC, Tricouni Peak includes a moderate scramble with minimal exposure that many people should be comfortable to tackle.
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 17Km
Elevation Gain: 1,725m
Highest Elevation: 2,123m
Average Gradient: 20.29%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 10 – 13 Hours
– Moderate: 8 – 10 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 8 Hours
Williams Peak is an eye-catching mountain in the Chilliwack River Valley, known for its pointed summit that can be seen throughout Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park.
A hike to Williams Peak is a strenuous affair with a significant elevation gain over a short distance. It’s well regarded as one of the physically toughest hikes in the Chilliwack River Valley due to a few factors. Obviously the stats speak for themselves and this is a big hike no matter how you look at it. A large portion of the hike is also exposed to the sun with zero shade, and combined with the fact you can only really hike Williams Peak in summer, temperatures are often high when people choose to hike it. Next, there is little to no water anywhere along the trail, so hikers are advised to bring at least 3 – 4L of water to ensure they have enough to make it back, so a heavy pack is a given. Finally, while the trail up to and along the ridge is easy to navigate, once in the boulder field many hikers veer off course and end up wasting time and energy, often in the searing heat. All in all, Williams Peak should not be underestimated, but with the right preparation and timing there’s no reason Williams Peak should be any different to any other challenging hike.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 21.20Km
Elevation Gain: 1,350m
Highest Elevation: 2,157m
Average Gradient: 12.74%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 9 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 8 – 9 Hours
– Fast: 7 – 8 Hours
Coquihalla Mountain is an extinct stratovolcano located near Coquihalla Pass with a couple of standard routes to the summit. Visible from most peaks in the Coquihalla Recreation area, Coquihalla Mountain is 2WD accessible thanks to the well manicured Tulameen River FSR.
There are two primary routes to summiting Coquihalla Mountain. The first route is the traverse, which is a class 3 or 4, highly exposed traverse along the eastern ridge that capable and confident parties suggest is the preferred and most direct route. The second route, and the one described here, is more of a hikers route that wraps around to the southern flanks before a class 2, low exposure scramble up to the summit. Some parties opt to complete the traverse then descend down this hikers route.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 17Km (10.6 Miles)
Elevation Gain: 1,100m (3,600 Ft)
Highest Elevation: 2,291m (7,516 Ft)
Average Gradient: 12.94%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 9 Hours
– Moderate: 6.5 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 5.5 – 6.5 Hours
Hadley Peak is a horn shaped summit located in the Mount Baker Wilderness, marginally north of Mount Baker itself. At almost 2,300m elevation, Hadley Peak is a sizable summit by North Cascades standards, however due to its location next to Baker it is significantly overshadowed and doesn’t get much attention. This is unfortunate as Hadley Peak is a relatively straightforward climb and offers staggering views of Mount Baker and the surrounding peaks, as well as an ocean of glaciers.
Most of the route is just hiking, and while Chowder Ridge might look imposing once you get there, for the most part it’s hiking with the odd section of class 2 scrambling. Exposure is mostly mild as you traverse across a steep slope for much of the ridge. Some parties may want a helmet due to the loose rock along the ridge.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 16Km
Elevation Gain: 1,400m
Highest Elevation: 2,312m
Average Gradient: 17.50%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
Mount Lindeman is the highest peak in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park, and one of the highest peaks accessible from Chilliwack Lake Road. Known for its remote backcountry terrain and stunning views, Mount Lindeman is one of the lesser hiked summits in the region, but is often touted by many as their favorite.
A hike to Mount Lindeman is a rugged, backcountry affair through some unforgiving terrain. The trail can often be overgrown initially, with plenty of mud, creeks, deadfall and generally rough terrain. Eventually you break out of the forest and into a meadow, before a long ascent up a boulder field to the base of the scramble route. The scramble up to the summit is straightforward, low class 3, with fairly consistent use of hands & little to no exposure.
Access to Mount Lindeman is via Center Creek FSR, which is typically only accessible for high clearance vehicles due to numerous deep cross ditches. Like many logging roads, the status of this FSR depends entirely on logging activities, with no guarantee this hike will always be driveable. As such it’s advised to “get it while it’s good”.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 14Km
Elevation Gain: 1,100m
Highest Elevation: 2,019m
Average Gradient: 15.71%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Mount McGuire is a unique summit in the North Cascades thanks to its distinct limestone composition, something not often found in coastal mountains. Accessible from Chilliwack Lake Road, Mount McGuire is a stunning summit offering some of the best views of numerous iconic peaks in the region, such as Slesse Mountain, the Border Peaks, Tomyhoi Peak and Mount Baker.
Featuring prominently in Scrambles in SWBC, accessing Mount McGuire has unfortunately become the biggest challenge of this once easily reached summit. Back in the day hikers could drive up the Borden FSR all the way to 1,400m. That access has since become impossible due to a bridge being destroyed early on the FSR. A replacement approach along New Borden FSR used to bypass this, but again the bridge over Borden Creek was destroyed higher up, so the vast majority of vehicles will stop at the destroyed bridge at around 930m.
Thankfully Mount McGuire is such a scenic peak that despite the challenging access this is still a fantastic hike and well worth the effort. Even if you have to park a long way down on New Borden FSR, you will probably feel validated once you reach the summit, the views are that good.
Mount McGuire is a summer only hike for a number of reasons, namely because access would be impossible in winter, and the hike itself would be very steep and cover significant avalanche terrain in snow.
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 39.60Km
Elevation Gain: 2,636m
Highest Elevation: 2,625m
Average Gradient: 13.31%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: Overnight
– Moderate: 12 – 14 Hours
– Fast: 10 – 11 Hours
Featured prominently in Scrambles in SWBC, Overlord Mountain is a very long hike with a moderate scramble across a ridgeline between Whirlwind Peak and Overlord itself. While this hike is possible to complete in one day for very fit parties, most people tend to complete this as an overnight hike, camping at the nearby Russet Lake before continuing on to the summit the following day. From Russet Lake you can expect a round trip of 6 – 7 hours, from Whistler Village you can expect 12 – 14 hours.
Overlord Mountain is more than just a hike, with moderate scrambling across a mildly exposed ridgeline and a decent amount of route finding along the way. This hike/scramble should be left to experienced parties that are confident traveling deep in the backcountry with little chance of seeing other groups after leaving the Russet Lake trail.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 17.00Km
Elevation Gain: 1,150m
Highest Elevation: 2,235m
Average Gradient: 13.53%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 9 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 9 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
Vantage Peak is an appropriately named summit in the Duffey Lake / Pemberton region. Located next to the true giants of Joffre Peak, Mount Matier and Mount Howard, Vantage Peak offers unparalleled views of these iconic summits, and on a clear day the views from Vantage are second to none.
The standard approach to Vantage Peak is via Cerise Creek, beginning from a parking lot on Duffey Lake road that is accessible for all vehicles. After following Cerise Creek hikers will ascend steeply to a col between Vantage Peak and Mount Matier, before a steep scramble up to the summit following the west ridge.
Vantage Peak is primarily a two season summit, with the winter likely being the most popular time, followed by summer. The shoulder seasons will prove difficult for this hike as the final scramble is very steep and benefits from either a dry, snow free ascent, or a fully snowed ascent. Mixed conditions will prove challenging for route finding and the scramble itself, so late spring and fall will likely result in a difficult day.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 14.35Km
Elevation Gain: 1,200m
Highest Elevation: 2,330m
Average Gradient: 16.72%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Grouty Peak is an infrequently hiked summit situated north of Pemberton, accessed via the well maintained Hurley River Forest Service Road. The hike features in the popular Scrambles in SWBC book, though realistically there is no scrambling of note anywhere along this hike.
The hike begins with a steep climb through the sparse forest and up a heather slope. There isn’t much of a trail and usually little in the way of markers, but for the most part it’s quite straightforward, albeit at times you may need to use your hands, poles or an ice axe for balance. Once on the ridge the remainder of the hike is a beautiful alpine stroll over a number of rocky summits to the end of the ridge where Grouty Peak is located. The views along the ridge will be endless and constant, and in fact Grouty Peak isn’t even the highest point on this ridge and the best views are likely from the unofficially named Mortar Peak that you’ll pass over on the way, so it’s your call whether to actually continue all the way to the end.
Other Difficult Hikes Near Vancouver
While the above is a fairly comprehensive list of the best difficult hikes in and around Vancouver, there are a few others you may want to check out if you’re still looking for more:
- Conway Peak
- Gin Peak (winter preferred)
- Mount Chief Pascall (winter only)
- Mount Harvey
- Mount Price
- Mount Taylor (winter preferred)
- Seed Peak
- Sugarloaf Mountain
- The Flatiron
For more hiking inspiration, check out the Hike Database.