Hiking South West Knob in North Vancouver
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South West Knob Hike Information
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 10.90Km
Elevation Gain: 635m
Highest Elevation: 660m
Average Gradient: 11.65%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Low
Time Needed:
– Slow: 3 – 4 Hours
– Moderate: 2.5 – 3 Hours
– Fast: 2 – 2.5 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year Round
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
South West Knob Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°22’01.1″N 123°16’31.0″W
South West Knob Overview
South West Knob is a rocky bluff on the south west slopes of Black Mountain in Cypress Provincial Park (hence the name). There are several “knobs” on these slopes, with West Knob perhaps the best known, and South Knob another.
The route to South West Knob is unsanctioned, with no signage and “hidden” entrances / exits (the average hiker would never know they are there). The builders of the trail prefer that this hike does not get tracked or shared on the likes of AllTrails / Strava for fear of (presumably) BC Parks taking umbrage with an unsanctioned trail being built in the park. The fact is that once a trail is built, there’s not much a park can do to stop people following it, so this is a bit of a moot point. Furthermore, so many people have tracked this hike, and even labeled the summit on Open Street Maps, that South West Knob is no longer a “secret”, and the trail is even visible on most mapping software. It was also added to the 2024 Bagger Challenge as one of the peaks required to complete the challenge, meaning likely hundreds of people will go up every year it remains on the list. With all that said, South West Knob is no longer a “secret”, so I have decided it’s fine to add it to this site.
With that aside, this is a nice, simple hike to a fairly rewarding viewpoint over the Burrard Inlet and Strait of Georgia, making for a pleasant, local trip on those days where you just want to stay close to home and keep it simple.
Parking has become a bit of an issue recently as the city of West Vancouver has installed pay parking at the Whyte Lake trailhead, at an extortionate rate that deters most people from wanting to visit. The GPX here therefore begins from the beginning of the Baden Powell trail from a small parking lot off of Horseshoe Bay drive, which at the time of writing was free. This is a small lot that doesn’t have a lot of overflow options unfortunately. If you don’t mind paying, it’s likely easier to begin from the Whyte Lake parking lot.
In terms of seasonality, South West Knob is potentially a year-round hike thanks to its fairly low summit elevation. That being said, in the midst of winter you may find snow/ice nearer the top, which would make this quite a tricky hike due to the steep gradient and bluffs that you’ll navigate. As such, spring to fall is probably the best time to visit.
This is a dog friendly hike, and Whyte Lake Park can be quite busy with dog walkers so you’ll likely encounter some on the approach.
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Is South West Knob worthwhile?
If you are looking for a relatively straightforward hike that won’t take long, yet still offer some pleasant views, South West Knob fits the bill. This certainly isn’t a hike I would save for a sunny summer day, but as a shoulder season offering it’s not a bad one to keep in your back pocket.
How difficult is the hike to South West Knob?
At 10.90km and 635m elevation gain this is a pretty moderate hike that can be completed in around 2 – 3 hours. It’s never particularly difficult and should be manageable for most abilities.
Technically speaking, the main challenge of this hike is navigation. As noted, the last couple of hundred meters to the top is on unsanctioned trails that you would easily miss if you didn’t know they were there. Most parties will need a map to find the turnoff for the route, but once you’re on it, it’s not too difficult to follow.
South West Knob Route Information
Assuming you begin from the same parking lot as I, you’ll start your hike at the very beginning of the 44km long Baden Powell trail. After a couple of hundred meters following the trial you’ll pass through an underpass beneath the Sea to Sky Highway, before continuing along the trail as it parallels the highway for another kilometer or so.
Soon you’ll begin to climb up and away from the highway, and after around 1.5km total you’ll reach a junction where heading right would lead to Whyte Lake. Instead, you’ll continue on the Baden Powell trail, where you’ll reach another junction at ~2.3km that connects with the route those beginning from Whyte Lake would take.
This junction is also where one of the “hidden” entrances/exits to South West Knob exists, and if you’re completing the loop this is where you’ll rejoin the official trail. For now though, we’ll assume you’re completing the loop clockwise, remaining on the Baden Powell trail for a little longer.
The next 1.5km will continue following the Baden Powell trail, gaining around 275m of elevation in the process. Shortly after passing the “Rock Pile” (easily missed) and a steep, rugged climb, you’ll want to pay attention to your map as the hidden trail isn’t far away. As you’re winding around some flatter forested terrain, you’ll note a faint trail leading off to the right. You likely wouldn’t notice it if you weren’t looking, but once you do find it, it’s easy enough to follow. If you reach the Donut Rock / West Knob junction, you’ve gone too far.
Once on this unofficial trail, the remaining route to South West Knob is largely straightforward. There’s one short section navigating around a bluff, otherwise it’s smooth sailing. The knob itself offers fairly decent views for a modest summit. If I had to compare the views with anywhere else, it would be somewhere between Bowen Lookout and Eagle Bluffs.
If you’re lucky, you might get the spot to yourself to enjoy in tranquility. If you’re like me, you might be quietly enjoying the views before being startled by a completely naked French speaking man exposing himself to you on the summit before sheepishly putting clothes on.
Once you’re finished you can return back to the Baden Powell trail, either by going back the way you came (shorter), or by descending a trail from the western side (longer). Since I prefer loops, I took the western route, which zigzags down through the forest, offering a few more viewpoints along the way. Eventually this longer route will exit the forest back at the Baden Powell trail, after which you can simply follow it back to the trailhead.
When should I hike South West Knob?
While a nice hike with reasonably decent views, South West Knob isn’t a hike I’d save for a bluebird summer day. It’s a good option for those shoulder season weekends where the weather is hit and miss. You can theoretically do this hike for most of the year, though in the middle of winter you will certainly want microspikes at the very least.
Top Tip
If you want to extend this trip it’s not too difficult to add on West Knob or even Eagle Bluff (summer).
If you have never hiked through Nelson Canyon or seen Whyte Lake, you may want to start at the Whyte Lake parking lot (paid) and see them both on the way.
