Hiking Crown Mountain in North Vancouver
Contents
Crown Mountain Hike Information
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 17.4Km
Elevation Gain: 1,660m
Highest Elevation: 1,504m
Average Gradient: 19.08%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 9 – 11 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 9 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: No
Season: ~July – Mid-October
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: One short exposed step at the very end. Use of chains required in Crown Pass.
Crown Mountain Trail
Note: AllTrails link begins from Grouse Mountain Resort. You will need to either hike up the Grouse Grind/BCMC or take the gondola to the beginning.
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°22’17.0″N 123°05’53.1″W
Crown Mountain Overview
Crown Mountain is one of the most recognizable peaks in the North Shore mountains that can be seen throughout the Lower Mainland. At 1,504m high it’s certainly not the highest mountain on the North Shore, but don’t let that fool you into thinking this hike will be easier than some of the higher peaks nearby. This is one of the toughest hikes on the North Shore, unless you decide to take the gondola.
There are a few different options for hiking to Crown Mountain, you can either start at the base of Grouse Mountain, you can start at the top of the Grouse Mountain gondola (saves a considerable amount of elevation gain but is expensive), or finally if you really want to test yourself, you can combine it with one of the North Shore’s most difficult hikes, Hanes Valley. The latter route would be a one way hike starting in Lynn Regional Headwaters and ending at the base of Grouse Mountain.
The views from Crown Mountain are breathtaking in every direction, but you get particularly stunning views of Vancouver with Beauty Peak in the foreground. You’ll also get excellent views of the nearby Mount Burwell, Coliseum Mountain, the Needles, the Lions, Mount Strachan, Hollyburn Peak and all the way out to Sky Pilot.
You might be wondering why this hike is so difficult and how you gain so much elevation even though the hike begins at 300m and ends at 1,504m. The reason for this, and one of the reasons this hike is so difficult, is because there is a portion of the hike that involves a significant descent into Crown Pass, before re-ascending up to Crown Mountain. You then have to re-ascend from Crown Pass on the way back to Grouse Mountain, adding significant elevation gain in each direction.
It should be noted that the very end of the hike to Crown Mountain involves a steep scramble that could leave those with a fear of heights or exposure uneasy. Due to this I would not advise children to do this hike. The summit of Crown Mountain is also not the most spacious so it’s advised to try and get there early to avoid being crowded.
Crown Mountain is a summer only hike, with the Lynn Headwaters backcountry closed to large parts of the year due to unsafe, snowy conditions. Make sure to check the Lynn Headwaters website to verify the backcountry is open, typically opening sometime in July and closing again when the snow arrives, likely in October or November.
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Is Crown Mountain worthwhile?
Crown Mountain is a relatively popular hike on the North Shore due to the ability to take the gondola. If it wasn’t for this I’m sure it would be a quiet hike due to how difficult it is from the base of Grouse Mountain. The views from the top of the mountain are stunning and are certainly a worthy payoff for the considerable effort you will put in to get there. Unfortunately there aren’t a whole lot of views throughout the hike, making this one a bit of a grind to the summit. Due to that I’m docking one star.
How difficult is the hike to Crown Mountain ?
With an average gradient of 19.08% this is a consistently steep hike throughout. A significant part of the reason for this steep gradient is because the hike begins on the Grouse Grind or BCMC trail, both of which are extremely steep. This is what people choose to avoid by taking the gondola.
From a technical perspective this hike also has its challenges. During the descent/re-ascent of Crown Pass it gets very steep, to the point you’ll be using hands and chains to get up/down the mountain. This area is also very muddy pretty much year round. The final push to the summit involves a steep but brief scramble with some exposure. It should be manageable for any seasoned hiker, but if you are easily put off by exposure and heights you might want to think twice about this one.
Crown Mountain Route Information
If you are beginning at the base of Grouse Mountain, read from here. If you are starting at the top of Grouse Gondola, scroll down to begin where the routes meet up. If you are taking the Hanes Valley trail, read about that hike before reading on from the Hanes Valley connection below.
From the base of Grouse Mountain you’ll find the trailhead for the Grouse Grind / BCMC trail. You can take either the Grouse Grind or BCMC up, but only the BCMC down. Both of them start and finish at the same point and both are very steep, but BCMC is slightly easier due to the slightly longer route.
There’s really not a whole lot to say about either of these trails.. They’re miserable and there’s just absolutely nothing to enjoy. It’s a steep grind up endless steps in a forest with nothing to see or appreciate. Just get it over with as fast as possible. If you’re quick it should be done in an hour or so, maybe 1.5 – 2 hours if you’re slower. If you’re any slower than that I’d advise just taking the gondola as the rest of the hike is already challenging enough.
Once at the top of the BCMC/Grouse Grind, you’ll definitely want a breather, some food and some water. Thankfully you can get all of these at the Grouse Mountain resort, as well as bathrooms if needed.. The good news is the most challenging part of the hike is over with and it gets a lot better from here on out.
Grouse Gondola Route
Both those starting at the base of Grouse Mountain and those taking the gondola up are now in the same spot, at Grouse Mountain Resort. There are a bunch of trails here but find the one that leads towards the Amphitheatre, passing Beaver Tails on the way (a worthy stop on the return journey, FYI). Continue on past the grizzly bear enclosure (stopping to check out the grizzlies if they’re out and about) and you’ll soon reach a fork in the trail. Take the left in the fork, going west of the summit of Grouse Mountain proper.
You’ll get some nice views to the west on this part of the trail if the sky is clear, but they won’t last long and you’ll soon be back in the forest. Continuing forward you’ll soon reach another fork where you need to decide between the Alpine Trail and the Ridge Trail. Either works fine as they both ultimately lead to the same place and neither really has better views than the other. The trail does get more rugged now, with lots of tree roots, rocks and mud, but it’s still simple to follow.
After a little more than a kilometer these two trails will cross paths again, at which point you will want to stick on the Alpine Trail. Soon enough you will get your first glimpse of Crown Mountain and The Camel, and what a relief it is. There’s something motivating about seeing your final destination, even if it is still quite a climb to get there.
You’ll soon reach another fork where the trail splits, with one trail going to Goat Mountain and another going to Crown Mountain. Obviously, take the Crown Mountain trail.
This is where the descent into Crown Pass begins and the trail condition really starts to deteriorate. It’s steep, muddy, branchy, slippery and requires you to use chains in parts. Don’t worry though, it’s pretty straightforward if you’re careful, and it’s not exposed in any way. It’s a little daunting going down this steep section though, as the whole time you will know full well you have to come back up on the way back.
Hanes Valley Connection
Soon you will reach another fork in the junction connecting with the Hanes Valley Trail. Do not make the mistake of taking this trail as it’s pretty well known for people getting lost and needing to call SAR. If you took the Hanes Valley route to Crown Mountain, Crown Pass is where you will join the same trail everyone else took from Grouse Mountain. Conveniently this is also where the descent into Crown Pass ends and you begin the final climb up Crown Mountain.
You’re not out of the woods yet though, this final climb is over 400m in elevation and is again very steep. You’ll start in the forest where the trail is so steep you will be climbing with your hands on tree roots. While steep, it is pretty straightforward. Continuing forward you’ll eventually break out of the forest tree line and find yourself on the rocky façade of Crown Mountain. The views here will already be stunning, with expansive views of Hanes Valley to the east and endless views south of Vancouver. Don’t stop yet, the climb continues and soon becomes more of a scramble than a hike. You’ll need to use your hands for the most part now, with steep rocky sections and some exposed climbing. It’s perfectly manageable and the handholds/footing is solid rock. As long as you go slow and steady you should have no issues.
Soon enough you’ll reach the summit of Crown Mountain, where the views now become 360 degrees. The true summit is a sharp point that is impossible to stand on but it’s possible to straddle it and shuffle across if you so desire. There is no real reason to do this other than to say you were on the true summit, and it’s pretty dangerous as a fall either side would be fatal, so it’s best to stay just below the summit on one of the safe ledges, enjoying the views of Vancouver and Beauty Peak.
I must have spent an hour at the summit, soaking in the views and savoring the moment. When I did this hike the clouds were covering the city but the views from above the clouds were like nothing I had seen before. They ebbed and flowed like an ocean wave cresting over a rock, I could have watched it for hours, but alas it was time to head back.
Unfortunately, going back the way you came isn’t a walk in the park. You still have a steep descent into Crown Pass, followed by the steep re-ascent on the other side. It’s not as bad as you think, but after already ascending so much it’s a kick in the teeth to have to climb on the way back too. After the long walk back to the gondola you might consider taking it down to the base of the mountain to spare your legs descending on BCMC. If you’re a glutton for punishment though, feel free to hike down the BCMC (you can’t go down the Grouse Grind)
When should I hike Crown Mountain ?
Since Crown Mountain is in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, which closes for a large part of the year due to safety, make sure the park is actually open before going on this hike. Usually it opens at the start of summer when the snow has largely melted, and it closes once the snow arrives on the North Shore, around the end of October. Updates can be found here.
Ideally you should do this hike during August or September on a guaranteed blue sky day. There would be nothing worse than doing this hike and ending up in the clouds, which almost happened to me but thankfully I broke out above them. August/September also makes for the best conditions with less mud in Crown Pass and less mosquitos.
Top Tip
There are a few tips for this hike I can share:
- If you want to be one of the first people on the summit, hike from the base of Grouse Mountain and be at the Grouse Mountain Resort before the gondola begins operating, usually at 9am. Most people take the gondola up and are limited to beginning at their opening time.
- Taking the gondola down will really help save your legs from any soreness over the next couple of days.
- I wouldn’t suggest this hike for anybody new to hiking due to the technical difficulties. If your fitness isn’t the best I’d suggest taking the gondola up as well as down. You’ll drop your total elevation gain to around 800m doing this and the hike likely goes from very difficult to moderately difficult.
- If you’re a competent and confident hiker, combining the Hanes Valley trail with Crown Mountain is an insanely amazing hike, but it’s a one way hike so you would need two cars, or to be picked up at the base of Grouse Mountain to return to Lynn Headwaters.
