Hiking Jurassic Ridge & Murrin Park Loop near Squamish
Contents
Jurassic Ridge & Murrin Park Loop Hike Information
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 3.20Km
Elevation Gain: 180m
Highest Elevation: 293m
Average Gradient: 11.25%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 1.5 – 2 Hours
– Moderate: 1 – 1.5 Hours
– Fast: 0.75 – 1 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: Some simple use of hands, ropes and butt sliding necessary.
Jurassic Ridge & Murrin Park Loop Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°38’45.0″N 123°12’15.2″W
Jurassic Ridge & Murrin Park Loop Overview
Jurassic Ridge & Murrin Park loop is a hike located in Murrin Provincial Park near Squamish. The hike begins at Browning Lake before joining the Murrin Park loop trail and finally the Jurassic Ridge trail. The views from the ridge over the Howe Sound are pretty exceptional considering the low elevation and relative ease of this hike.
This is a very short hike at just 3.2km, though it can get quite steep with an average gradient of 11.25%. The trail is very rugged throughout, with a lot of roots, rocks, ropes and generally technical terrain that will slow you down. At times the trail is not easy to distinguish, though it is well marked for the most part. This is apparently a frequent area for people to get lost, likely because it attracts recreational hikers who are caught out by how technical this short hike is. An offline map is advised.
Jurassic Ridge is a year-round option, though personally I wouldn’t want to do this on a rainy day as much of the hike is on a rock face that would be incredibly slippery if it were wet. Even in dry conditions you have to be careful with footing as the rocks have been well worn to a point they are slippery even if dry. While this is a dog permitted hike, I’m not sure I would take my dog on it, though if your dog is particularly adept at hiking it should manage okay with some help. You may want to take caution with children depending on their experience of hiking, though I’m sure many do this hike.
Warnings aside, I was very impressed with Jurassic Ridge and I think it’s a good option if you’re looking for something short, adventurous and offering great views. This would be an excellent introduction to simple scrambling as there are many parts that require technical footwork and handwork, though it is never really exposed.
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Is Jurassic Ridge & Murrin Park Loop worthwhile?
If you are looking for something very quick, particularly adventurous and with excellent views this is a great option for an outing. I tagged this onto another hike I completed in the area as I personally wouldn’t drive all the way to Squamish for a one hour hike, but that’s just me. As noted above this is a good hike as an introduction to some simple scrambling as well. Overall I was very pleasantly surprised with Jurassic Ridge for its stellar views for low effort.
How difficult is the hike to Jurassic Ridge & Murrin Park Loop?
At 3.2km and 180m elevation I’d have to consider this an easy hike when compared to the rest on this site. This is one of the shortest hikes this site will ever feature, so I certainly can’t consider it moderate. Even though there are some steep sections towards the beginning that will challenge most, they are fairly brief.
Technically this hike has some challenges. The trail is very rugged throughout with a lot of travel on rock, roots, mud and generally technical terrain that is going to slow you down. There will be parts you have to scoot on your butt down rocks, and other where you’ll use your hands for stabilization going up/down. There are 3 roped sections, though two of them were really overkill. The one that was helpful was down a long, slippery rock face that would be difficult to navigate without a rope but was very straightforward with it. There is really no exposure anywhere on the trail, you just need to take your time and be careful.
Jurassic Ridge & Murrin Park Loop Route Information
The Jurassic Ridge trail begins at the Murrin Provincial Park parking lot near Squamish. This parking lot can get very busy in the summer as many families enjoy using the park for picnics around Browning Lake, while others use it for fishing, so arrive early if you’re going at that time. In the off season it can still be busy on a sunny day.
The trail immediately meanders around the north of Browning Lake, passing through the picnic area. When I went there were quite a few people fishing in the lake. Just as you reach the northwest of the lake you’ll see a trail leading off to the right into the forest, this is called the Murrin Loop trail, which is what a lot of the hike will be spent on. Shortly after joining the Murrin Park Loop trail you’ll reach a junction where you can either go clockwise or counter clockwise around the loop. I suggest going counter clockwise as the ridge at the top will be easier in this direction.
Immediately the trail will become very steep and pretty rugged. Over the next 300m you will climb about 100m, making for an average gradient of 33%, which is very steep. Thankfully some of the steepest sections have wooden or rock steps to help, but much of the trail is technical, with slippery dirt and roots to navigate. Unfortunately it’s single file for much of it, and as I’m a pretty quick hiker I had to ask to pass a few groups even on a quiet day. On a busy summer day I imagine this section can be particularly frustrating for anyone who is quick.
Thankfully once you’ve finished this short, steep section, that’ll be most of the elevation gain of this hike behind you, with the rest being pretty mellow. You should notice a junction right about now, with a trail leading off to the left, while the loop trail continues right. I strongly suggest checking out the offshoot trail as it leads to one of the best viewpoints over the Howe Sound along the whole loop. I saw a few people missing out on this as it’s not signposted or marked, but you’ll see it on your map and it’s well worth the slight detour.
After finishing up enjoying the views, return back to the loop trail. A few hundred meters further along the trail you’ll reach another junction with a signpost, going right leads to Jurassic Ridge and going left continues on the Murrin Loop trail, obviously you’ll want to go right.
The Jurassic Ridge trail is even more rugged than the Murrin Park Loop, mostly because travel along the ridge is largely on rock face, which is particularly slippery. The trail won’t be as obvious but should still be pretty clear and it’s largely well marked throughout. In a few hundred meters you’ll reach a viewpoint looking west towards the mountains on the Sunshine Coast. Slightly further along the trail you’ll reach one of many viewpoints overlooking the Howe Sound. There are multiple spots with great views, though they all look in the same direction and are much the same views throughout.
Eventually you’ll reach a final viewpoint on a pointed rock and the trail here won’t be obvious. It will actually continue southwest from the rock, but you need to shimmy through a narrow trail and you’ll soon reach the roped section mentioned earlier. It’s a simple rope down a long, but not too steep, rock face. Definitely useful as the rock would be pretty slippery even in dry conditions.
The descent will continue in a technical manner with a lot of careful navigation around slippery rock faces, and at times the trail won’t be well marked here. The route should be fairly obvious but a map is useful just in case you lose it. After a couple of hundred meters more you’ll be off the rock and back on the dirt trail, finding yourself at a junction with a signpost. There are a few different trails splitting off here but you’ll want to rejoin the Murrin Park Loop trail.
The remainder of the trail will descend, steeply at times, back towards Browning Lake. After around 500m of forest travel you will reach the end of the loop where you began. Now you’ll just rejoin the trail heading towards Browning Lake and head back to the car in the same direction you came from. You could alternatively complete the full loop around Browning Lake should you be inclined, though there isn’t a whole lot to see and the south of the lake is right next to the highway.
When should I hike Jurassic Ridge & Murrin Park Loop?
This is a great year-round option and one I’d personally keep in my back pocket for the shoulder season. This park is so busy in the summer I would avoid it at all costs then, but in spring or fall it would be great. I’d avoid going if there is any chance the rock is wet as I’m sure it would be difficult terrain in those conditions.
Top Tip
You’ll want some excellent grip on your boots for this one. I think many people underestimate the technicality of this hike since it is so close to such a family friendly picnic area and I imagine many go ill prepared. A lot of people seemingly get lost here as Squamish SAR have installed a sign indicating so, so an offline map may be useful as well.
