Hiking Mount Seymour in Mount Seymour Provincial Park
Contents
Mount Seymour Hike Information
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 8.20Km
Elevation Gain: 580m
Highest Elevation: 1,449m
Average Gradient: 14.14%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 4 – 5 Hours
– Moderate: 3 – 4 Hours
– Fast: 2 – 3 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: July – October
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: The odd use of hands for balance here and there. One short traverse above a steep hill that most will be comfortable with.
Mount Seymour Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°22’00.3″N 122°56’54.0″W
Mount Seymour Overview
Mount Seymour is a popular hike in the namesake Mount Seymour Provincial Park on the North Shore. Mount Seymour is made up of three distinct summits known as Pump Peak (First Peak), Tim Jones Peak (Second Peak) and Mount Seymour (Third Peak), each of which is higher than the previous summit.
The hike to Mount Seymour passes over all three peaks, with the views improving as you progress, culminating with the highest and most scenic summit at Third Peak. That being said, both Pump Peak and Tim Jones Peak offer excellent views as well, with the majority of hikers content to stop at Pump Peak.
While Pump Peak is a year-round hiking option, making for an extremely scenic and popular snowshoe trip in the winter, continuing beyond Pump Peak towards Mount Seymour is not recommended for anyone except experienced parties in the winter, as it involves travel in steep, complex terrain where a mistake could be serious. As such, Mount Seymour tends to be a summer option when snow is no longer at these elevations, typically between July and October.
Many people like to camp at, or near, one of the summits of Mount Seymour, though there are no designated campsites. Since anywhere north of Brockton Point is considered the backcountry, camping is permitted year-round and is free, with users just needing to obtain a backcountry camping permit.
One of the main benefits of hiking Mount Seymour is the ability to drive up the paved Mount Seymour Road all the way to 1,025m. In the winter, vehicles are required to have winter tires (M&S minimum) to drive up the road, and the road only opens at 7am when the ski resort opens. The road never closes in the summer so an earlier start is possible.
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Is Mount Seymour worthwhile?
The views from the summit of Mount Seymour are exceptional when you consider the relative ease of this hike. Compared to other moderately difficult hikes, Mount Seymour has to be one of the more rewarding peaks. Indeed, this hike is likely one of the most scenic hikes the North Shore has to offer, and is accessible enough for hikers of all abilities. It’s obvious why it is so popular.
Given the amount of people that stop at Pump Peak, you might wonder if continuing on to Mount Seymour is worth the additional effort. The answer to this is a firm yes. While Pump Peak offers some really nice views, the 360 degree views from Mount Seymour are certainly much better, and absolutely worth the nominal amount of additional effort to get there from Pump Peak.
How difficult is the hike to Mount Seymour?
With an average gradient of 14.14% this is by no means an easy hike, it’s actually quite steep in parts. Still, the hike is only 8.20km and less than 600m elevation gain, which is short when you consider this hike reaches 1,449m elevation. You will certainly be out of breath for sections of the trail, especially as you climb up towards Pump Peak, and between Pump Peak and Tim Jones Peak. There are plenty of flat spots throughout the hike to allow you to catch your breath though.
Technically the hike is mostly straightforward. Most of the trail to Pump Peak is rugged and rocky but never that technical. The section between Pump Peak and Tim Jones Peak ascends steeply up a boulder gully, but again should be technically simple and is never exposed. The trickiest part of the hike is the section between Tim Jones Peak and Mount Seymour. Here you drop down a steep rock face and traverse a very narrow trail above a steep cliff (hence it’s unsafe in winter). Beyond this you climb up another rock face, before ascending up another gully to the summit. Most people will be fine if they take their time, but some might find the narrow traverse a little unnerving.
Mount Seymour Route Information
Parking for this hike is at the upper parking lot at the very end of Mount Seymour Road. In the summer parking is readily available, though it still gets busy, but in the winter parking is prioritized for the ski resort users, with snowshoers required to park on the side of the road away from the main parking lots. This parking fills up incredibly quickly, so an early start is recommended (as soon as the road opens preferably).
Wherever you park, you will want to head to the northern tip of the parking lot where there will see an information board. This is where the trail begins. Immediately upon starting the trail you will reach a junction where going left will take you to Dog Mountain, going right will lead to Mystery Lake and continuing straight will follow the Mount Seymour trail. It is well signed so you shouldn’t have issues.
The trail will climb steadily in the forest along a rocky path, passing a junction to Dinkey Peak after 500m or so, and another junction shortly after. Stick to the main trail. The next 500m will be much the same, where eventually you’ll reach a junction where you join a wide gravel path. After following the gravel path briefly you’ll pass by a junction to the right which climbs up to Mystery Peak, but just stick to the gravel trail. You’ll immediately reach a junction where you’ll want to drop down and descend towards a small lake, after which you’ll once again climb up a rocky trail. At the top of this section you’ll be at Brockton Point, your first views of the day. Stop here by all means, but the views are nothing compared to what’s ahead, so no bother if you decide not to.
The next kilometer of the trail meanders along narrow paths, passing by the odd meadow and offering a couple of distant viewpoints along the way. You’ll soon reach a junction where the Elsay Lake trail begins. Don’t join this trail, instead keep left and continue on the Mount Seymour trail.
Shortly ahead the trail now becomes much more technical and far more challenging. You’ll clamber up a few steep, rocky bluffs before finding yourself at a small tarn beneath Pump Peak. From the tarn you’ll want to go counterclockwise around it, and from the other side you’re able to go either climbers right or left around the east face of Pump Peak. You’ll want to work your way around to the west side of Pump Peak, where you’ll make your way to the summit. It’s a bit of a self-guided climb to the top, but it’s fairly straightforward whatever way you go.
Once you’ve finished up at Pump Peak, drop down from the summit and continue north, where you should find a trail sign indicating the way to the second and third peak. The trail will drop down beside another tarn, before climbing very steeply up a gully on the south of Tim Jones Peak. At the top of the gully you will find another sign indicating that Tim Jones Peak is a short detour to the right, with Mount Seymour (Third Peak) ahead. You might as well stop by Tim Jones Peak, where you’ll get some fantastic views of Mount Seymour itself, as well as excellent views of the entire region.
Once finished, head back to the information board and continue along the Mount Seymour trail. You’ll now have to drop down a steep rock face where you’ll soon join the narrow traverse. This section of the trail is single file and passes above a fairly steep hill on one side and a wall on your other side, but it’s not so exposed you’ll feel at serious risk. If you encounter people coming the other way, allow them to pass before you take your turn working along the path.
From the other side of the traverse you’ll rejoin the trail, which now climbs up another rock face before reaching the final ascent up to Mount Seymour. You should see markers leading to a narrow, fairly gully on the south side of Mount Seymour. It’s fairly brief and in no time you’ll find yourself on the summit.
The views now will be 360 degree views, with unobstructed views to the north in particular. You’ll have fantastic views of all the North Shore summits, notably Cathedral Mountain, Crown Mountain, Mount Burwell, Coliseum Mountain, the Lions, Runner Peak, Dog Mountain, Grouse Mountain & Mount Elsay to name some. You’ll also see distant views of Sky Pilot Mountain, Mount Garibaldi, Mount Robie Reid, Mount Judge Howay, Mount Baker and much, much more on a clear day.
The summit is spacious, even if busy, with plenty of space to relax and enjoy the views. After soaking them in you simply head back the way you came to the trailhead.
When should I hike Mount Seymour?
As noted the season for the Third Peak of Mount Seymour tends to be summer only due to the complex traverse between Second Peak and Third Peak. Some people can and do complete it, but it should be left to competent and prepared parties. If there is snow on the ground you should stop at First Peak.
Typically Mount Seymour will be clear of snow between July and October.
Top Tip
There are quite a lot of bears frequenting Mount Seymour, so it’s recommended to hike in groups and to carry bear spray, especially if you are an early starter and one of the first people on the mountain.
Most people stop at Pump Peak, content with the views they have achieved after a steep climb up. While the views are undoubtedly great at Pump Peak, I strongly recommend continuing on to at least Tim Jones Peak, but preferably Mount Seymour. The views get better with each peak you summit.
I highly recommend hiking Pump Peak in the winter and Third Peak in the summer. Pump Peak is a stunning, safe winter hike, with Third Peak a beautiful summer trip.
