Comments

DH from Vancouver writes:

Hiked August 1st, 9:30 a.m. Nearly all the snow is gone - just a brief patch a few minutes before the top, which is easy to cross in regular hiking shoes. Not many people on the trail on the way up, but more on the way down. Plenty of bugs!

Up and down in two hours. One of the better short hikes in the North Shore. Meadows, woods, views, a decent workout. Perfect if you want some exercise and a view but have other things to do that day.

Posted: August 2, 2022 12:27:15 AM PST

Raymond from Vancouver writes:

This is an awesome hike! Beautiful views of the Lions Peaks and Burrard Inlet from the peak of Hollyburn.

A word of caution about this hike if you are hiking in late June. Ninety percent of the trail is still covered in heavy snow.

When a friend and I hiked Hollyburn in June 25th, we were surprised about how much snow is on the trail.

Steep parts of the trail along with the heavy snow make this hike more challenging than usual.

I strongly recommend that hikers bring ski poles and wear ski pants if you are hiking at Hollyburn in late June.

Some parts of the trail may also have potential sink holes.

I could hear the sound of rushing water on two parts of the trail. I also saw one footprint that showed ice cold water at the bottom of the print.

Please exercise caution around parts of this trail when you hear the sound of rushing water. Ice cold water for those hikers who step on snow may await them on parts of the trail that is not densely packed with footprints of hikers.

-plenty of bugs on parts the lower part of the trail.

Posted: June 26, 2022 09:47:30 AM PST

Peter from Burnaby writes:

Visited on Sun., Aug 29. No bugs for entire length of trip. Trail is snow- and mud-free. Plenty of parking available even on a weekend, and trail was not very busy, < 15 people at the summit. First half of hike is in the sun, second half is primarily shaded, summit in the sun. Highly recommended.

Posted: August 30, 2021 11:46:19 AM PST

Rob C from vancouver writes:

Easy AF, don't need passes.

Only 450m elevation gain over 4.4km, childs play. Interesting varied path, and views along the way. Great view at the top. Close to vancouver, would recommend for easy after work hike

Posted: August 4, 2021 10:05:29 PM PST

John from Vancouver writes:

Nice hike with great views and a variety of scenery. As of July 9th there's no snow on the trail. You will be in direct sunlight most of the time. Some bugs but nothing crazy. Lots of wildlife (deer, chipmunks, Canada jays, sooty grouse)

Posted: July 12, 2021 04:25:34 PM PST

DH from Vancouver writes:

Hiked this afternoon. Great mix of meadow and forest, and a decent workout, but not exhausting. There is still snow over parts of the last quarter of the hike, but it's melting rapidly. A bit slippery in spots, but doable in hiking boots. Some bugs, but this is also manageable. The view at the top is great, and the bugs had definitely thinned out by the end.

We went at 3:30 on a weekday and saw only three people the entire way up and down. A rare episode of genuine solitude in the North Shore mountains. I'd do this hike again in a heartbeat.

Posted: July 6, 2021 11:29:54 PM PST

Jay from Surrey writes:

There are a lot of annoying flies. Birds harass you and try to steal your food at the top.

Posted: August 3, 2020 07:58:40 PM PST

Moshe from Vancouver writes:

It's one of the nicer trails - although you're going up, for the most part the incline is very mellow, so you get to enjoy the views on the way.
As of July 20 - some mud on the way, but not too serious. Bring some bug repellent, the midges are out to bite.

Posted: July 20, 2020 07:24:22 AM PST

Peter from Burnaby writes:

Still a lot of snow on the hike (Sunday, June 7). Snow starts at junction where you turn north/left off the Powerline Trail near the hut and continues to the top. Crampons / poles recommended but it can be done without. It's definitely more difficult to complete this hike in these conditions than on a typical summer day. Final stretch to the peak which is moderately tough in the summer is quite difficult now as you're on a vertical stretch with pretty poor footing. About 1.5 hours up and 1 hours down. At noon on Sunday there were about 20 cars in the Hollyburn lot, and we encountered about 30 people during our time hiking. Thank you to BC Parks for re-opening Cypress and Seymour for hiking!

Posted: June 8, 2020 11:11:56 AM PST

Mark from Surrey writes:

June 1, BC Parks have just opened this area, post COVID lockdown. Still lots of snow but a great climb. Saw about 15 other people on the way up and down.

Posted: June 1, 2020 05:09:55 PM PST

robert from canada writes:

thats was an incredible hiking experience .

Posted: March 28, 2020 09:48:22 PM PST

Karl Tsang from Vancouver writes:

It was a good hike, hiked this a few weeks ago, took the Baden Powell trail from the Cypress parking lot to the junction with the Hollyburn Mountain Trail and the Baden Powell trail was quite muddy at places due to a rainstorm the day prior. Took us substantially longer than expected due to all the mud. Nice to see that the bilberries are in season though. Saw a few Monotropa uniflora plants halfway up the mountain as well. Unfortunately I took a wrong turn when I got to the clearing area on Hollyburn mountain where the ski trail is in the winter and had to bushwhack through knee high brush until I found the trail again. That was rough. The views from the top were amazing though, and we had the summit all to ourselves as no one else was there. However on the way down I had the bright idea to try the old decommissioned trail that took you to the Collins ski run back at the Cypress Ski Area, thought that it can't be that bad, and I could not have been more wrong about that! There was a sign at the summit warning that the trail was decommissioned, but we took it anyway and ended up having to descend extremely steep sections on a very narrow trail. Luckily though the decommissioned back trail wasn't too overgrown and there weren't any major creek crossings, and telling by the fresh shoe prints someone had taken this old trail recently. Took us 2.5 hours just to get back to the Collins run from the summit along this ridiculous old trail. One final scramble awaited us at the Collins ski run though, as the ski run was a few meters higher than the surrounding area we had to scramble up the rock slope to the ski run. Overall a good hike though, it certainly was a good challenge to take the back trail. Main problem was that there were a lot more mosquitoes on the back trail....

Posted: August 17, 2019 03:58:35 AM PST

Veronica from Vancouiver writes:

Hiked on July 20. The trail condition was good. No snow, a few mud areas.
We were wearing asics running shoes and carrying our 11 month baby in a sling. It is absolutely doable hike. Although there is short part of trail at the end where you had to climb over the rooks. There are some bugs at the top. It was uncomfortable to sit for a long time, but if you are walking it is ok even without repellent, no bites. Half of the time you will be under the sun, so it not the best place to escape in the hot day.
It took us 3 hours round trip from parking.
Spectacular view at the top!!!

Posted: July 21, 2019 11:04:52 AM PST

Yung Yung from Vancouver writes:

Great hike with interesting, varied terrain and a beautiful, almost panoramic view at the top. You get a nice close look at the Lions as well! Well worth the 3 hours. Went in mid-July and it was fairly muddy as we've had a wetter Summer than usual, so waterproof footwear is recommended. On the map, there appears to be two trails that lead up to Hollyburn, with one of them appearing shorter. Don't be fooled, this is an old trail that goes up by the Capilano watershed. Make sure to follow the signs, they'll take you the right way.

Posted: July 13, 2019 01:14:39 PM PST

Sarah from Vancouver writes:

Barely any snow up at the top by the 3rd week of June so should be clear now.

Posted: June 29, 2019 04:15:07 PM PST

Stacey V from Pittsburgh PA writes:

Lots of snow! Good hike even though foggy by the time you hit the peak sun all around. Beautiful views of theLions. Definitely slid down some of the stuff ya and shoes were wet.

Posted: May 12, 2019 05:22:49 PM PST

Laura from Vancouver writes:

Hiked on October 13th, beautiful views and trail wasn't too muddy. Be warned there is a bear in the area, he looked up at us and then continued eating about 10m away.

Posted: October 13, 2018 01:43:48 PM PST

Mdizzle from Surrey writes:

Absolutely beautiful hike. Did it on Oct 6. No snow yet. Trail is in great condition. Highly recommended.

Posted: October 13, 2018 12:44:20 PM PST

Amanda from Port Moody writes:

Hiked September 11. I Left the trailhead just before 4pm, and made it to the top by 5:20. It was raining when I started but stopped after about 10 minutes, then was pretty sunny for the rest of the afternoon. Cloudy down around the cuty though so the views weren’t quite there, at least compared to last time I did it in February. There wasn’t anyone else at the trailhead or along the trail, which was a welcome changw from the summer hiking crowds. Saw one small black bear on the way up but he ambled off after a few minutes.

Posted: September 11, 2018 09:48:27 PM PST

Gary Mah from Vancouver writes:

Hiked on a sunny Sunday, Sep 2-2018 with good friends and their family. Trails are well-maintained and very dry. Lots of smiling, friendly people on the trail. The huckleberries sure are plump and delicious.
Got a dandy sunburn from spending an hour at the top, enjoying each other’s company, the picnic lunch, the wildlife, and the nice views.
Was very impressed with how respectful, tidy and clean everyone was. Everything packed in was packed out, leaving the lookout as pristine as we found it.

Posted: September 3, 2018 01:25:01 PM PST

Stacey V from Pittsburgh, PA writes:

Hiked on Aug 4th. Well marked trail and views worth it. Enjoyed

Posted: August 5, 2018 06:03:24 PM PST

Amalia from Vancouver writes:

Went up today (July 28, 2018) and there was no snow - great climb (but warm)

Posted: July 28, 2018 10:26:24 PM PST

Matthew Ault from Sheffield, England writes:

Went up my first time today, with a chihuaha to give you an idea of the difficulty. Still snow in some parts but mostly gone, this has resulted however in a fair amount of water, running and still and there were a fair amount of accompanying annoying flies that made stopping unpleasant. Be careful on the remaining snow, it can give way. There were a few fallen trees blocking the trail but nothing unmanageable.The views at the top were absolutely stunning, a shame the experience was shared with so many flies up there, but it was amazing none the less.

Posted: July 9, 2018 07:36:49 PM PST

Nicholas from Vancouver writes:

Went up July 1st - still lots of snow in patches throughout much of the hike but it is negotiable all the way to the top if you have decent boots. Poles would help in places but not essential. Views from top are pretty good.

Posted: July 3, 2018 12:40:11 PM PST

Wendy from Vancouver writes:

Hiked up today, May 27, 2018. Still lots of snow. Didn't make it all the way up as one part was quite steep and didn't have the proper equipment. Shoes were soaked and it was a little chilly for the most part.

Posted: May 27, 2018 11:45:59 AM PST

Silvia from Burnaby writes:

Hiked to the Peak on Thursday, April 19th. Cypress closed for season. No markers. Our initial plan was to use the trail behind Nordic Cafe, however 20 minutes into our hike a grouse decided to greet us and he would not let us pass. So we joined the ski trail and hiked it all the way to the peak. Snow was soft everywhere, we were sinking every few steps. But the sun was shining and it was warm. No one around the whole time. Markers appeared for the last 20 minutes of the hike. This very steep section was slippery but as we gained height, snow became more icy than slushy and our spikes helped a lot. Done this hike in the summer, I prefer it in the winter even though I found it more difficult. Great workout. Pretty views.

Posted: April 21, 2018 09:50:35 AM PST

Brandon from Vancouver writes:

Gorgeous hike! MUST HAVE crampons/microspikes, though. Easy to lose your footing and slide without them. Snow is hard-packed and snowshoes will not suffice. Amazing view at the top.

Posted: February 13, 2018 11:39:12 PM PST

Lisa from Vancouver writes:

Went up Dec 3rd. Lots of snow. Well packed so you can use microspikes but also lots of soft snow to the side so you can still use snow shoe. Lots of people.

Posted: December 3, 2017 03:49:04 PM PST

Colton Ryan from Tsawwassen writes:

Hiked it Nov 10th, The entire trail was covered in snow. The lower section had mixed slush and ice (roughly 6') while the higher section was crunchy and firm (roughly 10") I would recommend cramp ons although it wasn't too difficult with regular hiking boots. Trail is still easily passed without snowshoes although in the next week or so that might change quickly. This is potentially dangerous territory, come prepared!

Posted: November 10, 2017 08:26:24 PM PST

N from Vancouver writes:

Hiked up from the main parking lot on Sunday (Oct 30) - trail is still completely snow free (though according to the current forecast that might be changing soon!)

Posted: October 30, 2017 02:36:37 PM PST

Eric from Richmond writes:

Sept. 3rd - This is a great hike that has it all. All different types of trails and terrain and a great view of other mountains from the top. Lots of wild blueberries as well.
Route - We looked at the route suggested but passed as it started under powerlines (not my favourite)
Instead, we took the other route that starts at the main Cypress parking lot just before the first chairlift on your left. This is shown as well on the map above. Distance and elevation are similar for both.
When you think you might be at the top, you probably are not. Just keep going past several false tops. You are really at the top when you are standing on top of a jagged rock and cannot possibly go higher.
Signage is excellent, bugs are minimal. Moderately difficult as listed. Excellent shade from sun at least on our route. Pictures show the Grouse range with windmill and the Lions.

Posted: September 5, 2017 04:44:49 PM PST

Ken from Burnaby writes:

Did it on August 29. It was quiet. Not too difficult not too easy. The driving direction is wrong which will take you to downhill area. The crosscountry area is the right turn before that with a big blue sign says hollyburn raven restaurunt. There is a trail goes to hollyburn too from the downhill area which is a little harder and eventually joins this trail. There are a few places look like the top but not, keep going until you cannot go higher. The last section is not rocky and.is the most difficult. When coming back some areas are slippery because of loose rocks. Not many bugs. Not much view due to trees.

Posted: August 29, 2017 07:41:54 PM PST

Kris from West Vancouver writes:

I did this hike on Sunday August 13, staring from the milstream trail then connecting onto the BP. Trail conditions are great - no snow and very well marked. I found this hike quite easy - lots of switchbacks make the trail up the mountain very level with any steep sections very manageable. Once you reach the top be prepared for millions of mosquitos!! Overall hiked 19.8k with an elevation gain of 1063m.

Posted: August 15, 2017 07:20:40 PM PST

Jane from North Vancouver writes:

Did this hike today with 3 adults and 6 kids aged 3-9. Took us 4+ hours. There were a few patches of snow off the path. Trail is very well marked and mostly gradual incline which even the youngest could manage... although he did 75% in a carrier. Unfortunately we didn't get the payoff of a view because of the forest fire smoke. My partner took tge 2 oldest down a different trail on the backside.. there is a sign saying 'trail in poor condition' which scared me off. They said it was quite steep and technical and along with the swarming black flies made it pretty miserable. Also took them an exta 20 minutes than the rest of us.

Posted: August 7, 2017 08:52:32 AM PST

Terry from Vancouver writes:

Hi,

Just did the hike this weekend and I can confirm there's still snow as you reach the higher points of the mountain. Please note that there's also a lot flies and mosquitoes. Overall the hike was fun, but due to the bugs we didn't stay very long.

Posted: July 25, 2017 09:06:38 AM PST

dian from surrey writes:

does anyone know if there's still snow on hollyburn? we want to hike this weekend. July 30, 2017.
thanks.

Posted: July 24, 2017 02:33:16 PM PST

Tom from Vancouver writes:

Melanie; I did Hollyburn today and it is as Yvette describes. Dry until the hut but as soon as you turn left away from the power line it's all snow. I went straight up the ski run. There are sections which are partially melted with water either side so those snow bridges might not be around much longer (use caution). Also higher up there are moments where you can hear water running healthily beneath solid snow so just use sense when picking a route. Poles helped me and the summit was astounding with snowy surrounding peaks and a totally clear sky. Sliding down was fun!

Posted: June 26, 2017 11:33:45 PM PST

melanie from port moody writes:

We wanted to hike Hollyburn this week. Does anyone know if there is still snow?
June 26, 2017
thank you

Posted: June 26, 2017 05:04:28 PM PST

Yvette from Vancouver, BC writes:

Did this hike June 24, 2017. After the first kilometer, the trail is covered in snow. It makes for a beautiful summer snowy hike but it is very slippery. Hiking boots were adequate and if you have snowshoes or crampons they would make the climb a lot easier as sections are very steep. This is a climb straight up a black diamond run. The 360 degree view at the top is stunning. I slid down some of the steep parts on the way down! You're in the sun the whole time (very little tree coverage) so bring sunscreen, a hat, and lots of water.

Posted: June 24, 2017 04:00:00 PM PST

Joe from Vancouver writes:

I did this hike on Saturday, June 10th. The trail is still completely under snow, but still hikeable. Was able to finish in hiking shoes alone (no poles), but would have benefited from crampons for some portions (again, not entirely necessary). The trail is obscured, so add some extra time for getting a little mixed up with the ski runs!

Posted: June 12, 2017 03:15:50 PM PST

Yvette from Vancouver, BC writes:

Has anyone done the trail yet this year? How are the conditions?

Posted: June 8, 2017 10:26:37 PM PST

Krystal from West Vancouver writes:

Hiked hollyburn solo on Sept. 28 from the badden powell starting on milsteam. The trail is quite manageable in runners although it does get very muddy in sections. I found this an easy hike with the exception of scaling the rocks to the summit; this area could be very slippery after rainfall. Good views from the top. Make sure to give yourself enough time to get back before dark! Overall a good hike ????

Posted: October 2, 2016 10:47:04 AM PST

Jennifer D. from Vancouver writes:

My fiance and I are new to the area and wanted a beautiful, half-day hike near Vancouver. To be honest, I almost chose another hike, as I found several others that had higher ratings. However, I hadn't hiked Cypress and wanted a view of something other than Vancouver. Throughout the hike, and particularly when we reached the top, I literally couldn't fathom why people wouldn't give this hike a 5 out of 5 - it was AMAZING!!! I took another look and have found that a couple of people rated it poorly because they got lost (which is fair, as I almost got lost today, too) or because they had poor weather, which imo shouldn't negatively impact the trail rating. Anyway, as a result, I felt I should give this trail a perfect rating. It was beautiful and I'll definitely head up there again!

Posted: September 26, 2016 12:16:16 AM PST

Brenda from Vancouver writes:

One of my favourite short hikes in Vancouver - trail was well marked, dry and no problem with flies or mosquitos (we did wear repellant). Stunning views at the top. Kids (10 and 14) enjoyed it too, especially the cheeky whiskey jacks.

Posted: August 12, 2016 09:01:34 PM PST

Andrew from Vancouver writes:

We just attempted this hike but somehow managed to get lost. The signage is unclear when you reach the cabin and we thought it said to continue straight as we had been.

However, after hiking another 30 minutes and reaching a dead end we tried to figure out where we went wrong but couldnt, so we turned back.

Only when we went back past the cabin did we realise you should turn left. We decided to just go back to the car at this stage as we wasted a good hour getting lost. Some clearer signage would be better as we still feel the signs were poor.

Also, there is ALOT of flies thar were becoming very annoying, so take some spray.

Posted: July 2, 2016 03:11:22 PM PST

mila from vancouver writes:

Conditions update: Did this trail on June 25th and there's still snow on top. Lots of mud and puddles all the way, and the bugs were unbearable on top - we didn't even stay for a snack.

Love this hike, though. We always do it more than once in the same season. Worth checking!

Posted: June 28, 2016 01:06:54 AM PST

Myra from Langley writes:

The thing I love about this hike are the many viewpoints it has to offer. You can stop, relax and have some snacks and if you suddenly felt the need to go back, you still got to see some spectacular views there is to see. Breathtaking every single stopover I made. We got to the top and we got it all to ourselves. Simply amazing!!

Posted: June 25, 2016 01:53:57 PM PST

Becci from Vancouver writes:

Hiked this on 20th June and there is still some snow to cross. The hike was beautiful - nice variation of terrain, a few sweet little lakes, snow toward the top and a great 360 view. It's a hike where you're not completely covered by trees all the time - so great if you like to feel the sunshine and see the sky! We also met some super friendly whisky jacks and even a crow who flew down to say hi :) actual walking time was 2.5 hours.

Posted: June 21, 2016 04:02:58 PM PST

Justin from Coquitlam writes:

My girlfriend and I did this June 3rd 2016
Top 1/3 of this hike is covered in snow and quite mucky on the rest. I would not recommend just wearing your nikes. Beautiful views and peaceful. Saw only 1 other person on the trail with his dog. Took us just under 3 hours round trip but can definitely be done faster if we weren't sinking to our knees in snow. Bring your bug spray and take lotsa pics! enjoy.

Posted: June 4, 2016 09:13:30 AM PST

Carlie from Vancouver writes:

Its hard to rate this hike as it was really foggy so we didn't actually see anything besides our immediate surroundings. That being said coming down was fun. There is still a lot of snow up there once you pass the warming hut so definitely be prepared to hike in the snow.. you can do it without snowshoes and spikes but having the spikes definitely helped with slipping especially in the steeper areas.

Posted: May 15, 2016 10:04:52 PM PST

Omid M. from Burnaby writes:

My friend and I snowshoed up to the summit two weeks+ ago, and it was a blast coming down!

I also flew my quadcopter from the summit and took this aerial footage of the entire area! Enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDsD7AAakhU

If you take a magic carpet with you, you can pretty much slide down 30% or more of the way down! lol

Posted: April 17, 2016 01:11:46 AM PST

Deb from Vancouver writes:

Hi,

My friend and I did the Bowen Lookout last weekend. We actually hiked up wearing our sneakers because we didn't want to wear our heavy boots. Are boots a must on this trail?

Thanks!

Posted: January 14, 2016 06:19:39 PM PST

Graham from Vancouver writes:

Hiked to the top Nov 22nd with snowshoes. There's lots of snow but easily manageable with snowshoes or microspike crampons. There were a few people at the top with just hiking/snow boots but it's pretty slippery in the steep sections near the summit so I'd recommend at least microspikes - it makes it much more enjoyable.

Posted: November 23, 2015 12:34:38 PM PST

Matt from Vancouver writes:

Nov 2 - The weekend brought lots of snow to the top. Wear your hiking boots. Its muddy and a bit slippery, and makes for a fun fall hike.

To all you people complaining about mud, narrow trails, roots and uneven ground, may I suggest the seawall.

Posted: November 2, 2015 09:04:19 PM PST

carly from surrey writes:

has anyone hiked here lately, just wondering if there are a lot of bears at the berries?

Posted: September 12, 2015 12:01:07 AM PST

Helen from Burnaby writes:

Did a solo hike and it was a bit nerve-racking at first since it seemed as though the trails were not well traveled. It led me to believe that I was the first hiker there all day.

Went up at 8am and didn't see anyone else until I reached the very top which was a relief to know that I wasn't lost.

The trail is well marked with orange markers which kept my nerves at bay. Bring a hat and wear sunscreen as you're out in the sun for majority of the trek up. There were a few bugs, but not so many as to ruin the experience.

When descending there were many more hikers. Took me approx 1.5 hrs up and 1 hr down.

The view is definitely worth the hike up! Would 100% do it again.

Posted: August 11, 2015 01:36:40 PM PST

Ron from Vancouver writes:

Good bang for buck hike...started up trail at 930 am.. sunny day, few clouds, few bugs, one momma bear and cub lower down, blueberries by the bushel, not muddy whatsoever. Good day

Posted: July 29, 2015 06:23:03 PM PST

Kara from Vancouver writes:

Beautiful hike. Went on July 4, 2015 and conditions were good - very dry as it has been so hot. Much of the trail is in the sun so bring a hat and sunscreen, bugs weren't too bad. Nice views up top

Posted: July 4, 2015 05:22:14 PM PST

Clutterer from Vancouver writes:

I hiked the trail on the morning of May 23rd. Still muddy in parts, but overall dry. The trail can seem less than obviously near the final climb, but keep a vigilant eye out for the markers and keep ascending. Lots of mosquitoes await at the top.

Posted: May 25, 2015 01:44:00 PM PST

IT from NewWest writes:

Good hike. although there are only a few harder sections, there is plenty of time for recovery before you encounter anohter difficult section. Beautiful views. This past weekend there was minimal snow on the sides of the trail and small areas that were muddy. Great trail, only reco is to bring a hat and suncreen for the summer as the trail is out in the sun for the most part.

Posted: May 11, 2015 02:22:45 PM PST

Marie from Vancouver writes:

Was up there on Sunday April 19th, beautiful clear day, but lots of snow up near the top and a lot of mud along the trail, which can make it quite slippery if you are not prepared.

Did see a lot of people complete the trail in regular runners, so it can be done, but be prepared to take your time on the slippery sections.

Other than that great views at the top, great hike, completed it in about 2.5-3 hours.

Posted: April 20, 2015 11:38:16 AM PST

Claire from Vancouver writes:

I was up there on Sunday (April 12) and there was snow falling but no more than a couple of inches on the ground. I only made it just past the point where the BP trail turns off to Cypress for time reasons, but the snow wasn't enough to cause me problems!

Posted: April 14, 2015 07:55:41 PM PST

Claire from Vancouver writes:

Hi
Just wondering if anyone has done this hike recently and what the conditions are like?

Posted: April 9, 2015 07:57:13 AM PST

Hiker from Vancouver writes:

Just got back from the hike this afternoon. Trail covered either in mud/deep puddles or slick with snow at the top. Didn't find the hike that enjoyable as had to be so careful with footing. Took 2 and a half hours round trip.

Posted: March 27, 2015 05:29:21 PM PST

Kat B. from Vancouver writes:

Just got back from this hike. Great trail and amazing 360 view at the peak! There was snow closer to the top but I was fine in just my hikers. Took 3.5 hrs return including photos and snack break at the top.

Posted: March 8, 2015 02:33:01 PM PST

Nolan from Delta writes:

Did this hike as of Sunday Feb 22. Snowshoes were not needed although I did wear yaktrax. My hiking partner did fine in sneakers. Would recommend though, beautiful hike.

Posted: February 23, 2015 08:31:52 PM PST

Lia from Vancouver writes:

Hi, just wondering if anyone knows if you could do this hike without snowshoes? I didnt the chief the other day and it was fine but I know this is higher elevation.

I just want to do a quick hike this saturday while the weather is good but I dont have any snowshoes. would welcome other suggestions :)

Posted: January 30, 2015 09:58:10 AM PST

Cee from burnaby writes:

roots and rocks visible until about 20min up. Not half-way up as mentioned previously. Bit of an exaggeration on my part. :) Enjoy!

Posted: January 3, 2015 01:22:04 PM PST

Cee from burnaby writes:

Went up today, snow is sparse until about half way up but we still managed fine without our snowshoes (which we carried just in case) Trail is well packed but I do suggest cramp-ons and good hiking boots with additional yaktrax or other crampons.

Posted: January 3, 2015 01:17:55 PM PST

Stephanie from Vancouver writes:

Anybody been up snowshoeing as of late? Wondering what the conditions are like.

Thanks!

Posted: December 30, 2014 10:06:11 AM PST

Simon from Burnaby writes:

Hiked this trail Aug 17.
View is quite good,but not spectacular.
Most of this trail is lined up with blueberry bushes, which are ripe early this year (I guess the weather is hotter than usual),which means more bear sightings. I saw bears both on the way up and down.
So..... be prepared to meet them!!
espeically if you hike alone.

Posted: August 20, 2014 04:25:35 PM PST

Michelle from White Rock writes:

Amazing views at the top, but this was a very easy intermediate trail.

We did the hike yesterday, and the trail was quite muddy. We ran into a bit of snow just off the trail near the top, so make sure to wear good shoes (ie waterproof shoes).

Lots of bugs on the trail.

Posted: July 2, 2014 10:39:15 AM PST

Josh from Langley writes:

I was very unimpressed with this trail. There are a lot of good options up cypress, which make it so I will never do this again.

We went up June 30th and there was mud everywhere. I mean everywhere. If you wear running shoes, this will be their last voyage. Also it might be your natural ankles' last voyage as there was almost no flat spots on the trail. Honestly it seemed the whole trail was one balancing balancing act after another.

The trail was very narrow considering how well used it is because of all the vegetation which is fine but everything about it just seemed to want to piss me off. When you finish a casual uphill that lasts long, let's just throw a steep switchback in right afterwards. I honestly found it to be quite annoying haha.

I know lots of people like this trail but you are doing yourself a disservice vs eagle bluffs. No comparison as per terrain you hike and view from eagle bluffs is the best I have ever come across.

Posted: July 1, 2014 09:20:50 AM PST

bill from north vancouver writes:

I just got back from a satisfying hike on Hollyburn Ridge. Good thing I didn't bring your map , I would have gotten lost for certain. There are major trails, even roads missing ( eg Hollyburn Lodge down to point north of final hairpin). Landmarks not labelled ( EG West Lake ). Coloration of trails makes them hard to see. Using verbal hints for nagivation ( eg turn right just past... )turn hikers into mice in a maze. All passages on ground are not clearly marked on map. If you use these maps, bring North Shore Rescue phone number with you.

Posted: June 15, 2014 09:24:06 PM PST

Johann Breyten-Bach from White Rock BC writes:

It was May 10th - the trail was still packed with snow and slushy - slip and slide. Not ready for a summer hike.

A man who lives further up in a cottage came down with spike-shoes and ski sticks.
It looked more comfortable and steady than then our hiking boots,
He mentioned that mid to end of June all the snow should be gone.

As a family, we will re-visit later and appreciate and enjoy God's beautiful creation. Highly recommended from what we've seen.
Make sure to get the map out to find the starting point - very little signs.

Posted: May 10, 2014 05:36:49 PM PST

Richard from Vancouver writes:

Just came back from the peak of Hollyburn Mountain in average time. It was amazing up there and damn chilly! Super icy and some rocks and tree roots were showing, I used my crampons which I was so thankful for. Also saw other people wearing crampons.

Posted: February 4, 2014 07:23:04 PM PST

Amanda from Vancouver writes:

Also curious as to the snow conditions and if it is worth snowshoeing this weekend?

Posted: January 31, 2014 02:56:34 PM PST

Todd from Vancouver writes:

Has anyone been snowshoeing on Hollyburn lately? I'm curious as to the snow conditions.

Posted: January 18, 2014 01:27:03 PM PST

Lucienne from Yvr writes:

With all the snow last week..... What are the snow shoe conditions on hollyburn like?

Posted: January 16, 2014 08:17:43 PM PST

Don from North Vancouver writes:

From what I hear, conditions are not good on the local mountains. Some friends went up Hollyburn the other day and said it was really icy and tree roots were showing in some places. They didn't enjoy it.

Posted: January 2, 2014 06:29:35 PM PST

James from Happy Valley-Goose Bay writes:

Does anyone know what the conditions are like on the trails? Cross-country skiing is closed and snowshoeing is limited to only the lower trails for the rest of the mountain, so I was wondering what this trail would be like right now?

Posted: January 2, 2014 06:05:41 PM PST

Erin from Vancouver writes:

Great day on the 14th of September. Above the fog and mist in Vancouver. Lots of momma and baby bears in meadows up from Cross Country parking lot, some quite close to or on the trail. Some clapping and loud talking moved them off.

Posted: September 15, 2013 06:55:23 PM PST

Matt from Vancouver writes:

Went up on Sunday July 28th, and there were a lot of bugs. A LOT of bugs. Flying around your face constantly. Be prepared for it, have your ears covered.

The trail is free of snow.

Posted: July 29, 2013 10:53:39 PM PST

PJ from Vancouver writes:

Jack - I'd be surprised if there is much snow on the trail at this point. Considering that the trail to Black Mountain (also on Cypress) was almost completely free of snow 2 weeks ago, by now Hollyburn should be fine. You might have some trouble with the creeks due to all the melting snow, but I can't imagine it would cause too much difficulty.

Posted: July 24, 2013 11:39:27 AM PST

Jack from Vancouver writes:

We are planning to hike Hollyburn mountain on 26th July and wondered about the snow conditions on the trail.

Posted: July 10, 2013 10:53:16 AM PST

James from Vancouver writes:

I went there for the first time this morning. There was still snow even at the base. We aren't experienced and wasn't expecting snow, so we gave up the trail after a slippery first hill.

Posted: June 16, 2013 08:31:47 PM PST

Ryan from Vancouver writes:

Does anyone know what the conditions are like right now at the top?

Posted: May 20, 2013 07:56:07 PM PST

Ashley from Vancouver writes:

Does anyone know how the conditions are right now

Posted: April 30, 2013 03:02:29 AM PST

Dave from N. Delta writes:

Missing: Wind breaker and hoodie. It's a MEC wind breaker, red, size large. And the hoodie is dark green and blue with a sipper.

I was hiking on Hollyburn Mountain Oct. 7th and I left them up there. Other than that it was a wonderful hike, we made it up early in the morning and had a great, clear 360 deg view.

Posted: October 11, 2012 09:57:29 PM PST

Susan from Burnaby writes:

Hiked this today (Sept 22) and it was great! Easy to find (there's a sign on the road for cross country ski area) and trail was well marked (though you don't see a sign for Hollyburn Mtn until you've hiked a bit). We are not in great shape and took 1hr40min to climb and 1hr20min coming back. There was a very friendly black dog at the top with no owner. We took him down the mountain with us as at the time we were the only ones at the top. The dog knew his way down and kept waiting for us to catch-up. All we wish is that he found his way home at the parking lot. He had a collar and a tag that said don't feed me and tell me to go home! We hope he listened to us!

Posted: September 22, 2012 06:34:08 PM PST

CAROLYN from Richmond Hill writes:

Sooo we tried to hike this trail today but didn't get very far. Approaching the meadows, the trail is lined with berries right now and we came within about 20 feet of something very large moving in the bushes. Probably not the best idea to do this hike when bears are trying to load up for the winter! We got spooked enough to turn around because we didn't have bear spray with us.

I would avoid this hike until sometime in October when the berries are all gone.

Happy trails!

Posted: September 17, 2012 04:58:55 PM PST

Pete from Vancouver writes:

Pretty hike that only really gets difficult at the very end (although the trudge up the gravel slope at the beginning is somewhat taxing). After the first 3/4 of the hike you might be wondering why it gets an 'Intermediate' rating, but the last 1/4 is challenging enough to make the rating accurate. All in all, I wouldn't call this a great hike by North Shore standards. I find Mount Seymour to be definitely nicer, and even Black Mountain is just as pretty, with the side benefit of swimming in Cabin Lake. Maybe it's because I got there in late summer when all the creeks were dried up, but I wasn't blown away by Hollyburn. Still worth a trip, though. Quite a few berries to be had along the way as of Sept. 15, and some voracious (in a fun way) Stellar Jays and Pikas at the top.

Posted: September 17, 2012 10:07:58 AM PST

Gustavo from Venezuela writes:

we hiked hollyburn today. It was the best walk in the mountains i've had in my life. I would like to let locals to know the wonders they have in this country. There's nothing like this in the world. Trail was totally covered by fog and it made the experience even better. perfect for kids too.

Posted: August 19, 2012 09:20:54 PM PST

Al M from Burnaby writes:

I did Hollyburn today. It only took me an hour and ten minutes. I was really surprised at how short it was. I reached the top and thought: "is this it?" So I decided to do Cypress afterwards. Cypress took me about the same time. The view up on Cypress is amazing. The hike up to Hollyburn is a lot nicer though.

Posted: August 13, 2012 10:50:24 AM PST

Will from Vancouver writes:

Hiked Hollyburn trail today, such a great hiking trail but too bad it was totally ruined by an obscene amount of mosquitoes. They don't bite you or anything but they are annoying as hell, crashing into your eyes, ears, nostrils, you name it.

Posted: July 28, 2012 05:47:32 PM PST

Bruce from North Vancouver writes:

Hiked Hollyburn today, all the snow has melted away. Tons mosquitoes though..have fun!

Posted: July 28, 2012 05:33:19 PM PST

Andrea from Vancouver writes:

Any trail condition updates? I am planning on doing this hike on Saturday (July 18th) and I am wondering how much snow has melted in the last week and half of gorgeous sunshine we've had. Thanks!

Posted: July 18, 2012 11:32:16 AM PST

Nick from Vancouver writes:

Yes, the top of the mountain does have a lot of snow. I would say the snow starts 15 minutes into the hike and doesn't let up until you reach the top.

I went with a buddy on Sunday (July 8) and it was relatively difficult. Mind you, I was wearing hiking shoes that had holes in them and my feet were completely soaked!

The views at the top are absolutely stunning though. Coming down drove me nuts because of the snow. I would only do the hike again if I had better footwear and if it wasn't so snow covered. Once again though, great great views.

Posted: July 10, 2012 06:36:43 PM PST

Ellen from Vancouver writes:

I am planning going to hike on the mountain on July 14.I want to know the top still has snow? Please tell me.

Posted: July 8, 2012 10:26:31 PM PST

Mark from Burnaby writes:

The trail leading up to the warming hut is clear of snow. The snow line starts immediately after the warming hut and it's fairly deep snow all the way to the peak. I hiked it in hiking shoes, but snowshoes would have made it a lot easier. Lots of signs that bears are in the area.

Posted: June 28, 2012 10:10:16 AM PST

Charles Kaplan from Vancouver writes:

Any info about current trail conditions up there? We're planning to go on Sunday Jun 24.

Posted: June 22, 2012 08:08:24 PM PST

bryan from vancouver writes:

Thinking of doing some of this hike tomorrow. Do I need snowshoes still?

Posted: June 8, 2012 10:36:21 PM PST

Silvia from Port Moody writes:

Any updates about this route now?

Posted: June 3, 2012 09:45:11 PM PST

MG50 from Abb. writes:

Wantng to do this hike tommorow- is this a stepped type path - or a flat path
Switchbacks?
We did eagle bluff a little while ago- we can do the up - but we are slow on the way down!!

Posted: November 4, 2011 10:29:19 AM PST

Miranda from Brantford, Ontario writes:

Did this hike today (Oct 23), leaves on the berry bushes in the meadows were gorgeous! Get out and do this before they all drop!

Posted: October 23, 2011 07:17:25 PM PST

Christine from Vancouver, BC writes:

We did this hike today and overall fairly dry all the way up. There are a couple of muddy spots but nothing you can't get around easily. We finished in about 2.5 hours spending only a couple minutes at the top and probably passed 10 people up and back with a start at 2pm. Fairly buggy as others mentioned, so bring spray if they tend to bother you. Great hike, make sure to stop and look around going up and coming down or you might miss something trying not to trip over all the rocks and roots.

Posted: September 10, 2011 07:14:00 PM PST

Diane from Maple Ridge writes:

Great hike

Posted: September 5, 2011 07:53:38 PM PST

Linda from Surrey writes:

Hike this one today and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was only one patch of snow on the way up and it was easy to cross--the top was bare of snow. There were a few muddy patches along the trail, but not a problem. Lots of flowers still in bloom. Great views from the top and a few spots along the way.

We started out the wrong way and went towards the "Hollyburn Lodge." We eventually realized it was the wrong way, so took a left on a trail that led to Baden Powell. Eventually we hooked up with Hollyburn. We came down the way we were supposed to go up, and were glad that we had made the error at the beginning as it was a much prettier route than the rocky road under the power lines.

Great hike... worth the time and effort.

Posted: August 25, 2011 08:40:24 PM PST

betty from vancouver writes:

Did my very first hike with my sister and friend, and it was kind of challenging at the beginning. Got used to it after a while, we managed to take breaks and once we got to the top, the whole hike up was well worth it! The view is spectacular.

As everyone said, lots and lots of bugs.. bring bug repellent and possibly an extra pair of socks and pants, got very wet and my shoes soaked in mud.

Lots of snow, but it was fun with the challenge.

Will definitely do it again!

Posted: August 19, 2011 04:44:37 PM PST

anish from surrey writes:

Hiked this on Aug 7th. Still a lot of snow, soft and mushy making foothold tricky coming downhill. Sneakers won't cut it as you will find yourself with cold feet.

Lot of bugs on the way. Learned a helpful tip from other hikers..a fresh sheet of Bounce (used in driers) tucked on your shirt keep the bugs away.

Wear good shoes and you will be fine. Views from the top spectacular.

Posted: August 19, 2011 08:37:21 AM PST

Sandy from Surrey writes:

Hiked up this past weekend 06AUG. Great fun Hike. Moderate hike with some steep areas. there was still areas of Snow at the top. Becareful of area in the snow where you think its sturdy but actually a thin layer of snow.

Also bring bug spray for there are alot of bugs, especially if you start hiking a bit early in the morning.

Posted: August 18, 2011 08:44:57 AM PST

Sally from Vancouver writes:

Hiked this trail with some other beginners on July 30. Lots of snow at the top. We tried to follow the trail on my friend's GPS but somehow managed to wander east off the trail and ended up having to climb a very steep snowy area.

We tried to follow the tree markers going up but still managed to lose the path. I think we lost the path at some sort of wide bush area when we chose to follow a marker that seemed to be located on the east side of the bush area. Going up took us 2 hrs, 45 mins, which includes a couple of breaks.

At the top we talked to other hikers who all used a different path. It seems their path was off the actual trail but easier to hike so we used that one heading down. Going down was definitely a lot easier (and safer feeling!) as we weren't making our own tracks. Going down took us just a bit under 2 hours.

Posted: August 9, 2011 04:41:57 PM PST

BC Hiker from Langley writes:

Did this hike on Aug 6th. Wear hiking boots for the snow still present on the top half of hike - This is unfortunately not a running-shoe hiking year. Bugs were thick until the sun burnt through the sea-mist and the wind picked up a bit. Nice little hike though. Great view!

Posted: August 8, 2011 09:40:24 AM PST

Cartier from depends writes:

I skied down Hollyburn last weekend - got 2/3 the way down to the powerlines, had to hop some foliage and take the skis off once.

Posted: August 5, 2011 08:50:03 PM PST

Ashley from Richmond writes:

Hiked to Hollyburn Peak yesterday (July 24, 2011) and despite the mass amount of snow it was a wonderful time. Snow starts around the warming hut at the top of the Powerline trail and is continuous to the peak (still over 2m high). Found it easier to take the crosscountry ski route up rather than mess with the melty/snow and mud in the trees. The snow is slushy but easy to walk on with no postholing...makes for fun butt-sliding on the way down. Will be a few more weeks at least before this one is snow-free.

Posted: July 25, 2011 02:56:04 PM PST

Liz from Vancouver writes:

Can someone update me on the trail conditions for Hollyburn Mtn and Lower Hollyburn please?

Posted: July 12, 2011 04:32:48 PM PST

Deanna Schick from Cloverdale writes:

My brother and I hiked to the Peak yesterday. Although we didn't check the snow report and were a bit surprised by how much snow was still there (about 2m), we had a great time. We had even left the yak trax and trekking poles in the car and didn't feel like turning back. It took about 3 hours to get the top because of the snowy slog, but it was worth every step! The view was unbelievable... from Gibsons to Victoria and Birch Bay, all the way to Abbotsford and Mission. We could look across (and down) on Grouse and chuckle at the big cloud raining on them. Pristine views of the city where we could even pick out streets with ease (not even using binoculars!). AND -then we snow ran down the steep parts and that was an absolute blast. We were giggling like schoolkids!!

HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended!

Posted: June 24, 2011 04:36:06 AM PST

Mel B from BC writes:

Beautiful hike! Actually nicer if you start at the main parking lot for Cypress ski hill and take the Baden Powell Trail until it meets the Hollyburn Mountain Trail. We went this way because we didn't turn off at the road for the cross-country trails parking lot. When it states "Follow the road uphill through the hairpin turns and past viewpoints of the city until you reach a junction."...there is no junction, it's just a road on the right that is shortly before the main parking lot for the mountain.

Posted: September 28, 2010 09:31:20 PM PST

Petra from Vancouver writes:

Hiked Hollyburn today Aug 14. Trail is dry, no snow or muddy patches. Great hike for half a day.

Posted: August 14, 2010 06:23:33 PM PST

Yuriy from Vancouver writes:

July 27 - the trail is dry, just 2 or 3 muddy and snowy patches. Pretty easy trail, some steep areas here and there but nothing to worry about. The view from the top turned out to be not as spectacular as expected. Lions looks gorgeous but Vancouver area and Strait of Georgia are wrapped into a polluted air. We haven't had a rain for a while so I should have anticipated it.

Will do the hike again under different weather conditions.

Posted: July 27, 2010 08:22:12 PM PST

Adrian from Vancouver writes:

Hike was very fun, quite wet along Baden Powell with occasional snow.

You reach a clearing after about 20 mins on the hollyburn trail. covered with snow impossible to find trail without prior experience. It's a winter hike from here on in. (July 15, 2010)

But from this point, you can cross the snow heading north and come to a service road that will either take you back down, or up to nothing too spectacular.

Try this one in august, the snow was still melting today.

Posted: July 15, 2010 12:55:12 AM PST

Shannon from Vancouver writes:

May 15, 2010.

Headed up for a hike. There was a lot more snow then I thought there would be. At the peak there was close to a metre of snow...fun hike nonetheless but Mid-May seems a little early for this one.

Posted: May 16, 2010 08:06:45 AM PST

Shan MacLaren-Gilbert from Ladner writes:

I have hiked and skied Hollyburn. My family and I love to Nordic ski in the winter, Christmas Break and at Spring Break.
I have heard the park is closing from Dec. 1st to April. I am interested to know why as I also work in schools where bus loads of students come up to ski in the winter. Why, when it is a public park, is VANOC closing Hollyburn???

Shan

Posted: November 15, 2009 11:17:21 AM PST

Mike from Burnaby writes:

Snowshoed up to the top of Hollyburn Mountain the other day. The day was sunny and clear with great views of the city, and the backcountry, including both Lions peaks. The trail is pretty steep near the top and we found it much easier to slide down on our butts on several occasions rather than walking down.

Posted: February 10, 2009 03:12:32 PM PST

Harjot Kataria from Vancouver writes:

Nice hike but the trails are starting to get really muddy at some points.

Posted: October 11, 2008 05:30:10 PM PST

Mike from Burnaby writes:

Hollyburn Mountain is a nice summer hike that only takes a few hours and isn't too difficult. We got to the parking lot at Cypress around 11am and were back at the car before 3pm. Great view from the top!

Posted: September 3, 2008 03:47:26 PM PST

Ryan from Vancouver writes:

I hiked Hollyburn last week. It was terrific. A great mix of trails and climbs. Do it soon before the summer is over.

Posted: August 20, 2008 12:33:23 PM PST