A moderate hike along the water, mostly through forest. Expect about 319 m of climbing; most people take 3–4 hours.
Moderate · 7.6 km one way · +319 m climb · 3–4 hours · Dogs: check local rules
North Shore · ~15 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check District of North Vancouver before you go.
Climb the wooden stairs off Lynn Valley Road onto the Baden Powell Trail. Mountain bike trails cross constantly, so follow the Baden Powell markers and keep generally west. At 1 km cross Mountain Highway, a busy bike route, then follow the trail up through forest beside Thames Creek. You cross Kilmer and Hastings creeks, then a volunteer-built bridge over Abelard Canyon. At about 3.7 km the trail crosses St. George's Trail, with a lookout over the North Shore. Keep on past the Cascades Trail and two big green water tanks to Mosquito Creek at about 4.7 km, where several trails meet. You can bail out here. Otherwise climb the switchbacks west of the creek past Skyline Drive and continue through forest to the Grouse Mountain base area.
Watch for: Mountain bikers on shared trails. Rocky, rooty descents.
Best season: Year-round. Can be muddy in winter.
Highlights:
Getting there by car: Highway 1 exit 19, Lynn Valley Road north about 3 km, straight at Dempsey, left at the Rice Lake fork. Park near the Lynn Headwaters entrance. Leave a second car at Grouse or plan a bus back.
Getting there by transit: Bus 228 or 227 to upper Lynn Valley. From Grouse take bus 236 back to Lonsdale Quay.
Parking: Lynn Headwaters lots at the start. Grouse lots at the end.
Facilities: Water at Mountain Highway crossing. Washrooms at both ends.
With kids: Fit older kids.
Alternatives: Finish at Mosquito Creek for a shorter day, or carry on up the Grind.
Tips: Arrange the car shuttle or bus before you start. Keep the fleur-de-lis Baden Powell markers in sight.
Trailhead location from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Dogs, transit, fees and closures change; check the official page.
Schematic: an illustrative shape drawn from total distance and gain, not a GPS trace. Real ups and downs will differ.
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| Region | North Shore |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Season | Year-round |
| Trailhead | Lynn Valley Road near Lynn Headwaters |
| Parking & transit | Little or no transit; plan to drive. |
| Permits & passes | Check the land manager's page for current fees and passes. |
| Dogs | Check local rules |
| Kid-friendly | Better for older, fit kids or adults |
| Highlights | Lakes & water, Forest |
| Crowds | Not rated yet |
| Managed by | District of North Vancouver |
Mountain bikers on shared trails. Rocky, rooty descents.
Numbers are approximate. Check District of North Vancouver for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 7.6 km (one way) with roughly 319 m of elevation gain. Most people take 3–4 hours. Figures are approximate; check District of North Vancouver before you go.
Rules vary or change here. Check the land manager before bringing a dog.
Check the land manager's page for current fees and passes.
Not easily. Plan to drive or carpool.
See also: Lake hikes · Hikes for January · Hikes for February · Hikes for March · Hikes for April · Hikes for May · Hikes for June · Hikes for July · Hikes for August · Hikes for September · Hikes for October · Hikes for November · Hikes for December · North Shore hikes · Rainy-day hikes · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "Lynn Valley to Grouse Mountain (Baden Powell)." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/lynn-valley-to-grouse/
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Not yet verified against an official source. Figures are approximate; check the park page before you go. · Sources · Cite this page
Hi, I'm Cam Appleton. I love Vancouver and I love getting out on its trails. When I went looking for a simple, easy hiking guide for around here, I couldn't find one I liked. I also really like helping people, so I built this one.
My day job is real estate. I help people buy, sell and lease. I hope you're enjoying the start of Hike Vancouver. If you're thinking about living closer to trails like this one, I'm happy to talk.
Cam Appleton