A hard out-and-back hike to a big view. A real workout, with about 550 m of climbing over 11 km. Plan on 4–5 hours and pack the Ten Essentials. Busy on weekends, so go early.
Challenging · 11 km out-and-back · +450–550 m climb · 4–5 hours · Dogs: on leash
Verified on October 24, 2026 against the official park page: dogs, parking. Other figures are approximate. · Sources · Cite this page
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North Shore · ~30 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check BC Parks (Cypress Provincial Park) before you go.
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 | Challenging |
| Season | Summer and fall |
| Trailhead | Cypress Mountain downhill area lot (Howe Sound Crest Trail) |
| Parking & transit | Little or no transit; plan to drive. |
| Permits & passes | No pass. Free parking year-round in Lot 3B and signed road shoulders; Cypress Resort may charge for other lots Nov 1 to May 31. |
| Dogs | On leash |
| Kid-friendly | Better for older, fit kids or adults |
| Highlights | Views |
| Crowds | Busy, especially weekends |
| Managed by | BC Parks (Cypress Provincial Park) |
Rooty, muddy switchbacks. Do not continue north on the Howe Sound Crest Trail without planning.
Numbers are approximate. Check BC Parks (Cypress Provincial Park) for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 11 km (out-and-back) with roughly 450–550 m of elevation gain. Most people take 4–5 hours. Figures are approximate; check BC Parks (Cypress Provincial Park) before you go.
Yes, on leash.
No pass. Free parking year-round in Lot 3B and signed road shoulders; Cypress Resort may charge for other lots Nov 1 to May 31.
Not easily. Plan to drive or carpool.
See also: Dog-friendly hikes · Hikes with the best views · Hikes for July · Hikes for August · Hikes for September · Hikes for October · North Shore hikes · Dog-friendly hikes · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "St. Mark's Summit." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/st-marks-summit/
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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