• Difficulty Difficult
  • Time 7 hours
  • Round-Trip 9.8km
  • Elevation Gain 385 meters
  • Season July - October
  • Camping No
  • From Vancouver 30 minutes
  • Public Transit Yes
  • Dog Friendly No

Trail Notice

Crown Mountain and all other backcountry trails in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park are now closed for the season. The trail will re-open in roughly July 2025, or when the snow and conditions allow.

The hike to Crown Mountain behind Grouse Mountain is very difficult but on a clear day, you will be rewarded with incredible views of the Capilano Watershed, the Lions, the city of Vancouver in the distance, and many backcountry coastal mountains. The jagged peak, which resembles a crown, towers above several of the other nearby mountains. What makes this trail so difficult is you have to hike down a very steep trail into Crown Pass before hiking up the steep side of Crown Mountain, then return the same route. The elevation change is therefore misleading compared to other hikes as you have to essentially hike the elevation change twice.

The trail to Crown Mountain is located in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park and is best accessed via the Alpine Trail behind Grouse Mountain by taking the Grouse Mountain Skyride to the top. Ambitious hikers can also take the Grouse Grind, BCMC Trail, or Hanes Valley route but adding these routes onto the Crown Mountain trail will make for a very long, gruelling day.

From the Grouse Mountain Chalet, walk towards the Peak ski run and the area where the Grizzly Bear enclosure is located. Pass the Grizzly Bears on your left and continue onto the gravel towards the ski run. Just to the left of the ski run is a gravel road that takes you into the backcountry behind Grouse. Follow this road as it passes along the mountain and offers a few interesting views.

The wide gravel road abruptly ends and a very rocky trail heads uphill. Follow this trail as it narrows but continues climbing quickly as you pass under, then over a couple of pipes. You want to follow the signs to the Alpine Trail but the signage in this area can be a bit confusing as the Alpine Trail is not mentioned on all signs. Pass the first sign (which only mentions the Ridge Trail and does not mention the Alpine Trail) and continue uphill until you reach a junction with a second sign. Go right at the second sign and follow the Alpine Trail until it reaches a zipline platform. If you reach the zipline, you are on the right trail. Continue along the Alpine Trail by going left as you begin hiking into the backcountry and away from all of the tourists at Grouse Mountain.

The Alpine Trail continues gaining elevation as the well marked trail passes several junctions, include those to Thunderbird Ridge, Dam Mountain, and 2 junctions to Little Goat Mountain. The trail descends slightly to a sign that points to Crown Mountain to the left. Go left onto the Crown Mountain Trail and you immediately emerge from the trees onto a rocky outcrop with a direct view of your destination.

Begin the difficult part of the hike by walking down the trail towards Crown Pass. The next 1km will be the first real test as it descends very steeply, over slippery rocks and through a series of sections that have chains to help you. Be careful as the trail is often muddy and slippery due to being hidden from direct sunlight. Eventually, the trail opens from the forest as you cross a small boulder field. A short distance later and you reach the junction at the bottom of Crown Pass with the Hanes Valley Trail.

Continue hiking past the Hanes Valley Junction as the trail immediately begins to climb steeply over large rooted trees and big rocks used as steps. The next 1.9km to the top is difficult, offering little rest. When you reach a boulder field, look for the yellow spray painted markings on the rocks and follow those across the field where the trail enters the forest on the other side. The trail continues climbing before a brief drop into a dried creek bed, then back to the uphill slog.

Passing through the second boulder field offers the first views that look down towards the Capilano Watershed area. Continue along the trail as you climb up some rocks and the trail eventually reaches a big spray painted dot on the side of the rock. This rock is the final portion to the very peak but it's a bit challenging to climb onto because there is no easy crevice to grab onto. You can either climb up onto the peak by the big dot or follow a small trail to the left and climb up onto the rock around the side. Be very careful on or around the peak as it's a long way down on all sides and slipping and falling will mean serious injury and possibly death.

On a clear sunny day, the views from Crown Mountain are nothing short of spectacular. You can see the city of Vancouver in the distance, down into the Hanes Valley, down towards the Capilano watershed, over to the mountains near Cypress, the Lions, and well into the backcountry, including mountains as far north as Squamish.

Make sure to leave yourself plenty of time to return to Grouse Mountain as the trail is just as difficult returning. Carefully hike back down the steep rocks and descend back towards Crown Pass. Pass the junction with Hanes Valley and begin climbing out of Crown Pass. Often at the end of the day, you will encounter tired hikers who have made their way up the steep Hanes Valley route. Just before the Alpine Trail on the rocky outcrop, take the opportunity to look back at Crown Mountain to see where you had been and marvel in the hard work it took to reach its peak.

Return to Grouse Mountain by going right on the Alpine Trail and staying on the trail as you pass the other junctions. At the zipline platform, go right and follow the trail downhill until it meets with the access road. Walk back down the road towards the grizzly bear enclosure before returning to the Grouse Mountain Skyride.


The difficult Crown Mountain hike from Grouse Mountain, including views and the discovery of a geocache.



How to get to Crown Mountain

Estimated Driving Time from Vancouver
30 minutes

From Downtown Vancouver via the Lions Gate Bridge

Drive to downtown Vancouver and make your way to Georgia Street. Head westbound on Georgia as it turns into the Stanley Park Causeway. Cross the Lions Gate Bridge and take the first exit to the right for North Vancouver. Immediately, change lanes to one of the left two lanes so that you can turn left at the first traffic lights onto Capilano Road. After making the turn, follow Capilano Road north as it passes the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Cleveland Dam, before climbing uphill to the end where the Grouse Mountain Skyride is located.

From East of Vancouver via the Second Narrows Bridge

Drive to Highway #1 and head westbound, crossing the Second Narrows Bridge into North Vancouver. Stay on the highway for 10-15 minutes until you reach Exit #14 Capilano Road. Immediately after existing the highway, stay to the right, then turn right onto Capilano Road. Drive north on Capilano Road as it passes the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Cleveland Dam, and heads uphill to the end of the road where the Grouse Mountain Skyride is located.

View a map of Driving directions to Crown Mountain.

Transit Access to Crown Mountain

Crown Mountain is best accessed from the top of Grouse Mountain by taking the Skyride to the top. To take public transit from downtown Vancouver, take the Seabus from Waterfront Station across the harbour to Lonsdale Quay. When you exit the Seabus Terminal in North Vancouver, take bus #236 Grouse Mountain. The bus has several stops throughout North Vancouver but its final one will be at the base of Grouse Mountain.

There is also a free shuttle service in the summer months run by Grouse Mountain that travels from Canada Place to the base of the mountain. Taking this shuttle would be much quicker than public transit. Call Grouse Mountain to check when it's in operation.

Traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō) and šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ (Musqueam).
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Additional Info

Camping at Crown Mountain

Camping is not permitted at Crown Mountain.

Dogs at Crown Mountain

No dogs are allowed on the Grouse Mountain Skyride.

Technically, dogs are allowed in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park but the hike from the city via Hanes Valley or other routes would be extremely strenuous for a dog.

Toilets at Crown Mountain

There are bathrooms located at the Grouse Mountain Chalet and across from the grizzley bear enclosure along the paved path. There are no toilets along the alpine trail or the trail to Crown Mountain.

Dogs, Toilets and Camping

Although we try to keep information as current as possible, www.vancouvertrails.com makes no warranty or representation as to the availability, quality, fitness for purpose, conditions or accuracy of the information provided with respect to this trail or trails. The information provided herein is further subject to our Terms of Use.