A moderate hike to a big view, with water along the way. Most people take 5 hours.
Moderate · 11 km round trip · climb not listed · 5 hours · Dogs: check local rules
Not yet verified against an official source. Figures are approximate; check the park page before you go. · Sources · Cite this page
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North Shore · ~40 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check BC Parks (Cypress) before you go.
From Cypress Creek Lodge, follow Yew Lake Trail briefly, turn right on the Howe Sound Crest Trail, cross Pumphouse Rd, climb a rough forest path to a gravel road above the Yew Lake valley and follow it to a foot trail. Past the Bowen Lookout spur (with a first view of the Lions), traverse Mount Strachan's steep flank across Montizambert Creek to a sheltered meadow, then continue toward Strachan Meadows / the Bowl as a turnaround point. Return the same way.
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 | Best July to October |
| Trailhead | Cypress Creek Lodge, Cypress Provincial Park |
| 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, Views, Forest |
| Crowds | Not rated yet |
| Managed by | BC Parks (Cypress) |
Best from July to avoid lingering snow; most climbing is shaded. Steep side-hill sections. Beyond the described turnaround the Crest Trail becomes far more demanding.
Numbers are approximate. Check BC Parks (Cypress) for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 11 km (round trip) with roughly not listed of elevation gain. Most people take 5 hours. Figures are approximate; check BC Parks (Cypress) 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: Hikes with the best views · 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 · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "Howe Sound Crest (to Strachan meadows)." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/howe-sound-crest-strachan/
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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