Dewdney Grind and Norrish FSR Loop

Dewdney Grind and Norrish FSR Loop is a tough leg-burner tucked above Mission, BC, mixing steep singletrack with logging road grind. At about 9.8 km with 637 m of gain, it’s a solid half-day effort that feels longer than the stats suggest. Expect a quieter trail than the popular Mission hikes and a good fitness test rather than a casual stroll.

The route starts off Norrish Forest Service Road and climbs the Dewdney Grind South trail, quickly gaining elevation through the trees with a few chances to catch your breath near Sally Creek. You’ll cross the creek a couple of times and can tack on a side trip to Sally Creek Viewpoint for a bit more distance and a look over the valley and surrounding hills. The rest of the loop follows FSR, which some hikers find boring, but it does offer open stretches, changing views, and an easy-on-the-brain descent.

Recent hikers report an important issue: if you start Dewdney Grind and Norrish FSR Loop from the road “finish” side, the upper section that should close the loop is overgrown and basically gone for the last kilometre. That means you’ll likely need to turn it into an out-and-back and plan closer to 4.5 hours instead of the posted average. Bring a GPS track, expect active and deactivated logging spurs, and be ready for loose gravel on the FSR, with the trail usually best from late spring through fall when snow is gone and the road is fully drivable.