Baden-Powell Trail: Horseshoe Bay - Deep Cove

The Baden-Powell Trail from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove is the classic North Shore sufferfest, not a casual stroll on Bowen Island. This 43.6 km point-to-point route links West Vancouver to North Vancouver with around 2,425 m of climbing and a high point near 1,190 m. It’s an extreme, all-day mission that beats up even strong trail runners and is better thought of as an ultra-style effort than a normal hike.

On the ground, the Baden-Powell feels like a long, rough forest traverse with a few standout viewpoints breaking up endless roots and rocks. The grind up from Horseshoe Bay toward Eagle Bluffs is brutally steep but rewards you with big views over Howe Sound before dropping you back into the trees. After Cypress, Grouse, and Lynn Valley, much of the day is “tree-locked” singletrack, with some neighborhood road walking around Cleveland Dam and near Deep Cove, plus sections that can be easy to lose if you’re tired or moving fast.

Right now, expect detours and closures, especially around Brothers Creek, Lynn Suspension Bridge, and the Seymour River crossing, which can add distance and confusion, so check current North Shore trail updates before you go. People are seeing 50 km on their watches, so don’t bank on the posted distance, and bring far more water and calories than you think you’ll need. Trail runners usually start around 6 am, often finishing 10–12 hours later, and many bail to Seymour Road or neighborhood streets if it gets dark. Best season is roughly May to November, with lingering snow around Cypress early in the year; trail runners can usually manage without spikes by early summer.