Mount Seymour and Mount Elsay Loop

Mount Seymour and Mount Elsay Loop in North Vancouver is a serious day out, not a casual stroll. This 13.5 km loop (many hikers’ watches are clocking it closer to 18 km) packs in about 1274 m of gain and tops out around 1441 m, so expect steep climbs, scrambly sections, and a full-body workout that usually takes 7 hours with breaks.

The loop leaves from the Mount Seymour ski area and quickly gives you classic North Shore terrain: roots, rocks, and rugged ridgelines. Views open up around Pump Peak and Mount Seymour with big looks over Indian Arm, the city, and the Coast Mountains, then the route out toward Mount Elsay feels wilder, with boulder fields, short scrambles, and sections where you actually have to pay attention to flagging and route lines.

Recent hikers report that the Mount Seymour and Mount Elsay Loop can feel longer and tougher than the stats suggest, with bushwhacking and trail-finding between Mount Elsay and the climb back toward Pump Peak. Many locals prefer doing the loop clockwise to descend the big boulder field rather than grind up it in the heat, while others like counterclockwise to keep the main scramble as an ascent. Expect bugs in summer, possible bear sightings near the boulders, and lingering snow or mud well into the season; check Mount Seymour’s updates, bring plenty of water and layers, and treat this as a very difficult alpine-style hike best from late spring to fall in solid conditions.