SAR Cabin Trail

SAR Cabin Trail on Mount Seymour in North Vancouver is a short, quiet out-and-back that feels way more remote than its stats suggest. At just 3.4 km with about 140 m of gain, it’s an easy hike on paper, but the rough, overgrown sections and mud give it a bit more bite than a typical stroll. If you like low-traffic trails and don’t mind getting a bit messy, this one’s worth a look.

The route starts from the busy Mount Seymour Trail, then quickly ducks into much quieter terrain once you hit the SAR Cabin Trail turnoff near the Dinky Peak Loop. The path rolls gently through the forest, passing small lakes and boggy sections before popping out at the simple SAR cabin with a decent view toward Dinky Peak and a slice of the city on a clear day. It’s also used as a quick way toward Suicide Bluffs, so you may see a few folks connecting routes, but most of the time it feels very empty and isolated.

Recent hikers report the SAR Cabin Trail as severely overgrown in spots, with thigh-high brush, deep mud, and lots of puddles, so long pants and gaiters are smart, and expect your boots to get tested. In winter and spring, snow can be very deep and soft, and snowshoes are strongly recommended; this is considered backcountry terrain and can be confusing when buried, with minimal marking. The trailhead can be hard to spot, access is sometimes blocked or seasonally restricted, and conditions swing from slushy to buggy, so check Mount Seymour updates, bring a map, and treat this as a quiet, slightly rough side mission rather than a groomed tourist trail.