Old BCMC Trail Loop

The Old BCMC Trail Loop in North Vancouver is the quieter, rougher cousin to the busy Grouse Grind and new BCMC. At 5.5 km with about 463 m of gain, it’s short on paper but feels like a solid workout, usually taking around two and a half hours. Expect a challenging, more backcountry-style loop with fewer crowds and a bit of old-school North Shore character.

The loop climbs and dips through classic North Vancouver forest, with sections that feel like you’re cutting across the side of the mountain rather than just heading straight up. The BCMC route up is a leg burner, but once you cut onto the Old BCMC Trail the vibe shifts to narrower, more technical singletrack, creek crossings like upper McKay Creek, and the option to poke out toward viewpoints over Cleveland Dam or continue toward Grouse. There are some roots, light scrambling, and one rope-assisted creek bank, though many hikers now use an eroded bypass instead of the rope.

Recent hikers report the Old BCMC Trail Loop as well marked and scenic, but absolutely on the “challenging” side, especially in wet or snowy conditions. Downhill sections can get slick, so microspikes or ice tracks are smart in winter and shoulder seasons, and this isn’t the best choice for a brand-new hiker or very young kids. Most people stick to May through November, but fit locals run it year-round, sometimes extending from Skyline Drive or linking with the new BCMC or Lower Grouse Mountain Highway to tweak distance and avoid parking fees at the Grouse base; note that dogs are not allowed on this route.