Three Chop Trail Loop

Three Chop Trail Loop is a solid grind through classic North Vancouver forest, linking Three Chop, Old Buck, and sections of the Baden Powell into a 5.6 km loop with about 387 m of gain. It’s rated moderate and usually takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes, but it feels tougher than the numbers suggest thanks to the steady climb. Think of it as a quieter, shorter, rough-around-the-edges alternative to the Grouse Grind, without the crowds or the views.

The loop starts from Mount Seymour Road and heads into dense, mossy forest, with narrow singletrack weaving between roots, rocks, and a maze of intersecting trails and bike routes. The Three Chop Trail itself is steep and can feel like it goes on forever, but it’s shaded, cool, and lined with fungi, little waterfalls, and that deep-woods quiet you only get on less-used routes. Don’t come here expecting big viewpoints; this one is about the workout, the forest, and linking up to Old Buck and the powerline area rather than scenery.

Recent hikers report that sections of Three Chop are getting overgrown and the route crosses a lot of other trails, so having AllTrails or an offline map is almost mandatory. Francis Creek is the crux: there’s no bridge, and during peak snowmelt it can be too strong to cross, which is why Three Chop Trail Loop is now best treated as a summer hike, usually from June onward. Expect wet, sometimes flooded sections, mixed use with mountain bikers, some rocky patches on the descent, and bring waterproof boots if you don’t like cold feet.