Baden Powell Trail: Deep Cove to Mount Seymour Rd

The Baden Powell Trail: Deep Cove to Mount Seymour Rd in North Vancouver is one of the easiest ways to sample this famous North Shore route. It starts right from Deep Cove, climbs past Quarry Rock, then rolls through classic coastal forest to the rather anticlimactic finish at Mount Seymour Road. Most locals treat that road as a turnaround point or use this section as part of a longer Baden Powell mission.

Expect a lot of stairs out of Deep Cove, busy crowds up to Quarry Rock, and then a big drop in traffic once you leave the lookout behind. The trail is well-built, with boardwalks, bridges, and good footing most of the way, and the elevation gain is spread out enough that it feels more like steady cardio than a grind. Views are focused on the Quarry Rock lookout over Indian Arm; beyond that it’s mostly forest walking with that moody North Shore light and a few “fairy-tale” corners under the big trees.

At 7.9 km with about 383 m of gain, this out-and-back is closer to easy-moderate than hard for most hikers, and it usually takes around 2.5 to 3 hours. The end at Mount Seymour Rd is a bit of a letdown, so many people either turn around at Quarry Rock or link this into a loop using nearby trails like Old Buck. Expect mud, wet roots, and slick sections after rain, plus very busy parking and crowds in Deep Cove, especially March to October when parking is paid; shoulder seasons, early mornings, and midweek visits are your best bet for a calmer day.