Baden Powell Trail: Lynn Canyon to Grouse Mountain Park

The Baden Powell Trail: Lynn Canyon to Grouse Mountain Park is a classic North Vancouver grind that sticks to the forested slopes between Lynn Valley and Grouse. At about 14.6 km out and back with roughly 879 m of gain, it’s rated challenging and usually takes around five and a half hours, but strong hikers often move faster point to point. Expect a real workout, lots of roots and ups and downs, and a route that feels a bit wilder than many city-side trails.

Once you leave Lynn Canyon, the Baden Powell quickly settles into classic North Shore terrain: dense second-growth forest, old growth pockets, mossy logs, and a string of creeks and little waterfalls. There are a few viewpoints that break through the trees, plus chances to spot eagles cruising overhead, but most of the time you’re in the shade, weaving along singletrack with the odd mountain bike crossing. The grade comes in short, punchy climbs rather than one huge slog, so you’re almost always either going up or down.

Right now the Baden Powell from Lynn Canyon to near Grouse Mountain Park is mostly snow-free, with only a brief patch of wet snow reported higher up and some muddy sections around the creeks. The biggest challenge is navigation and maintenance around Skyline Drive, Mackay Creek, and the Grouse Mountain end, where the trail is not maintained, has treefall, and markers can be easy to miss, so many locals switch to the nearby powerline trail to finish. Plan for daylight only, watch the orange diamonds carefully, expect your shoes to get dirty, and remember that while dogs are allowed along this North Vancouver section, some areas typically require leashes and the Lynn Canyon bridge access has had intermittent closures, so check current access before you go.