Seymour Dam via Fisherman's Trail and Spur 4

Seymour Dam via Fisherman’s Trail and Spur 4 in North Vancouver is a long, steady grind that feels more like an all-day mission than a casual stroll. The route is about 33.6 km out and back with roughly 600 m of gain, but the grades are gentle and spread out, so it’s more about distance than steep climbing. Most locals treat this as a gravel bike ride rather than a hike, using it as a car-free way to reach the Seymour Dam viewpoint without the pavement of the Seymour Valley Trailway.

The first stretch along Fisherman’s Trail follows the Seymour River on smooth gravel with a few rough drain dips and one old washout area where you’ll likely be off the bike or slowing down on foot. Once you hit Spur 4, the route opens into a wide gravel road where you can ride or walk side by side, with changing views over the Seymour River, Seymour Marsh, and second-growth forest. Strong walkers sometimes use the lower portion as a long training hike, but most people on this route are on bikes heading for the dam, the marsh, or side trips like Lost Lake.

Right now, Seymour Dam via Fisherman’s Trail and Spur 4 is in good shape for gravel and mountain bikes, with the landslide detour recently improved with fresh gravel, though signs still tell you to dismount. Expect lots of riders, fewer hikers, and watch for weekday work-related closures on parts of Fisherman’s Trail between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., when you may need to walk your bike briefly through a work zone. The trail is generally snow-free for much of the year and can feel hot and dry in summer, so bring extra water, plan for a long out-and-back, and know that most hikers turn around near the Spur 4 bridge rather than committing to the full distance to Seymour Dam.