Mount Hanover

Mount Hanover in West Vancouver is one of those peaks that looks serious from the highway and feels even more serious under your boots. This 17.4 km out-and-back with roughly 1,893 m of gain is steep, slow, and exposed in places, so it’s firmly in the “extreme” category despite that 5-hour average time you might see online. Expect a big day with real route-finding, scrambling, and a very committing upper section.

The Mount Hanover route usually starts from the Lions Bay area near Brunswick Beach, climbing relentlessly through forest before breaking into more open alpine terrain with big views over Howe Sound, Mount Brunswick, and the Lions. Near the summit, the trail becomes more of a route, with loose rock, steep gullies, and some hands-on scrambling that feels closer to mountaineering than a casual hike. The final approach to the summit ridge is exposed and can be intimidating if you’re not used to airy terrain.

Recent hikers report that the upper gullies can be confusing, and AllTrails often shows the left corridor, which is more of a winter line; in summer, people are using the right corridor where there’s a fixed rope. Without that rope, most say it’s basically impossible to continue safely, so don’t underestimate this section. Snow can linger well into late spring, so crampons, ice axe, and mountaineering boots are smart early in the season, and this is not a good choice in poor weather or low visibility. Aim for a clear day between late June and October, start early from Lions Bay, and treat Mount Hanover as a serious alpine objective, not just another coastal hike.