Hat Mountain and Fat Ass Peak Loop

Hat Mountain and Fat Ass Peak Loop is a serious grind above Lions Bay, often mislabeled as a Squamish hike but actually starting near Magnesia Creek / Sunset Drive, just north of Horseshoe Bay. At 19.5 km with about 1,693 m of climbing and a top elevation around 1,645 m, this loop is very difficult and feels every bit of it. Strong hikers can sometimes finish in around 5 hours 45 minutes, but most people will want more time and an early start.

The route usually begins on the Tunnel Bluffs / Hat Mountain side, then works up through steep forest, roots, and rock to reach the open viewpoints on Hat Mountain and Fat Ass Peak. Once you gain the ridge, the views open wide over Howe Sound, the Lions, Brunswick, and the Sea to Sky corridor, with some fun scrambly sections and rugged alpine terrain. You’ll link into the Howe Sound Crest Trail for part of the loop before dropping back down via the Brunswick Mountain Trail, which is punishing on tired legs.

Current info matters a lot on the Hat Mountain and Fat Ass Peak Loop: expect route-finding challenges, blowdown, and rough, sometimes overgrown sections, especially early season. Snow can linger well into July at higher elevations, so July to October is the safest window for most hikers, with traction and poles recommended if you’re pushing the shoulders of the season. Do not park at the Tunnel Point lot anymore; it has a 30-minute limit and people are getting towed, so use parking near Magnesia Creek or the Sunset Drive trailhead in Lions Bay and be prepared for a long, committing day out.