Mount Sheer and Mountain Lake Hut

Mount Sheer and Mountain Lake Hut is one of those Squamish-area hikes that actually lives up to the effort. This 13.2 km out-and-back gains about 831 m, but in reality you’ll feel closer to 1,600 m once you factor in the grind up the access road to the real trailhead. It’s rated challenging for good reason and usually takes around five hours, but the payoff at Mountain Lake and the hut makes it a solid objective for strong day hikers or an overnight.

The route to Mount Sheer starts with a long climb on a service road, then transitions into classic Coast Mountains singletrack. Expect steep, sometimes loose sections, narrow sidehill “goat path” bits, and a couple of small boulder fields after you pass the first lake, with views opening up nicely once you break treeline. On clear days you get that big alpine feel around 1,500 m, with Mountain Lake, the surrounding peaks, and the Mountain Lake Hut tucked into the landscape.

Recent hikers report that the AllTrails link for the Mount Sheer and Mountain Lake Hut trailhead is off, so aim for the parking location shared in reviews and be ready to either bike or hike the extra service road distance, which can add roughly 11 km. The trail has been wet and muddy after rain and morning dew, so bring waterproof footwear and trekking poles, and plan extra time for the slick, steep sections. The hut, which you can book through BCMC and sleeps up to eight, makes this a great June–October objective, but shoulder seasons can mean snow higher up, so always check recent Squamish and Furry Creek conditions before committing.