Seed and Pinecone Peak

Seed and Pinecone Peak is one of the big, committing objectives in the Squamish backcountry, and it feels every bit of its stats: about 24.9 km return, 2340 m of gain, topping out just over 2000 m. This is rated extreme for good reason, but the payoff is huge alpine terrain, long ridgelines, and serious Coast Mountains views with hardly anyone else around. If you’re looking for a full-value Squamish epic that goes way beyond the Chief and local classics, this is it.

The out-and-back route from the Marquart FSR pushes you quickly into open country, with a mix of steep forest, rocky sections, and rolling high ridges that keep teasing you with new angles on the surrounding peaks. Expect several annoying ups and downs along the ridge, some loose gravel, and light scrambling near Seed Peak where the trail fades and you have to pick your way over boulders. On a clear day, the views stretch deep into Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, with Mount Gillespie and Pinecone Mountain tempting you from the same general approach.

Reaching the Seed and Pinecone Peak trailhead off the Squamish-area FSR network is half the adventure: most recent reports say 2WD can usually get close, but higher clearance or 4x4 helps once you leave the main FSR for E100 and E110, where loose gravel, steep grades, and cross-ditches show up fast. Logging has shifted the start slightly, so look for orange or blue flagging rather than relying blindly on an old GPX line, and check for temporary road closures or industrial work before you go. In summer, bugs can be brutal and the sun exposure is real; in shoulder seasons there can be lingering snow that’s handy for water but makes route-finding trickier, so bring poles, good footwear, lots of bug spray, and be ready to turn around if the weather or visibility turns.