Hollyburn Peak

Cypress Provincial Park is approximately 10 minutes drive from home and is one of the big ski resorts during Winter months. Spring, Summer & Autumn it's a great destination for hiking, wildlife watching and so on.

I decided to take a hike to Hollyburn Peak within Cypress Prov. Park as it was a quick enough return walk that I could still hold an open-house during the afternoon and with the good weather I was promised some nice views from the top.

Driving up Cypress Road I was worried that we would be engulfed in cloud as we entered mist about halfway up. However, we soon pushed through the cloud level and by the time we entered the Nordic Ski parking lot we were well above it.

Here you can see the ski runs carved out of the forested mountainside across on the alpine ski area slopes


This is the view South along Powerline Trail where the cloud hangs in the bay but we were enjoying clear sunshine above it.

Soon we turned off Powerline Trail into the woods. Unlike the woods close to home these are alpine woods so the trees are smaller and there are greater clearings

These wide trails are for hiking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.

There was lots of wildlife in the forest areas, we came across this pair of gray jays.

The first of several pristine alpine lakes

Then we met a quite brave sooty grouse (thanks Mum & Dad for managing to find out what it was !). It waddled along the trail for some way before Charlie eventually gave in to temptation and chased it off



Ahead was our destination, Hollyburn Mountain.

Views on Cypress as we walked initially up the Baden Powell trail and then onto the Hollyburn Mountain Trail.


'Is this bridge safe ?' Charlie's always game to test them for us.

Charlie admiring the view

Views from a lookout, probably about 3/4 of the way up Hollyburn.

Another alpine lake

More mountain views

This lake was high enough that it was still frozen

View over the alpine meadow, so beautiful with the lakes and creeks.


Then we were treated to a view West across Howe Sound and Bowen Island to the Sunshine Coast beyond.

Another ski run with the chalet below

These next few images are views of the surrounding mountains from Hollyburn Peak.





On our way down we followed the Hollyburn Mountain Trail but then took a diversion along more of the Powerline Trail to take a more direct route back. This brought us past yet another peaceful lake.

Now, if dirty paws are a sign of a good walk.......this one was definately OK !

Washing off in our last lake



Then drying off in the sun.

Finally, we head back down the last stretch of Powerline Trail and the carpark comes into sight.

Cypress Provincial Park is an excellent location for walking, close to home with great views. We shall certainly return both for snoeshowing this winter (now that snow has arrived since our walk a week ago) and more summer walks next year.