Hike Details
- Difficulty: 3/6 (Moderate)
- Distance: 11km
- Duration: 5hrs
- Elevation: 450m
- Type: Out & Back
- Exposure: None
- Season: Jul - Oct
- Dogs: Yes (On Leash)
- Camping: No
- Wheelchairs: No
- Public Transport: Yes
- Strollers: No
Description
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St Mark’s Summit offers unbroken views of the Howe Sound from two spectacular viewpoints. These viewpoints are some of the best along the Sea to Sky, with the mountains of the North Shore plunging down into the waters of the Howe Sound below.
St Mark’s Summit forms part of the longer Howe Sound Crest trail.
The trail is well signposted from the Cypress Mountain parking lot. Look for one of the big map boards, before following the usual orange markers.
To explore more spectacular hikes, check out the best hiking trails near Vancouver.
Navigation
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The trail: Some junctions or misleading side-trails. Check your map regularly. Phone signal in BC is not reliable when hiking. Always carry an OFFLINE map. I recommend and use AllTrails+ and Gaia Maps.
Hike Difficulty And Conditions
Much of the trail is wide and well maintained, though the latter stages are more rugged and slightly steeper and involve stepping up and over many branches and uneven ground. Take extra care in wet and slippery conditions.
Camping
- Camping Possible: No
Hiking Season
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Jul - Oct is the recommended season for St Mark's Summit. Outside of this period, the trail is: Full Snow Conditions - Avalanche Training Required
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Stroller Accessible: No
- Dog Friendly: Yes (On Leash)
Location & Access
- Public Transport: Yes
- Public Transport By: Cypress Coach Lines
- From Vancouver: 0.75hr(s)
- Region: The North Shore
- Fire Region: Coastal Fire Centre Info
- Trailhead: 49.39498, -123.20265
- Vehicle Requirement: Any Vehicle
Getting There
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The trail begins at Cypress Mountain Ski Resort, which has plenty of parking. It's always worth arriving early to avoid the crowds. From highway 99 in West Vancouver, take exit 8, signposted Cypress Bowl Road and Cypress Mountain Ski Area. The drive up the mountain is about 15km, takes approximately 15 minutes and passes by a great viewpoint of the city. This is a road to a ski resort, so in winter the road conditions can be very icy and snowy. Near the base of the mountain, there's alos a great cafe that makes a good post hike stop.
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Rent a car, or better still, reduce the demand for cars with Evo Car Share, Vancouver's car sharing network.
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