How To Hike The Bowen Lookout Trail On Cypress Mountain?

Bowen Lookout is my goto as soon as I merely need a transient, simple hike near Vancouver with a incredible view. This hike may very well be carried out in an hour (nonetheless seemingly further since you’ll want t to profit from the view) and is the wonderful place to have a look at the sunset near Vancouver.

Whereas it’s principally carried out as an addition to each the St Mark’s Summit hike or Mt Strachan, it’s positively worthwhile doing as a hike by itself. You may additionally do a Bowen Lookout snowshoe hike inside the winter.

No day transfer wished for Cypress.

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Cypress Mountain Bowen Lookout hike

The Bowen Lookout path is a simple, transient hike with excellent views. As a result of the title suggests, this Cypress Mountain lookout viewpoint appears to be out on to Bowen Island.

Nonetheless, you might as nicely see Vancouver Island, The Sunshine Coast, Anvil and Gambier Islands.

Usually carried out as a further stop off on one of the simplest ways to St Mark’s Summit, Bowen Lookout is correctly worthy of being the holiday spot too!

Strategies to get to Bowen Lookout

The Bowen Lookout trailhead goes from the Cypress Bowl downhill ski house. You can park for gratis inside the greater car park. Nevertheless, if there’s any chance you’ll be out earlier 8 pm then you definately definately’ll have to make sure you park sooner than the gates to steer clear of your car being locked in.

From downtown Vancouver, head over Lions Gate Bridge and adjust to indicators to Whistler to hitch Freeway 99 headed north. Then, take indicators to Cypress Ski Area.

The trailhead is about half-hour away from Vancouver, counting on website guests.

Know sooner than you go

• Always observe go away no trace ethics. Undecided what these are? Get a refresher right here.
• Just because it’s spring inside the metropolis, there’s normally nonetheless snow inside the native mountains until July.
• Carry bear spray with you on all BC mountaineering trails. Get further bear safety strategies proper right here!
• Questioning what to pack for Vancouver day hikes? Proper right here’s a mountaineering packing itemizing!
• Refresh your memory about mountaineering safety with BC Journey Good.
• Don’t go away residence with out your 10 requirements. They could save your life!
• Canine are allowed on a leash.
• This map from MEC is good for North Shore mountaineering and Cypress mountain trails.

Bowen Lookout path

Starting on the automobile parking space for Cypress ski resort, head within the path of the ski house with the first lodge in your lefthand aspect until you attain the Cypress Provincial Park signboard and map. On the bottom of the Lions Particular Quad Chairlift, there’s a path marker heading into the forest signposted ‘Howe Sound Crest Path’. Observe this route into the woods.

In a short while, you’ll arrive at a small junction. Proper right here, you probably can proceed straight, following indicators for Bowen Lookout moderately than Howe Sound Crest Path for a further scenic hike. Or, take the Howe Sound Crest Path path.

You’ll end up within the equivalent place.

You’ll then uncover the Eagle Particular Quad Chair in your left, nonetheless keep going straight into the meadow and within the path of Yew Lake. Then, make a correct on the junction marked for Bowen Lookout.

After a short, small climb inside the forest, make a left on the sign for Bowen Lookout after which left as soon as extra while you attain the gravel freeway.

That’s the place you’ll come to for those who occur to didn’t take the Yew Lake path route.

The freeway is flat and in addition you’ll cross over a small bridge sooner than beginning to climb uphill over a set of switchbacks. The switchbacks get progressively steeper nonetheless there’s solely about 5 of them to type out.

The ultimate of the switchbacks is the steepest, as you not distant, look out for a sign pointing downhill to Bowen Lookout.

Plenty of hundred metres down this path you’ll come out to Bowen Lookout and the beautiful views!

To return, retrace your steps to the automobile parking space.

Remember: DO NOT feed the birds. There are lots of Whisky Jacks and Blue Jays (moreover chipmunks), that’ll come and try to get any snacks you’ve acquired – Do not feed them.

Bowen Lookout hike statistics

Know the essential hike particulars for the Bowen Lookout path/Cypress Mountain viewpoint.

• Concern: Easy
• Distance: 5km
• Elevation: 100m
• Time: 1-2 hours

Bowen Lookout snowshoe path

The one issue greater than mountaineering to Bowen Lookout in Summer time season is mountaineering to Bowen Lookout in winter after a recent snowfall. When the Cypress Mountain ski resort is open you’ll need to get a free backcountry transfer tag.

You’ll get this from the backcountry hut which is within the path of the once more of the first/greater automobile parking space on the Cypress Mountain downhill house.

The snowshoe path to Bowen Lookout follows numerous the equivalent route nonetheless the beginning line is barely completely totally different. Head within the path of the Eagle Particular Chairlift (the one on the lefthand aspect as you methodology from the automobile parking space), to the snowshoe path house.

Observe the orange-tipped poles until you attain a junction. Take the trail to the suitable alongside Yew Lake after which adjust to the directions above. The trail is correctly marked out in winter.

Snowshoe leases at Cypress Mountain

Whereas the Hollyburn Nordic ski house does present snowshoe leases, you’re not permitted to take them out of that house. Attributable to this reality, for those who ought to lease snowshoes for Bowen Lookout, I wish to advocate renting them in Vancouver sooner than heading up the mountain. You can lease the at MEC or at Bees Knees on Burrard and Harwood downtown.

What to pack for Bowen Lookout

Completely different Cypress Mountain hikes

Do you have to’re looking out for various native hikes and additional Cypress mountaineering trails, do that itemizing:

• St Mark’s Summit hike
• Eagle Bluffs
• Hollyburn Peak
• Mt Strachan
• All Vancouver mountaineering trails (along with Squamish & Whistler)

Ultimate Updated on March 9, 2023 by Hannah