Black Mountain Loop
49°24′ N 123°12′ WCypress and Black MountainSeasonal
Black Mountain Loop suits hikers who want subalpine lakes and Black Mountain's South Summit on a short outing from the Cypress ski area in West Vancouver, and BC Parks gives the loop as 2.5 km and just over 90 minutes. The steep switchbacks up to the Black Mountain Plateau come first and hold most of the climbing.
Photo footloosiety · Flickr · CC BY 2.0
The trail starts near the bottom of the Eagle Express chairlift and about 200 m northwest of the BC Parks kiosk outside Cypress Creek Lodge. From there it follows the Baden-Powell Trail up a series of steep switchbacks to the Black Mountain Plateau, and most of the climbing happens on that stretch. The loop then wanders past subalpine lakes and over the South Summit. BC Parks' figures for the loop include side trips to the Yew Lake viewpoint and the Vancouver lookout.
BC Parks lists Cabin Lake, both summits, Sam and Theagill Lakes and Eagle Bluffs among the destinations on this route. Eagle Bluffs can also be reached from Horseshoe Bay on the Baden-Powell Trail, and BC Parks strongly discourages winter travel there.
The plateau turns into winter backcountry from 1 November to 31 May. BC Parks routes everyone through the backcountry access corridor, and each person picks up a free tag in the Brown Bag Room of Black Mountain Lodge. North Van Guide covers that season on its Black Mountain and Bowen Lookout backcountry page.
Worth knowing
- Mountain biking is prohibited on Black Mountain Loop, and dogs must stay on a leash at all times (BC Parks).
- Camping is prohibited on the Black Mountain Plateau, and campfires are banned in Cypress Park all year (BC Parks).
- The washrooms are inside Black Mountain Lodge and Cypress Creek Lodge.
- BC Parks and North Shore Rescue both ask you to carry the 10 essentials and leave a trip plan. Bears are common in Cypress Park, so bring bear spray. Feeding or attracting dangerous wildlife is an offence under section 33.1 of BC's Wildlife Act.
Quick answers about Black Mountain Loop
How long is Black Mountain Loop at Cypress?
BC Parks gives Black Mountain Loop as 2.5 km and just over 90 minutes with 100 m of elevation change, counting side trips to the Yew Lake viewpoint and the Vancouver lookout.
Can you bring a dog on Black Mountain Loop?
Yes, on a leash. BC Parks requires dogs on Black Mountain Loop to stay leashed at all times, and it calls Cypress Park's backcountry unsuitable for pets.
Can you hike Black Mountain Loop in winter?
Only as a winter backcountry trip. From 1 November to 31 May BC Parks treats the route as backcountry that crosses avalanche terrain, open 7 am to 10 pm with a free access tag from the Brown Bag Room in Black Mountain Lodge.
How hard is Black Mountain Loop?
No land manager publishes a rating for Black Mountain Loop.
Where is Black Mountain Loop?
Black Mountain Loop is on Cypress and Black Mountain.
Is Black Mountain Loop open all year?
Black Mountain Loop opens for part of the year. From 1 November to 31 May, BC Parks sends winter visitors to Black Mountain through its backcountry access corridor with a free tag from the Brown Bag Room in Black Mountain Lodge. It says the winter route crosses avalanche terrain, and the Black Mountain Plateau winter trail opens only from 7 am to 10 pm.
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