One of the most fairy tale snowy winter hikes we’ve done in Vancouver’s North Shore Mountains is the Pump Peak hike. It’s one of the most scenic hikes in any season, but winter is our favorite time. Pump Peak is also called First Peak, and is followed by the Second and Third Peak of Mount Seymour. However, the last two peaks are for the summer, they’re only safe once the snow melted.
The snow makes the landscape magical, and unexpectedly it also makes the hike a bit easier. With that said there’s a short section along the route which is avalanche terrain, so please check the avalanche ratings before you set off.
Where to start: at the end of Mount Seymour Road
You’re able to drive up to 1010 meters on Mount Seymour, so not much hiking is needed to reach the alpine area, some fantastic views and a popular ski resort. The best parking for Pump Peak – and several other Mount Seymour hikes – is at the end of Mount Seymour Road. It’s a giant parking lot, but winter parking is for the ski resort users, so hikers and snowshoers are required to park on the side of the road, further back from the main parking lots.
The limited number of parking spaces fill up quickly on clear weekends, so arrive early. Also, expect to walk an extra kilometer or two to the northern tip of the parking lot. There you find the trailhead and an information board.
Be aware that winter tires are required on Mount Seymour Road (even though they’re not in most of Metro Vancouver). The road opens at 7 am, and a day pass is required to enter, as well.
Day passes in the winter season: day passes are required for visiting Mount Seymour Provincial Park in winter. You can get more information and your day passes online (here) two days before your visit, starting at 7 am.
Pump Peak hike
Pump Peak hike overview:
- Trailhead: Mount Seymour ski area parking lot
- Elevation gain: 457 m
- Length: 6.9 km return
- Difficulty: medium
- Hiking season: year-round
Right after setting off, you’ll find yourself at a junction: the left turn takes you to Dog Mountain (another easy, though very busy winter hike), the right turn leads to the ski resort (or Mystery Lake in the summer), and you should keep straight to follow the trail towards Mount Seymour. It’s usually a well-worn trail which should be quite obvious to follow even in snowy conditions.
This first section is a steadily ascending forest trail, with the occasional roots and rocks in summers, but they’re blissfully hidden under the snow in winter.
The next junction offers an optional detour to Brockton Point, which could be your first view on the hike. It’s nice, but nothing compared to the panorama that’s ahead, so don’t feel bad if you skip it, especially if the snow is deep and the side path not clearly visible.
After the Brockton Point junction, the trail becomes narrower, and you’ll soon reach the junction with the Elsay Lake trail. Ignore it, just take a note of where you are. Because not much after this junction the trail becomes steeper. It’s quite technical in the summer, but the deep snow helps you again, covering the large roots and loose rocks.
The last stretch of path to the summit of Pump Peak is not straightforward in any season. Actually, you can climb up there on several routes, and you need to find your way. Winter makes it easier, just follow a track if there’s any. The huge amount of snow makes the otherwise rugged terrain smooth. Then you slide down on your bottom on the way back. 🙂
Be prepared for chilly wind at the top, but also for a fantastic panorama! On one side there’s Vancouver and the North Shore under your feet, on the other side there’s an endless number of snowy mountain peaks – you can try to count them, but you’ll give up. It’s a magical snowy wonderland, the British Columbia wilderness in its winter perfection.
Is the Pump Peak hike safe in winter?
Several hikes in the North Shore Mountains are doable in winter, and we enjoyed many of them. The hike to Mount Seymour Peak is recommended only until Pump Peak, the First Peak. Leave Tim Jones Peak and Mount Seymour for the summer.
The Pump Peak trail is an extremely scenic winter hike. But it does pass through some avalanche terrain towards the end. You’ll see warnings for this on the way, so please check the avalanche ratings before heading up so that you can continue safely.
Please, please, always keep in mind that winter hiking is more risky than hiking in the summer and you are responsible for your own safety. I’m eager to give information on the hikes I enjoyed, but please do your own research (weather and avalanche reports) before you go. You should know your own abilities and consider the current weather conditions. If you’re in doubt, turn back.
Do you need snowshoes?
It’s a snowshoeing trail by default. But you can often do it without snowshoes, as well, because of the frequent traffic. I highly recommend microspikes though, because there are quite a few steep sections which get slippery. We did it with microspikes in winter, they were enough and they gave great support on the steeper terrain.
More winter hikes in the North Shore Mountains
Hiking in the snowy North Shore Mountains was one of our greatest joys through the rainy Vancouver winter. Here are some more hikes we liked:
- Dog Mountain Trail, Mount Seymour: 5.6 km return trail, easy and accessible (and very busy!) all year
- Hollyburn Peak, Cypress Mountain: 7 km return, the steep trail is better in the snow than in the summer, and it’s the snow that makes the hike truly spectacular (there are better views to get to in the summer)
- Eagle Bluffs via Black Mountain, Cypress Mountain: 8 km return, BC Parks doesn’t maintain the trail beyond Black Mountain (and discourages people to go), but many people ignore this, and really, there’s limited risk in going beyond the maintained boundary, the trail is usually well packed, because it’s popular
- Bowen Lookout, Cypress Mountain: 4.5 km return, it’s as far as you can safely get in the winter on the way towards St Marks Summit
