This is it, the whole enchilada. An overview of the complete Baden-Powell trail, as it extends from Deep Cove to Horeshoe Bay.
Sections of it are commonly hiked for pleasure - including "BP to Mosquitoe Creek" and "BP - St. Georges", as well as the return portion of "Brothers Creek", and, further up on Cypress and Black Mountain. All of which you will find on trailpeak. However, very few people will attempt to do the complete Baden-Powell trail, except those foolish enough to enter the knee-knacker race, which is completed by the winner in the range of 6 hours.
We're putting this out there because not many people have a sense for the complete trail however the GPS data is approximate and not for use in the field. As of Aug 2010, we have also been emailed by a trailpeak user indicating that from Horshoe Bay up to Eagle Bluffs there are two major rock slide areas to traverse that are VERY dangerous. User advises that this section should be avoided.
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ByPosted By: HenryB
- Sun Dec 25 01:41:42 EST 2011
Not Rated
UpsideMostly well marked and maintained except several sections. Challenging in winter. Short scrambling required.
DownsideModerate except rock section to horseshoe bay.
CommentJust finished Horseshoe Bay to Cypress today, group of five. It was an epic hike in heavy rain with snowy moments making it a white Christmas eve. Very happy as its my first time on that section. I'm planning to do the second section from cypress to grouse next week. 6 hours to from Westport rd parking lot to Cypress parking lot. I parked my car at cranley drive and took a short hike to the trailhead after underpass. Pretty mild from trailhead to Whyte Lake and getting stiff as soon as you see the first rocky section. Rocky sections were stable but slippery covered with thin ice - not much snow yet. I lost singage near the rock slide area, which made Eagle Bluff a bit dangerous. Found BP sign on top of it and smooth sailing to Black Mountain and down to Cypress bowl. Absolutely no view during the hike but it's always great hiking northshore rain forest. Can't wait the day i finish entire BP a day.
ByPosted By: shorerapper
- Mon Sep 06 16:49:49 EDT 2010
Not Rated
UpsideWell marked. I have now linked the whole BP Trail together. It took 14 trips!
DownsideSome rock climbing and sharp drop-offs, definitely the toughest part of the entire BP trail.
CommentGeraboldi's notes regarding the rockslides are, in my opinion, somewhat dramatic. If you are the type that worries about earthquakes and the sun burning out at any given time then don't alarm yourself taking this trail. Those rocks have been settled there for decades or longer as witnessed by the moss growing on them. Having said that, there are parts of this trail that were built by Boyscouts on Benzedrine; steep and precipitous. As for the trailhead, visit http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/seatosky/Detailed_Design/West_Vancouver/WVDD_Trails.pdf for choices. The Westport Road parking lot worked for me.
ByPosted By: geraboldi
- Tue Aug 24 20:32:55 EDT 2010
UpsideGreat views at Eagle Bluff
DownsideThe trail is not well marked at the highway just after the under pass. The old trail is right in front of you once you cross under the underpass, while the sign is not in the right place to see and then it points away from the mountain, which does not seem to make sense and would lead many people to take the trail right in front.
CommentThe trail goes over two rock slides and this is a very dangerous situation. With gravity and the weight of the hikers both pushing downwards on the slide it could come down at any time on top of whoever is the unlucky one. To me this is not an acceptable risk for anyone to take and the trail should either be altered at those points or taken down completely. ...Once I got to Eagle Bluffs I decided not to risk being the unlucky one and returned via Cypress instead. It was a 4 and 1/2 hour hike down from Eagel Bluffs to 25 and Marine, after the grueling 2 and 1/2 hour hike up and 1/2 hour stay there. The organizers of this hike could have saved me a lot of pain, and everyone else a lot of grief by marking a safe route for all instead
ByPosted By: jesseiscanadian
- Sun Aug 01 20:21:20 EDT 2010
Upside-Challenging -Terrain varies quite a bit -lots of places to get water, didn't need to use filters or tabs
Downside-Hard to find good spots to camp for the night -lots of walking on sidewalks and through neighbor hoods. The walk from the dam to the grouse grind entrance is horrible after a 25km day.
CommentAbsolutely thrilled that i finally got this under my belt, kinda too bad gps batteries died at lynn canyon bridge. The weather was excellent, besides some thunder just after setting up the tent that had us racing to get the fly on. We will probably make this a annual hike now!
ByPosted By: madwithpower62
- Tue Jan 19 01:13:05 EST 2010
Not Rated
CommentWhat SamR says is my concern,too. I see surveyor's pins and flags in at least 3 points right beside the BP Trail including Dempsey and Mountain Highway areas. Save the BP!!
ByPosted By: Rambo
- Sat Nov 14 14:51:50 EST 2009
UpsideChallenging
DownsideBlack Mountain section is a little mental
CommentJust did the Horseshoe bay to Black Mountain section yesterday (Nov. Friday the 13th 2009). Sky was cloudy but mostly clear. I took the Whyte Lake Trail and it was very nice, very green and wet. Merged on Baden Powell Trail and took the alternate route to the summit. This section was crazy, took me more than two hours to go uphill and what started as 1 cm of snow, became 2 feet of snow on top.
The way down is really hard and i could even say dangerous if you are not careful. The snow was covering the moss and dirt which was sliding. Only experienced hikers should try this part going down Black Mountain to Horseshoe Bay. Going uphill ain't that bad.
Horseshoe Bay to Black Mountain and back, 6 hours.
ByPosted By: chameleon4444
- Sat Sep 19 18:04:01 EDT 2009
Not Rated
UpsideGreat hike, good exercise as it's a lot of elevation
DownsideJust wet in warmish weather and snow
CommentTamidog, the same thing happened to my brother and me, got to the top and followed the flags. It turned out those were for the cross country skiiers or something. It looped up back around to the bottom of Cypress without enought time left to go back up and keep going. Definitely take a compass.
ByPosted By: TAMIDOGG
- Thu Jun 11 18:35:18 EDT 2009
Not Rated
CommentI started at horseshoe bay and got lost in Cypress since I could not find anymore trail markers. maybe the snow ate it.
So advice to anyone go in August and get a GPS .....it toke us over 9 hours by the time we left Cypress..haha
ByPosted By: SamR
- Wed Aug 20 17:17:45 EDT 2008
UpsideTravelliing West to East during the Knee Knacker it is a wonderful sight to emerge from the forest on Black Mountain and turn to see Georgia strait and the islands laid out before you.
DownsideThe trail is long and gruelling (doing it in one go - as on the Knee Knacker) and it sure isa welcome sight to exit the trail at the end and see Panaorma Park in Deep Cove.
CommentHaving done the Knee Knacker about a dozen times I feel I know every rock and root of the Baden Powell - so I am probably a bit biased. One thing that deos concern me is the signs of human development encroaching into the whole North Shore area. Most of it is small scale but I think we should all be on our guard to make sure that this fabulous jewel of a wonderful (near) wilderness area on the doorstep of such a large city as Vancouver is not chipped away.
ByPosted By: iDodgimus
- Thu Jul 31 19:16:58 EDT 2008
Not Rated
Questionthinking of doing this one as an overnighter... any hints on good spots to camp?
thanks :)ANSWERS are in this forum: camping?
ByPosted By: chameleon4444
- Thu Mar 20 03:36:20 EDT 2008
UpsideThe trail was very well kept up Most of it is well away from the sounds of the city - a great day of releif!
DownsideI actually found trail diversity was a downside for my step brother and me. If you're out there to do it in one day we spent a lot of time trying to figure out which was the route to take so that we stayed on the correct BP trail.
CommentMy step-brother and I did this yesterday (March 18th) and started at 0720. We had to get a taxi up to Deep Cove as a bus would have taken way too long. The trail head is on the left side and is joined with a driveway along the Panorma drive right after an S curve. The Eastern part of the hike to Capillano was dry with no snow, but after that we battled the snow all the way. We actually never made it right through to Horseshoe bay. This is a warning to anyone new to the trail also wanting to do it early in the year. We ended up at the top of Black mtn, we could see the bay bellow, it was simply one last long descent. We started off once again following the orange stakes that we had followed up from the bottom of Cypress. But we soon found ourselves going left all the way back to the stakes we had past half an hour before. The BP trail isn't marked after the top of Black Mountain, or at least if it is, the markers must be low on the tress and covered with snow. So lesson learned, if you plan to do it in one day take a compass in case you have to navigate at night. And plan on 12 hours. Without snow, by the time we made it to horseshoe bay it would have taken 12 hours with one half hour break. It's a great trail in all, but I would say it would have been better with more familiarity of the area.
ByPosted By: TeresaP
- Tue Aug 08 16:33:58 EDT 2006
UpsideGreat for a sunny day, even cloudy. Not sure how it would be in the rain. Rain gear a must!! A few camping spots at the Lions. The grey jays (Wiskey Jacks) are neat to watch.
DownsideBackpack is the only way in and out. It's hard on the ol' knees but worth it at the end.
CommentJust remember to take yer time and don't forget bug juice!
ByPosted By: ChrisW
- Tue Mar 30 02:30:51 EST 2004
CommentI'd like to know if there are any designated camping spots. And if not, where are good spots to throw a tent for a night?
ByPosted By: westcoast_pathfinder
- Wed Aug 20 03:12:44 EDT 2003
UpsideTrail diversity is great! Wonderful views at Eagle Bluffs - a nice reward after the boulder climb from Eagle Ridge trail head. Pikas in the boulder field! Hollyburn section had a lot of bear "sign", but also grouse and other fauna. Stops at Cypress, Grouse and Lynn provided refreshments to top up water bottles with. From Seymour to Deep Cove is an easy hike, with a gorgeous viewpoint of Indian Arm!
DownsideIt's a long day for a "non Knee Knacker". Very steep section between Eagle Bluffs and the Eagle Ridge trail head ... I preferred to start at that end instead of attempting to go down such a steep slope with end-of-day tired legs. Some areas had a lot of bear sign.
CommentApparently the land by both trailheads may be earmarked for development - it would be a shame to lose this trail.
ByPosted By: bdagg
- Wed Jan 09 00:51:48 EST 2002
Not Rated
CommentBP Length BP Trail Length, according to the Knee Knacker Web site (www.kneenacker.com) is approx. 48.5 km.
Also, Knee Knacker winners complete the entire course in under 5 hours (not 6, as indicated). Record is around 4:45
Posted By: HenryB
Posted By: Rambo
Posted By: chameleon4444
Posted By: TAMIDOGG
Posted By: ChrisW
