St. Mark’s Summit Hike in West Vancouver

St. Mark’s Summit Hike Intro

St. Mark’s Summit is a peak along the Howe Sound Crest Trail that offers spectacular views of Howe Sound. Hiking the entire Howe Sound Crest Trail (which runs all the way to Porteau Cove) is more than a simple day hike, but heading to Saint Mark’s Summit is a worthy destination of its own and can be done in about 4 to 5 hours. From the peak you can see the islands of Howe Sound, the Tantalus Range and even Vancouver Island.

Overall, the hike isn’t too strenuous as there is only 460 m of elevation gain (one of the bonuses of starting from a ski resort parking lot) making St. Mark’s Summit one of the more popular hikes on the North Shore.

St. Mark’s Summit Hiking Route

To begin the hike, go to the Cypress Mountain parking lot and walk towards the main ski lodge (which sits in front of the large Olympic rings. In front of the lodge, you will see two separate trail markers. The Howe Sound Crest Trail starts at the northern trail, closest to the Lion’s Express chairlift.

This marker (along with others on the route) points you in the direction of the Howe Sound Crest Trail and The Lions, without specifically mentioning St. Mark’s Summit. This is the direction you want to follow at any junctions you come across, as St. Mark’s Summit is reached before The Lions along the HSCT.

Within a few meters from the trailhead there is another marker. Go right here, and you’ll immediately see the square, orange markers in the trees, which you will follow along the route to St. Mark’s Summit.

You’ll go through the trees briefly and come out onto a ski run. Keep going up along the left-hand side of the run (you’ll see an orange marker). The ski run splits off to the left near a large, green water tower. Here there is a marker indicating the direction for ‘Howe Sound Crest Trail West’ or ‘Howe Sound Crest Trail East’. There is no significant difference between the trails, as they join back together shortly after the Bowen Lookout junction, so you can pick your poison. I would recommend going right here (along the East trail), and returning via the West trail and making a quick detour to the Bowen Lookout on the way back.

Cool fact: “In the early 1960s, the Provincial Government began to consider recreational development of the area. Unfortunately, a proposal by private enterprise to develop commercial ski facilities in Cypress Bowl resulted in the logging of portions of Black and Strachan mountains before the Province stepped in to create the park. Cypress Park’s southern section was granted Class A Provincial Park status in 1975. The northern section and the Howe Sound Crest Trail were added in 1982.” [source]

Go right at the water tower, entering the trees once again. About 1 km into the hike you will reach a small service road and another trail marker. You will go left onto the road, in the direction of The Lions and Bowen Lookout. The service road will soon split uphill to the right – don’t go up the hill. Instead, stay on the flat trail and you will very quickly come to another trail marker giving you assurance you’re on the right track.

The trail here becomes very well-maintained – flat, wide, gravel – due to some serious trail work which was done in recent years here.

About 1.6 km into the hike you will come to a large junction with a Cypress Provincial Park map. If you took the Howe Sound Crest Trail ‘West’ at the water tower, this is where you will join back up with the East trail. Going left here will also take you to Bowen Lookout, which you can do on the way back to the parking lot. Very soon after this junction there is a spectacular view of The Lions through a clearing in the trees.

Following the trail, at about 2.5 km in, you will come into a meadow. There is a tiny bridge taking you over Montizambert Creek. You will see Mount Strachan looming above to the right. Leaving the meadow, the trail will steepen as you navigate some switchbacks. At the 3 km mark, the trail flattens some, but the trail is much more technical (rooty, rocky and difficult to find footing) than the first portion of the hike. Because of this, the second-half of the trail to St. Mark’s Summit will be a lot slower going.

3.7 km into the hike you will find yourself on a ridge, with partial views of Howe Sound to the left, and mountains to the right. Keep going along the trail, and get ready for the most difficult section of the trail to St. Mark’s Summit.

From here, the trail begins to climb steeply, and remains muddy for much of the hiking season. The end is near, however, so keep grinding up the trail until you reach the Saint Mark’s. You’ll know you are there where the trail levels out and you can see The Lions in the distance. There is also a trail marker indicating you’ve reached St. Mark’s Summit.

The amazing view of Howe Sound from St. Mark’s Summit.

It’s a short scramble up the rocks on your left to take in the incredible scenery. Your efforts are rewarded with one of the most spectacular views of Howe Sound you can find anywhere.

From St. Mark’s Summit, you can see all the Howe Sound islands (Bowen (Mount Gardner), Gambier, Keats, Bowyer, Anvil and Passage islands). You can also see the glaciers of the Tantalus Range and, on a clear day, you can see Vancouver Island.

To your right you will notice a rocky outcrop. You can carefully navigate your way down to that point for a slightly different perspective of Howe Sound, and a better look at Horseshoe Bay and the Sea to Sky highway.

After you’ve had a chance to enjoy the scenery, you can retrace your steps to the parking lot, this time taking the junction to Bowen Lookout and returning via the Howe Sound Crest Trail West.

If you were to continue on northward from St. Mark’s Summit along the Howe Sound Crest Trail, you would reach Mount Unnecessary and The Lions.

Sitting on top of the world

Directions and Parking

Get directions to the trailhead

The hike to Saint Mark’s Summit starts from the Cypress Mountain parking lot. Take Highway #1 West and take Exit #8 onto Cypress Bowl Rd. Follow this highway for 15 kms to the downhill ski parking lot.

Google Map directions are here.