West Vancouver

Existence of TCT signage usually indicates the official declaration of useable trail:

• Some of the signed trail may not be the final route. 

• Please do not rely solely on the signs to find the route. 

• To avoid disappointment, plan ahead by using this website and the book, 'Trans Canada Trail - the British Columbia Route'.

Caution is required using these trails as they are being upgraded. Expect detours where there is trail construction in progress..

Those following the upper route, starting from Gleneagles Golf Course/Community Centre in Horseshoe Bay, should realize that there are no amenities along the Trail at this time. Anyone undertaking this trek must be in good physical condition and must carry water along with other hiking provisions. Be prepared for changes in weather and possible encounters with bears (Bear Safety) at all times.

The Hiking Trail (West to East)

The Upper Lands Trail - Horseshoe Bay to the Fish Hatchery in Capilano Regional Park. It dips into the BC Cypress Provincial Park, in the highest section.

Seaview Walk Trail

• Horsehoe Bay Waterfront to the Seaview Walk) - 1.5 km

Do take in the park on the waterfront, taking in the seashore, wahsrooms, shops, and restaurants. It is indeed a short pleasant stroll.

Starting from the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal pedestrian ramp, proceed to Keith Road. Stay on the west sidewalk up Keith Road to Argyle Avenue. Cross over on an urban trail between natural vegetation below the highway and a fence.  It leads to a set of stairs that goes up on a sidewalk that then heads for Marine Drive.  Cross Marine Drive at the crosswalk and go south on the sidewalk to a trail on your right that eventually goes behind the Community Centre with the Golf Course on your right.  Go up the road just past the Community Centre and Cross Marine Drive to the Seaview Walk Trail.

• Seaview Walk (2 km)
  photo by Kelly Koome

This used to be BC Rail grade and offers sensational views over Fisherman's Cove and Eagle Island. The Trail continues to the BC Rail tunnel entrance. 

Nelson Creek Trail (1.5 km)
photos by Dennis Wilkins and Judy Sanderman

This  trail goes over the BCR tunnel entrance and onto the old Trans Canada Highway Bridge over Nelson Creek. Walkers will likely need to use, as an alternate, the cycling route starting here from about November 15 to March 15 because of snow above the 500 metre (1800 foot) level or carry snowshoes/cross country skis.

Watch for an access road going north at a water reservoir and follow it to another water reservoir. Heed the bear warning sign. Continue on a  trail on the east side of the water reservoir. The 'no trespass in the watershed' are requiring people to stay on the trail.  Follow this path through the pristine forest west of Nelson Creek to a set of stairs up to a service road.  Near the end of this trail there is another trail heading west to access the Baden Powell Trail via Whyte Lake.

Eagle Creek Trail (2.2 km)
photo by Dennis Wilkins and Judy Sanderman

From  Nelson Creek to Eagle Lake access road, the route heads to the Skyline Trail via the Cypress Creek Trail within easy access of the the ski areas on Cypress and Hollyburn Mountains in Cypress Provincial Park.

Once on the service road after the Nelson Creek Trail follow it for a short distance going somewhat uphill. At the top of the hill look for an opening in the forest on your left. You will see the trail to Eagle Lake Access Road. Follow this mountainous forested trail to the Eagle Lake Access Road that goes down to the West Cypress Creek Trail. Along this road there are extraordinary views of Caulfield and Georgia Strait.

West Cypress Creek Trail, and East Cypress Creek Trail
photos by Dennis Wilkins and Judy Sanderman

Proceed north on West Cypress Creek Trail for 5.7 km. Note that at the top of the Cypress Creek Trail, it is possible to take alternate routes down to the Skyline Trail by hooking up to the Baden Powell Trail above the parking lot in the Cypress Bowl downhill ski area. These routes take the trekker to higher elevations, small lakes, and denser forests. It is also possible to access the Howe Sound Crest Trail to the Lions or the Black Mountain Trail to the Eagle Bluff Lookout. Note that the parking lot is only about 10 minutes further up the trail where all the amenities of a ski area are available to you, albeit scaled down during the summer.

The bridge over Cypress Creek is the start of the East Cypress Creek Trail (4.1 km). Do not take the fork on the left about 1 km down the trail. Stay on a trail that parallels the BC Hydro Power Lines. Once past the British Properties' Gate turn east to Cypress Bowl Road. Cross the road to start on the Skyline Trail.

Skyline Trail (7.8 km) - SEE DISTANCE CHART BELOW
photos by Dennis Wilkins and Judy Sanderman

Access the Skyline Trail off Cypress Bowl Road at the second lookout (a former quarry). Take advantage of the sensational view over Indian Arm at this location. There is a parking lot and pit toilets here. Proceed eastward to the Cleveland Dam. Use extreme caution on this trail the rocks and bridges are very slippery when wet.  It can get quite overgrown in places.  This trail features vestiges of early century logging, picturesque ravines, water falls, and west coast forest. Access trails to Cypress Bowl, Hollyburn Mountain and several other heritage trails can be used as alternates or side trips. For a short side trip, cross the dam to get good views of the Capilano Canyon and outflows from the dam and to access water and restrooms. 

Capilano Regional Park Trail (to the Fish Hatchery)

From the west side of Cleveland Dam follow the Capilano Pacific Trail, the Giant Fir Trail, and the Second Canyon Viewpoint Trail -- watch for signs to the fish hatchery over the Cable Pool Bridge (1 km). Do not miss visiting the display at the fish hatchery where one can observe, through glass, the salmon actually proceeding up a fish ladder. There are, also, public washrooms here. From this point eastward the Trail is described in the North Vancouver section.

The Cycling Trail (West to East)
(**Walkers, see the note at the end of this section.)

The route goes from the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal to the Cleveland Dam.  It mainly follows existing cycling routes through West Vancouver using quiet residential streets before heading over to the Cleveland Dam. The cyclists and the walkers will be on the same trail as they leave Capilano Regional Park for North Vancouver. As West Vancouver establishes and implements a comprehensive cycling plan, and establishes greenway corridors in future developments, it is hoped that the two routes will be combined or closer together. Heading east from Horseshoe Bay along the Upper Levels Highway, cyclists will stay on the highway until Exit #4.

(NOTE: when cycling west you will not get on the Highway here. Instead, follow Woodgreen Drive past the four way stop, this is now Westport Road. Follow Westport (a bit of a steep hill up, but then a nice long hill down), then be prepared  to turn quickly onto a gravel road on your right, just after you cross under the highway bridge. Turn left at the top of the small hill and follow the gravel service road, keep left at the water tank and cross over the old Trans Canada Highway Bridge across Nelson Creek. Keep following the abandoned highway to the Upper Levels Highway. Enter on the highway here and follow the signs to Horseshoe Bay and the ferry.)

Cross over the highway on the bridge, turn north to start following the commuter cycling signs which will direct you to Taylor Way and Inglewood Avenue. The route is well marked and follows Woodgreen Drive, Woodcrest Road, Almondel Road, Ripple Road, Westridge Avenue, Southridge Avenue (steep hill), a 60 m trail between two cul de sacs to Mathers Avenue. Follow Mathers to 29th Street, turn right to Marine Drive. Follow Marine Drive for one block to take 28th Street to Haywood. Continue following the bicycle route signs along Haywood Avenue, 24th Street, Jefferson Avenue, past Pauline Johnson School, along Inglewood (another short steep hill), up 14th Street and along Kings Avenue, Burley Drive and Inglewood Avenue to Taylor Way. From this point ignore the cycling route signs and follow the Trans Canada Trail signs up Taylor Way northward to Stevens Drive. Follow Stevens Drive past the Capilano Golf Club and turn right on Deep Dene Road. Turn left on Glenmore Drive and watch for a cycling right-of-way on the right before Morven Drive and follow this path to the Cleveland Dam.

From the Cleveland Dam, follow a service road on the east side of the Capilano River to Capilano Park Road. Take Capilano Park Road westward (turn right) to the fish hatchery.

**Note: Walkers can also follow the cycling route with the following differences (Lower Route):

• Stay on the walking route to the old Highway Bridge after going over the BCR tunnel and under the Upper Levels Highway.
• Instead of continuing on the Nelson Creek Trail (cycling route) stay on the service road that goes back under the Upper Levels Highway and comes out on Wesport Road. Continue north on Wesport Road on the cycling route.
• At 31st Street walkers should drop down to Park Lane and Lower Bellevue Ave and enjoy walking past waterfront homes heading east.
• At 25th Street walkers follow the Centennial Seawalk starting at Dundarave Park to Ambleside Park Eastward to end up along the Capilano River on the Capilano-Pacific Trail. Follow this trail north to the fish hatchery in Capilano Regional Park. A good place to get off the Capilano-Pacific Trail is at the "Big Fir Trail" where you will rejoin the Trans Canada Trail. You will notice that the Heart and Stroke Foundation has put up a sign for each kilometre starting at Dundarave Park to end up at the Cleveland Dam (10 km)

Distances

Note:
Total for the interim cycling route from Horseshoe Bay to the Fish Hatchery is approximately 22 km

Elevations

Public Washroom Facilities and Staging areas
The are public washrooms at the ferry terminal, along the foreshore park of Horseshoe Bay and at the new Community Centre near the golf course approximately 1.1 km from the terminal. There are toilets east from the old Nelson Creek Highway Bridge and at the start of the Skyline Trail at Cypress Bowl Road. The next public washrooms are located at Glenmore Park, the Cleveland Dam, and the Fish hatchery in Capilano Regional Park. For the cyclists there are public washrooms at Dundarave and Ambleside Parks, which are a few blocks off the designated route.
Staging/Parking areas are available at parking lots in Horseshoe Bay, across from the Gleneagles Golf Course, Cypress downhill sky area (end of parking lot) the view point at the start of the Skyline Trail off Cypress Road, at Glenmore Park, at the Cleveland Dam and the Fish Hatchery, and along the cycling route, in the Ambleside and Dundarave business districts.

Accommodation
Camping
Camping facilities are available at the Cleveland RV Park (tenting spaces as well) just over the Capilano River past Park Royal Shopping Centre at 295 Tomahawk off Welsh Street.
Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, other
Accommodation is available in Horseshoe Bay. Bed and Breakfasts can be found here and there in West Vancouver.

Public Transportation and Shuttles
TransLink (bus) (604 521-0400) Horseshoe Bay to Park Royal: #257 express, #250; Glenmore to Park Royal: #254
BC Ferries

Restaurants & Shops
Shops and restaurants are plentiful at Horseshoe Bay. Cyclists will find plenty of shops and restaurants just off the route in Dundarave and Ambleside with its Park Royal Shopping Centre.

For More Information
About West Vancouver