Mount Strachan

August 4, 2020

Distance: 7km

Elevation gain: 573m

Time required: 4-5 hours

Mount Strachan is one of three mountains that makes up the Cypress bowl in Cypress Provincial Park (the other two being Black Mountain and Hollyburn Mountain). It is the least well-known/frequented of the three mountains which is a shame as it offers a relatively short but fun adventure.

I hiked Mount Strachan as a loop. From the Cypress resort parking lot, I started onto the Howe Sound Crest Trail before turning off onto a faint dirt trail once I reached Strachan Meadows. This leads to a dry gully that you climb until reaching a small col between the north and south summits of Mount Strachan. A short climb to the left lands you on the north summit which has the best views of the surrounding mountains. The south summit has better views of the Howe Sound.

Looking north towards Unnecessary Mountain, the Lions, and Enchantment Peak from Mt Strachan north peak

Panoramic shot of the HSCT ridgeline over to the Lions. To the right of the Lions sits Wizard Peak and Magic Mountain

Howe Sound with views of Bowen Island and Gambier Island

Howe Sound from the south peak

Distinctive North Shore views of The Lions with Mt Brunswick in the back left

From the south peak, I followed along the ridgeline to the Sky Chair chairlift. You can choose to take the ski run back to the resort or the forested trail which hugs the east side of the run. I chose the trail which eventually joined up with the Baden Powell trail before shortly reaching the lodge.