Mount Windsor

August 12, 2025

Distance: 17km

Elevation gain: 1602m

Time required: 9-10 hours round-trip

Mount Windsor sits above and behind Deeks Lake in Cypress Provincial Park.

The first part of the trail follows the Howe Sound Crest Trail. I've been trying to complete several peaks that I didn't get the chance to bag when I did the HSCT a couple of years ago.

Starting from the parking lot in Porteau Cove, the trail is fairly mellow for the first couple of kilometres before starting to climb consistently. Almost the entire trail from the parking lot to Deeks Lake is shaded, which was nice on a very hot and sunny day. There are plenty of small streams along the way for water. The trail runs parallel to Deeks Creek, and there's a waterfall just before the lake.

Reaching Deeks Lake took me 2.5 hours. Deeks Lake is one of the places you're allowed to camp at while completing the Howe Sound Crest Trail. However, the designated campsite is very small - it only fits about 2 tents.

Deeks Lake. It's crystal clear and so refreshing to swim in!

From the lake, I took an unmarked but visible trail that wound around the north end of the lake. It then jutted into the forest, where there's a steep climb straight up the slope. There are 2 small streams for water.

At about 1400m of elevation, I accidentally took a flagged but unmapped trail that leads to Gotha Peak. I realized my mistake when I was already too far in, so once I hit the meadows south of Mount Windsor, I bushwacked straight up the south face. This might have actually shaved some time off my ascent. From the lake, it took me 2 hours to reach the summit.

Looking east at the Howe Sound. Gambier Island is the big one in the middle and Anvil Island is the one in front of it on the right.

Deeks Peak (left) and other peaks along the northeast ridgeline

Looking north towards Garibaldi and Whistler peaks

A hazy view of Seymour and Golden Ears peaks in the distance

Looking south at Mount Hanover, the Lions, and Brunswick Mtn

I spent about half an hour at the peak. The bugs were pretty bad and it was very hot so I didn't want to stay too long.

I took the proper trail back down, which descends some talus before going back into the forest. The trail is very straightforward, so it only took me an hour and 20 minutes to get back to Deeks Lake. As it was a very hot day, I spent about 30 minutes taking a refreshing swim in the lake.

From the lake, it was another 2 hours to reach the parking lot.