North Shore Mountains

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North Shore Mountains
Vancouver Skyline and Mountains.jpg
North Shore Mountains from Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver
Highest point
Peak Brunswick Mountain or Sky Pilot Mountain
Elevation 1,788 or 2,031 m (5,866 or 6,663 ft)
Parent peak Pacific Ranges
Coordinates 49°24′25″N123°12′40″W / 49.407°N 123.211°W / 49.407; -123.211
Geography
Relief map of North Shore Mountains location.png
Location of the North Shore Mountains
CountryCanada
Province British Columbia

The North Shore Mountains are a mountain range overlooking Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. Their southernmost peaks are visible from most areas in Vancouver and form a distinctive backdrop for the city.

Contents

The steep southern slopes of the North Shore Mountains limit the extent to which the municipalities of Metro Vancouver's North Shore (West Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver and the Village of Lions Bay) can grow. In many places on the North Shore, residential neighbourhoods abruptly end and rugged forested slopes begin. These forested slopes are crisscrossed by a large network of trails including the Baden-Powell Trail, the Howe Sound Crest Trail, the Binkert/Lions Trail and a wide variety of mountain biking trails. [1]

The North Shore Mountains are a small subrange of the Pacific Ranges, the southernmost grouping of the vast Coast Mountains. They are bounded on the south by Burrard Inlet, on the west and north-west by Howe Sound, and on the north and north-east by the Garibaldi Ranges. To the east the bounds are defined by Indian Arm (a branch of Burrard Inlet). The ridge running north from Mount Seymour has its own name, the Fannin Range, while much of the Howe Sound-flanking portion of it is known as the Britannia Range. There is debate whether the Britannia Range is part of the North Shore Mountains as there are no official boundaries of the North Shore Mountains.

Although not particularly high, these mountains are rugged and should not be underestimated. Severe weather conditions in the North Shore Mountains often contrast dramatically with mild conditions in nearby Vancouver. This is especially true in winter, but even in summer, large precipices are hidden very close to popular hiking trails and it is very easy to get lost, despite being in sight of the city. Those who venture into the North Shore Mountains for whatever reason should be well prepared at any time of year. [2]

Three deep river valleys divide the North Shore Mountains. These are, in order from west to east:

The Capilano and Seymour rivers emanate from the massive Metro Vancouver watershed area administered by Metro Vancouver. The watershed extends deep into the North Shore Mountains region, but is strictly off-limits to all unauthorized human activities. The Lynn Headwaters, a deep cirque valley drained by Lynn Creek, is a very popular regional park administered by Metro Vancouver.

There are two provincial parks in the area, Cypress Provincial Park and Mount Seymour Provincial Park. Both feature reliable road access, downhill ski areas, and extensive trail networks. Nearby Grouse Mountain features a downhill ski area and tourist attractions which are accessible by the Skyride, an aerial tramway. A very popular hiking trail, the Grouse Grind, climbs up the steep flanks of Grouse Mountain from the tramway parking lot. Before the Grouse Mountain Skyride was built, a chairlift operated from Skyline Drive at the head of North Vancouver's Lonsdale Avenue, and the ski area itself could be accessed via Mountain Highway, which now has a gate at its upper end in the Lynn Valley neighbourhood.

In the Seymour River valley, the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve features over 100 km of trails including a paved bicycle path called the Seymour Valley Trailway that winds into the mountains for 10 km to Seymour Lake. [3] It is frequently used for recreation, and occasionally for TV and film productions such as Stargate SG-1 .

Mountains

A view of the North Shore Mountains as seen looking west from the Mount Seymour alpine area in March. The sharp-pointed peak near the upper right is Crown Mountain. North Shore Mountains (1).JPG
A view of the North Shore Mountains as seen looking west from the Mount Seymour alpine area in March. The sharp-pointed peak near the upper right is Crown Mountain.

There are dozens of individual mountains in the North Shore Mountains. The list below is incomplete.

Howe Sound Crest / Lions area

Rising above the eastern shore of the Howe Sound, the crests of the mountains are protected by Cypress Provincial Park and are accessed by the 29 km Howe Sound Crest Trail.

Cypress group

The southwestern tip of the North Shore mountains that are visible from Vancouver and a popular destination for recreation. It is the namesake of Cypress Provincial Park.

Grouse area

Located centrally in the range between Capilano Valley and Lynn Valley, its peaks are highly visible throughout Metro Vancouver.

Cathedral / Lynn range

This range begins as just a narrow ridge between Lynn Valley and Seymour Valley, but nonetheless features some large and prominent peaks.

Fannin Range

The Fannin Range is the easternmost part of the North Shore Mountains that extends from the western shore of the glacial fjord Indian Arm to headwaters of the Indian River. [5] Mount Seymour Provincial Park and Indian Arm Provincial Park occupy its south-eastern drainage, while its north-eastern drainage is provincial crown land. Its entire western drainage is part of the Seymour Watershed.

Britannia Range / Sky Pilot group

The Britannia Range is the northernmost part of the North Shore Mountains, although some lists consider it to be a separate range. It is officially bounded by the Stawamus River in the north, the Seymour River in the east, and Deeks Lake in the south. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Seymour</span> Mountain in British Columbia, Canada

Mount Seymour is a mountain located in Mount Seymour Provincial Park in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a part of the North Shore Mountains, rising to the north from the shores of Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm to a summit of 1,449 m (4,754 ft) above the Indian River and Deep Cove neighbourhoods. Mount Seymour is most commonly identified for its ski area of the same name, and as a popular hiking area. It is named in honour of Frederick Seymour, second governor of the Colony of British Columbia. The name is used to refer to the ridge although the main summit is one of several, and is also known as Third Peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cypress Provincial Park</span> Provincial park in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Cypress Provincial Park is a provincial park on the North Shore of Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia. The park has two sections: a 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi) southern section which is accessible by road from West Vancouver, and a 9 km2 (3.5 sq mi) northern section which is only accessible by hiking trails. The two sections are linked by a narrow strip of park along the mountainous Howe Sound Crest Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cypress Mountain Ski Area</span> Ski resort in British Columbia, Canada

Cypress Mountain is a ski area in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, located in the southern section of Cypress Provincial Park, operated under a BC Parks Park Use Permit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Vancouver (district municipality)</span> Municipality in British Columbia, Canada

The District of North Vancouver is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada, and is part of Metro Vancouver. It surrounds the City of North Vancouver on three sides. It is largely characterized as a relatively quiet, affluent suburban hub home to many middle and upper-middle-class families. Homes in the District of North Vancouver generally range from mid-sized family bungalows to very large luxury houses. A number of dense multi-family and mixed-use developments have popped up across the district in recent years; however, the district remains a primarily suburban municipality. It is served by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, British Columbia Ambulance Service, and the District of North Vancouver Fire Department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Bishop (Fannin Range)</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Mount Bishop is a mountain located on the northern border of Mount Seymour Provincial Park in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia. It is a part of the North Shore Mountains, rising from the shores of Indian Arm to a summit of 1,509 metres (4,951 ft). Mount Bishop is a rocky summit with bluffs and old growth on its lower slopes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baden-Powell Trail</span> Hiking trail in British Columbia, Canada

The Baden-Powell Trail is a rugged but well-maintained 48 km hiking trail, that traverses from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to Deep Cove in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was named after Robert Baden-Powell, Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the world Scouting Movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strathcona Provincial Park</span> Provincial park in British Columbia, Canada

Strathcona Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, and the largest on Vancouver Island. Founded in 1911, the park was named for Donald Alexander Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, a wealthy philanthropist and railway pioneer. It lies within the Strathcona Regional District. The Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve, established in 2000, includes three watersheds in the western area of the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Fromme</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Mount Fromme is one of the North Shore Mountains that overlook Burrard Inlet north of Vancouver, British Columbia. It stands just east of Grouse Mountain, and the District of North Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver lie on its lower slope where it descends to the inlet. Mount Fromme, like the other mountains of the Pacific Ranges, is covered with temperate rainforest of the Coastal Western Hemlock Zone. In the case of Mount Fromme this is largely secondary forest, since the mountain was extensively logged in the early 20th century. Outside of the Vancouver area Mount Fromme is known as a mountain biking destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynn Valley</span> Neighbourhood in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Lynn Valley is a neighbourhood in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia. Located at the northern edge of Metro Vancouver, it sits between Mount Fromme and Mount Seymour. The area's natural parks include Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve and Lynn Canyon Park, whose main attraction is the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. Lynn Valley is named after British Royal Engineer John Linn, who settled in the area after 1869. The main intersection of Lynn Valley Road and Mountain Highway is the location of the Main Library and Town Centre. The area is now known as Lynn Valley Village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lions (peaks)</span> Pair of pointed peaks in the country of Canada

The Lions, known as Ch'ích'iyúy Elx̱wíḵn in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) language, are a pair of pointed peaks along the North Shore Mountains in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They can be seen from much of the Greater Vancouver area, as far as Robert Burnaby Park in East Burnaby, south to parts of Surrey, and from the west on the Howe Sound Islands and the Sunshine Coast. Along with the Lions Gate Bridge named in their honour, these twin summits have become one of the most recognizable Vancouver landmarks. The city's BC Lions CFL football team is also named in their honour. Lions Gate Entertainment which was founded in Vancouver in July, 1997 is also named for the peaks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fannin Range</span> Mountain range in British Columbia, Canada

The Fannin Range is a small mountain range in the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. Lying between the Seymour River and the glacial fjord Indian Arm, the range extends from the slopes of Mount Seymour on the Burrard Inlet to the district of North Vancouver more than 34 km (21 mi) north to the headwaters of the Indian River. It is named after the naturalist John Fannin It is commonly considered to be part of the North Shore Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Elsay</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Mount Elsay is a mountain in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, located near the middle of Mount Seymour Provincial Park in the District of North Vancouver. It is a part of the North Shore Mountains, rising from the shores of Indian Arm to a summit of 1,419 m (4,656 ft). It is named after nearby Elsay Lake and Creek. These names are thought to derive from a Scottish settler, probably after a place name in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britannia Range (Canada)</span>

The Britannia Range is a small mountain range of the Coast Mountains that runs along the eastern shore of Howe Sound just north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a subrange of the Pacific Ranges and often considered part of the North Shore Mountains. The range is bounded by the Howe Sound to the west, the Stawamus River to the north, Loch Lomond on the upper Seymour River to the east, and Deeks Lake to the south. However, some official maps extend the range further south of these boundaries and many local sources such as hiking guidebooks will often include all of the peaks along the Howe Sound between Deeks Lake and Cypress Mountain as part of the range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grouse Mountain</span> Mountain in British Columbia, Canada

Grouse Mountain is one of the North Shore Mountains of the Pacific Ranges in the District Municipality of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. With a maximum elevation of over 1,200m (4,100ft) at its peak, the mountain is the site of an alpine ski area, Grouse Mountain Resort, which overlooks Metro Vancouver and has four chairlifts servicing 33 runs. In the summer, Grouse Mountain Resort features lumberjack shows, the "Birds in Motion" birds of prey demonstration, a chairlift ride, disc golf, mountain biking, zip lining, tandem paragliding, helicopter tours, and guided ecowalks. Year-round operations include a 100-seat mountaintop theatre and a wildlife refuge. The mountain operates two aerial tramways, known officially as the Skyride. The Blue Skyride is used mainly for freight transportation, while public access to the mountain top is provided by the Swiss-built Garaventa Red Skyride, which has a maximum capacity of 101 passengers. Summer access is also provided by the 2.9 kilometre Grouse Grind hiking trail, which is open for hiking from May to October. Similar to the nearby Capilano Suspension bridge, Grouse Mountain can be accessed via a free, regular shuttle bus that runs from 'Canada Place' in downtown Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unnecessary Mountain</span> Mountain in British Columbia, Canada

Unnecessary Mountain, also called Mount Unnecessary, is a peak in the North Shore Mountains near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and a popular hiking destination. Its two summits are within Cypress Provincial Park, accessible via the Howe Sound Crest Trail and the Unnecessary Mountain Trail from Lions Bay. The taller south summit has an elevation of 1,548 m and its north summit is slightly lower at 1,543 m.

Lynn Headwaters Regional Park is an area of North Vancouver, British Columbia, and is the largest of twenty-two regional parks in Metro Vancouver. At 9,216.5 acres (3,729.8 ha), the park boasts a variety of trails for hikers, including easy, intermediate, and challenging. The trails are colour-coded and range from 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to 21.4 kilometres (13.3 mi). Bikes and dogs are allowed on select trails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Seymour Provincial Park</span> Canadian provincial park

Mount Seymour Provincial Park is a park in Vancouver, British Columbia's North Shore Mountains. With an area of 35 square kilometres, it is located approximately 15 kilometres north of Downtown Vancouver. The park, named after Frederick Seymour, was established in 1936. Mount Seymour Provincial Park provides visitors with a variety of recreational activities and animals with natural habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Vancouver watersheds</span>

The Metro Vancouver watersheds, also known as the Greater Vancouver watersheds, supply potable water to approximately 2.7 million residents in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. They provide tap water to a land area covering more than 2,600 square kilometres (1,000 sq mi), serving a total of 21 member municipalities, one electoral district, and one treaty First Nation. From west to east, the watersheds are the Capilano, the Seymour, and the Coquitlam. They are located in the North Shore Mountains and Coquitlam Mountain, respectively. Each watershed possesses a reservoir for water storage purposes, under the control of Metro Vancouver. The reservoirs are supplied by about 3.5 metres (11 ft) of rain and 4.5 metres (15 ft) of snowpack annually. Two additional off-catchment areas under control of Metro Vancouver contribute to the water supply. The watersheds have a long history of controversies surrounding logging, highway development, and salmon run conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howe Sound Crest Trail</span> Backpacking trail near Vancouver, Canada

The Howe Sound Crest Trail is a rugged 32.8-kilometre (20.4 mi) wilderness hiking trail located near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The trail is located mostly within Cypress Provincial Park and is typically traveled as a single or multi-day hike from south to north, or as a means to access peaks along the route such as Mount Brunswick. It gets its name because it follows the crests of the North Shore Mountains that rise above the Howe Sound, the deep saltwater glacial fjord which parallels the trail to the west. It can be accessed in the south from Cypress Mountain Ski Area and in the north from the Sea to Sky Highway at Porteau Road, or via many intersecting trails that start at Lions Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Burwell</span>

Mount Burwell is a 1,541-metre (5,056 ft) mountain summit in the Metro Vancouver Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the North Shore Mountains, which are a small subrange of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains.

References

  1. "The North Shore". Vancouver Trails. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  2. "North Shore Mountains". hellobc. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  3. "Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve". www.metrovancouver.org. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  4. Crerar, David; Crerar, Harry; Maurer, Bill (2018). The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver's North Shore: A Peakbagger's Guide. Victoria, BC: Rocky Mountain Books. pp. 296-303. ISBN   978-1-77160-275-4.
  5. "BC Geographical Names". apps.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  6. "Fannin Range - Peakbagger.com". www.peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  7. "BC Geographical Names". apps.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  8. Bivouac.com. "Sky Pilot Group" . Retrieved 2023-04-28.