Introduction: Vancouver’s Most Rugged Alpine Masterpiece in a Single Day
The Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) is arguably the most beautiful point-to-point alpine route around Vancouver. Spanning 27 kilometers from Cypress Mountain to Porteau Cove, this classic ridge traverse is traditionally treated as a gruelling two-day backpacking expedition.
But we wanted to experience it differently. Packing light and moving fast, we set out to run/fast hike the entire traverse in a single day. On June 17, we found a route transitioning rapidly from late-spring snowpack to early-summer dirt. Here is our complete, hour-by-hour visual conditions log, designed to serve as a reliable seasonal safety baseline for your HSCT mission.
📊 [At-A-Glance Beta Box] Fast Facts & Logistics
| Parameter | Details & Specifications |
| Trip Date | June 17, 2026 |
| Distance / Elevation Profile | ~ 27.0 km (One-Way) / D+ ~1,830 m (Ascent) · D- ~2,600 m (Descent) |
| Technical Difficulty | ★★★★★ (Extreme: Steep descents, loose rock, snow bridges, and wet crossings) |
| Total Duration | ~ 11 hours |
| Gear | Filter-equipped soft flask, offline GPS map, lightweight windshell, and a small towel |
| Logistics | Car depot at Porteau Cove trailhead (Exit), driving the second vehicle up to Cypress Mountain (Start) |
09:00 AM — Squamish Departure: The Two-Car Shuttle
After packing our vests with lunch and water, we left Squamish at 9:00 AM. Since the HSCT is a point-to-point traverse, a car shuttle is mandatory. We parked our exit vehicle at the Porteau Cove pullout along Highway 99, then drove the active shuttle vehicle up to the Cypress Mountain ski resort parking lot.
10:10 AM — Cypress Arrival: Navigating the Yellow Gate Trap
We reached Cypress Mountain and pulled into Lot 3.
⚠️ Pro-Tip Warning: The yellow gate leading to Lot 2 features a prominent sign stating it is locked at 20:00 (8:00 PM) daily. Since a single-day push can easily run into the late evening, we parked well outside this gate in Lot 3. We topped off our hydration flasks at the resort’s day lodge, used the public restrooms, and finalized our gear checks.
10:30 AM — Entering the Trailhead: Cypress Ski Resort
Stepping past the main day lodge, we located the wooden signpost marking the start of the Howe Sound Crest Trail. With 27 kilometers of beautiful forest trails and technical alpine terrain ahead of us, we clicked our watches and started our travel.
10:45 AM — Dense Forest and Critical Early Intersections
The initial climb through the active ski resort is crossed by numerous access tracks, making it easy to lose the correct alignment. Within 20 minutes, we reached the key junction pointing toward “St. Marks Summit” and “Highway 99 at Porteau Cove.” From here, the route transitions into a majestic, old-growth rain forest typical of coastal British Columbia.
11:45 AM — Elevation 1,371m: St. Mark’s Summit
We hit St. Mark’s Summit in exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes. Being highly accessible from the resort, the summit viewpoint was bustling with day hikers. The vertical drop-offs here offer your first dramatic view of the Howe Sound fjord far below. We stopped for 10 minutes to eat an onigiri (rice ball) and enjoy the view before pushing deeper into the backcountry.
12:55 PM — The Long, Exposed Ridge to Unnecessary Mountain
Past St. Marks, the crowds instantly evaporate, and the trail becomes significantly more rugged and root-choked. After 45 minutes of climbing, we broke out of the subalpine canopy onto the ridge leading to Unnecessary Mountain.
01:31 PM — Elevation 1,548m: Unnecessary Mountain Summit
After crossing the South Peak, we hit the main summit of Unnecessary Mountain (1,548m). This stretch of the ridge is exceptionally scenic, keeping the ocean views locked on our left shoulder. Ahead of us, the massive, imposing granite horns of The Lions (the iconic landmarks of the Vancouver skyline) rose out of the moving cloud deck.
02:30 PM — The West Lions Bypass: Traversing Mid-June Snow Slopes
From Unnecessary Mountain, the trail drops steeply down rock/bush terrain to the saddle before it climbs up to the base of the West Lions. Skipping the sketchy climb up the horn to save time, we followed the HSCT markers as they cut sharply right across loose scree beneath the rock face.
Here, we encountered a steep, lingering snow slope hugging the southern shoulder. Crossing this slide path required careful footing and solid edge traction to avoid a dangerous slide into the basin below.
03:12 PM — Lunch Break on Thomas Peak
Skirting the backside of the East Lions, we crested Thomas Peak. Looking straight down into the bowl, Enchantment Lake sat nestled in thick coastal forest. We sat on the warm rock for a quick lunch, enjoying the views that can’t be seen from the Highway.
04:00 PM — Elevation 1,466m: James Peak Navigation Warning
We reached the rocky crown of James Peak at 4:00 PM. Descending this peak requires precise route-finding due to a highly misleading trail pattern.
⚠️ 【CRITICAL WARNING】Avoid the Dead-End North Gully on James Peak A well-worn, obvious path leads directly north off the summit of James Peak. Do not follow it! This path leads into a steep gully that terminates at a sheer cliff. The correct HSCT route drops west off the summit, doubling back slightly south toward the Lions before hooking sharply north around the base of the peak. Always consult your offline GPS map here.
05:00 PM — David Peak Summit and the Harvey Junction
Standing at 1,480m, David Peak is reached via a steep, hand-over-fist scramble up loose dirt. The effort is rewarded with a striking, close-up look at Mt. Harvey and the Lions with Howe Sound.
We dropped north off the summit, losing roughly 100 meters of elevation before ascending a short saddle to the Mt. Harvey junction (1,450m). Keeping right to stay on the HSCT, we entered a highly runnable, flowing subalpine forest.
06:00 PM — Magnesia Meadows Backcountry Campground: First Water Source
Exactly one hour after leaving David Peak, we dropped into the lush bowl of Magnesia Meadows. This is the first reliable water source along the entire traverse if you start from Cypress.
💡 Backcountry Hydration Hack: Always Use a Filter. While the cold, clear streams flowing through Magnesia Meadows look perfectly pristine, they are shared with local wildlife. We used filter-tipped soft flasks to safely refill our reserves. Drinking unfiltered backcountry water carries a high risk of Giardia, which will quickly ruin any adventure.
06:30 PM — Brunswick Mountain Junction: The Final Descent Begins
Leaving Magnesia Meadows, we completed a short 2km push to reach the shoulder of Brunswick Mountain (1,500m). This is the final high-altitude junction of the traverse and marks the end of all major climbing.
With 10km of continuous downhill ahead, we said goodbye to our coastal views of Howe Sound. The trail dives northeast, dropping 400 meters of vertical drop toward Brunswick Lake.
07:00 PM — Brunswick Lake: Wet Wading & High Water Crossing
We arrived at the shores of Brunswick Lake. Fed by melting snowfields, this high-alpine lake is a striking shade of turquoise.
💡 Wet Crossing Advice (Wading) At this point, the official trail crosses directly over the lake’s shallow section. During the peak June snowmelt, this crossing was about 50 to 60 cm deep, reaching up to our knees. Having a small, quick-drying towel ready before crossing the water was good practice.
08:00 PM — Passing Hanover Lake and Deeks Lake
We ran past Hanover Lake and hit the northern shoreline of Deeks Lake (elevation 1,000m) by 8:00 PM. Deeks Lake represents your absolute last opportunity to filter water before exiting the park. If your flasks are running low, stop here and fill them up; the final 6km is a relentless, dry descent.
09:30 PM — The Relentless Deeks Creek Forest Descent to Porteau Cove
The final section from Deeks Lake to the Highway 99 trailhead is a gruelling test of endurance. Over a distance of 6km, the trail drops nearly 1,000 meters of elevation down a steep, rocky decommissioned logging road and root-strewn forest path.
With daylight fading fast, we had our headlamps ready to use and focused on fast, efficient downhill strides. At exactly 9:30 PM, the sound of highway traffic filled the forest, and we burst out onto the asphalt at the Porteau Cove trailhead. 11 hours of rugged, raw, and beautiful Sea to Sky alpine traverse—completed!
🏔️ Looking for a Shorter Trail with an Equally Staggering Turquoise Lake?
If the 11-hour, 27-kilometre gruelling alpine sufferfest of the Howe Sound Crest Trail feels a bit too extreme for your upcoming weekend, you don’t have to sacrifice those mind-blowing Pacific Northwest views. For an incredibly rewarding alternative featuring some of the most vibrant, magical turquoise-blue water in the entire Sea to Sky corridor, you need to head out to Squamish’s hidden backcountry jewel.
Check out my blog post for the gorgeous [Watersprite Lake Hike in Squamish]