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- Please keep your dog on a leash, and always clean up and properly dispose of your dog’s waste.
- Trail update
- Click here to view a non-government website containing avalanche safety information and winter ski activities and conditions.
2010 Olympic Venue at Cypress Provincial Park
The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) invited the public to an update and overview on February 8, 2006 on the Cypress Venue project. The Cypress venue will host the freestyle skiing and snowboarding competitions for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Following the information session, comments from the public were received as part of the environmental assessment review and consultation process. From this review, the Cypress working group and VANOC prepared the below final Environmental Assessment Report (pdf format):
You can also visit the VANOC website for more information about this and other venues.
For more information, contact VANOC at 1-778-328-2010 or 1-877-408-2010.
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Park Info
The towering North Shore Mountains which form a backdrop to the bustling
city of Vancouver have beckoned outdoor recreationists for many years. Until
the opening of the Lions Gate Bridge in 1939, a fleet of ferries transported
hikers and skiers across Burrard Inlet on the first leg of their journey
to Hollyburn Ridge, which is now part of Cypress Provincial Park.
Bounded on the west by Howe Sound, on the north and east by the ridgetops
of Mount Strachan and Hollyburn Mountain and to the south by West Vancouver,
Cypress sits like a ship's crownest high above Vancouver.
On a clear day the views are spectacular! To the north is the sprawling
metropolitan area of Vancouver, while to the southeast is snowclad Mount
Baker in the Cascade Mountain chain. To the west and southwest lie the
Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island with Georgia Strait in the foreground.
The diversity of natural features, old-growth trees and outdoor
recreation opportunities both summer and winter, is due partly
to the climate of coastal British Columbia. The mean annual temperature
of around 9-10 degrees Celcius (49-50° F) results in many warm days for hikers and sightseers. No matter what the season or the weather, Cypress Provincial Park is an enjoyable place to be. Along with hiking and
sightseeing, photography, wilderness camping, mountain biking
(in limited areas), skiing and
other snow-related activities are just some of the activities
the park offers.
Park Size: Originally encompassing just over 2,100 hectares, the park now covers 3,012 hectares, including the Howe Sound Crest Trail.
Special Notes:
During the period from November to May, backcountry travellers
are required to show a Backcountry Access Pass to travel through the Controlled
Recreation Area, which is operated under permit by
Cypress Bowl Resorts. This pass is available without charge and may
be obtained from Cypress Bowl Resorts.
National Topographic Series Map Sheet 92G/06 (North Vancouver) at a scale of 1:50,000 cover the park area. This map is available from Government Agents and most map retailers in British Columbia.
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General Visitor Information
The mountainous backcountry is extremely rugged. Hiking in this area should
be attempted only by experienced backcountry travellers. Anyone contemplating
an extended or overnight hike should inform a friend or family of their
intended route and anticipated return time. Please note that open fires
are not permitted in the backcountry.
There is a drinking fountain located at the Cypress Bowl Recreations Cafeteria
Building. Water is scarce along the Howe Sound Crest Trail. Carry lots
of water or a water filter and fill up wherever possible.
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Location
The access road to Cypress Provincial Park is from the Upper Levels Highway (routes 1 and 99) in West Vancouver and enters the park at an elevation of 300 m. From the city of Vancouver, access is by crossing the Lions Gate Bridge to the Upper Levels Highway via Taylor Way in West Vancouver. The closest communities are West and North Vancouver.
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Nature & Culture
- History - The official opening of the Lions Gate Bridge linking Vancouver and West Vancouver by His Majesty King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939, signaled the end of the West Vancouver Ferry era and heralded the start of a population expansion in the city. As the population of the area increased there was an increasing necessity for more areas for skiing and hiking which resulted in the creation of the park.
- Conservation - The park has many natural highlights, including several sparkling mountain lakes--such as Blue Gentian, First, Yew, Cabin and West--that are nestled below the peaks of Mount Strachan (1,454 m), Black Mountain (1,217 m) and Hollyburn Mountain (1,325 m). Where the access road enters the park, at an elevation of 300 m, you pass first through a coastal Douglas-fir forest; this is a fire-scarred area with even-age stands of mixed Douglas-fir and western hemlock. Logging activities prior to the establishment of the park have opened much of the forest floor to the luxuriant growth of vine maple and cedar. Between 800 m and 940 m elevation, the forest gradually changes and, as the ridgetops are approached at 1,300 m above sea level, mountain hemlock, amabalis fir and yellow cypress--for which the park is named--predominate. The lush understory consists largely of shade-tolerant ferns, huckleberries, red and white heather, and false azaleas.
- Wildlife - A variety of large and small mammals inhabit the park. Coyotes and deer are often seen close to the access road. Black bears, squirrels, hares and weasels may be encountered in the backcountry. Adding colour and sound to the park are a variety of birds like ravens, gray jays, chickadees, warblers, woodpeckers, grouse, hawks and owls.
- General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information
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Map / Brochure
Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
Contact Info
Heather Hirst
Email address: Heather@cypressmountain.com
Phone: 1-604-926-5612
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Activities Available At This Park
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| Cycling |
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Bikes are not permitted on any trails within the park. Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
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| Hiking |
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For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Trail Information.
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| Pets on Leash |
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Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
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| Wildlife Viewing |
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The Yew Lake trail is an interpretive trail with several viewing stops.
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| Winter Recreation |
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Cypress Bowl Recreations Ltd. is located within the provincial park. They offer a full range of downhill skiing, a cross-country ski facility, tobagging opportunities and provides snowshoeing trails in the Nordic ski area. The alpine ski area features three chairlifts and a double rope-tow that services a wide range of slopes and runs opportunities. BC Parks maintains three backcountry winter trails for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing. BC Parks provides a designated trail for snowmobile use. The trail begins at Parking lot 5, travels beside the road to the powerlines, then follows the powerlines to the Trans Canada Trail. Snowmobiles are permitted on the Trans Canada Trail within the Park. The trail is very dependent on the level of snow as Parking Lot 5 and much of the trail is at the 850m elevation level. Snowmobiles are not permitted outside of the designated areas. Tobogganing is only permitted in the designated area. Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour offer skiing opportunities nearby.
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Facilities Available At This Park
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| Picnic Areas |
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This park has two (2) day-use/picnic areas. The Quarry picnic area has a large grassy area with eleven (11) picnic tables. Highview has a small grassy area and six (6) picnic tables. The Highview day-use area is mainly a lookout over Vancouver, Fraser Valley and the south end of Vancouver Island. Both the day-use areas have two (2) pit toilets and picnic tables with barbeque attachments, bring your own briquettes. There are no fire rings and fires are not permitted.
Day-use Area Vehicle Parking Fee: $1.00 per vehicle
/ hour to a maximum of $3.00 per vehicle per/day. For information about
yearly parking passes, or further information about parking fees,
click
here.
*Parking fees are only in effect between April 1 and October 31.
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| Pit or Flush Toilets |
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Pit and flush toilets are located throughout the park. Flush toilets are provided by Cypress Bowl Recreations Ltd. and are open from 7am to 11pm daily.
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| Walk-In/Wilderness Camping |
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Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed at higher elevations beyond the alpine and Nordic ski areas and along the Howe Sound Crest Trail, but no facilities are provided.
There are 4 preferred sites along the Howe Sound Crest trail.
- Plateau above Enchantment Lake (11km from Cypress Bowl);
- Magnesia Meadows (14.5km from Cypress Bowl );
- Brunswick Lake (19km from Cypress Bowl);
- Deeks Lake (22km from Cypress Bowl).
Tent pads or sites are not provided. Campers are encouraged to camp in cleared
areas as to limit environmental impacts. The backcountry of Cypress provincial
park can be rugged, and weather is often severe. Campers should be experienced
in the backcountry and prepared for all weather conditions. Campfires
are NOT permitted. Backcountry winter camping (1 km beyond alpine and
Nordic ski areas) is allowed. No facilities are provided. Backcountry
travelers are encouraged to use extreme caution in avalanche terrain.
Travellers should refer to the Cypress Provincial Park Winter trail
report (at the top of the page) for updated information on backcountry
trails and avalanche conditions.
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| Wheelchair Access |
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Some facilities and hiking trails in the park are wheelchair accessible. The Yew Lake trail is wheelchair accessible, barrier free trail. The Yew Lake trail has several interpretative viewing point, wheelchair accessible picnic tables, and rest stops along the way. The trail is a 2 km low-grade loop trail that meanders through an alpine old growth lake system. Cypress Bowl Recreations Cafeteria Building has flush toilets for disabled. Quarry and High View day-use areas have pit toilets for disabled.
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