Cypress Provincial Park
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A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
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2010 Winter Games Venue at Cypress Provincial Park
BC Parks is proud to welcome the world to Cypress Provincial Park where Cypress Mountain is the Official Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard Venue for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Between February 1 and March 8, 2010, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will have exclusive use of the ski area venue to create an Olympic-calibre environment for athletes, workforce, media and spectators. During this time, public access will be restricted within Cypress Park including the Nordic area.
BC Parks has been working closely with VANOC and its partners to minimize inconvenience for the recreating public during the 2009-2010 winter season. Cypress Provincial Park will remain open to the public with some modifications to access for users of the southern portions of Cypress Park. The northern portions of the park (i.e. Deeks Lake) will remain unaffected.
Winter recreation activities including skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing within the Cypress Mountain Ski Area are open prior to and following the 2010 Winter Games. For more information please visit: www.cypressmountain.com
Please note the following important information regarding park access changes leading up to, during, and after the 2010 Winter Games.
Backcountry Access Corridors:
Hollyburn Hikers Access Trail to Hollyburn Peak will remain open until February 1, 2010. Between February 1, 2010 and March 8, 2010 access will be closed to the public in order to support security operations associated with the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Black Mountain Winter Access corridor will remain open until December 1, 2009. Between December 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010 this corridor will be closed in consideration of public safety and in order to support Games related operational requirements.
Howe Sound Crest Winter Access corridor including Yew Lake Trail and Bowen Lookout will remain open until December 1, 2009. Between December 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010 this corridor will be closed in consideration of public safety and in order to support Games related operational requirements.
Note: Trail users are advised that security personnel may be encountered on any of these trails prior to closure dates. Post-Games, these access corridors will not be marked.
Other Temporary Access Restrictions:
In consideration of public safety and in order to support Games related operational and security requirements vehicle access to Cypress Bowl Road from Highway 1 will be limited during the exclusive use period (February 1 to March 8, 2010).
There will be no spectator or public parking at the Cypress Mountain venue during the Games period.
High View Lookout will be closed as of February 1, 2010 in order to support Games related operational and security requirements. It will open again March 9, 2010.
Quarry Lookout (day area) will be closed from November 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010 in order to support security operations associated with the 2010 Winter Games.
Any information regarding operational events will be updated on this site as changes occur. We appreciate your cooperation during this unique international event.
Please visit the BC Parks website at www.bcparks.ca for information about other parks providing winter recreation opportunities during the 2010 Winter Games period.
For more information:
Vancouver 2010: www.vancouver2010.com/gameplan
Cypress Mountain: www.cypressmountain.com
District of West Vancouver: www.westvancouver.ca
Or send your questions to ParkInfo or info@vancouver2010.com
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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 south 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.
General Notices
- Please keep your dog on a leash, and always clean up and properly dispose of your dog’s waste.
- Trail report
- Get safety information and winter ski activities and conditions (non-government website)
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Current Conditions - North Shore Avalanche Bulletin
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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.
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Activities Available At This Park
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Cycling | |
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Hiking | |
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Pets on Leash | |
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Wildlife Viewing | |
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Winter Recreation | |
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Facilities Available At This Park
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Picnic Areas | |
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.
*Parking fees are only in effect between April 1 and October 31.
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Pit or Flush Toilets | |
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Walk-In/Wilderness Camping | |
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).
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Wheelchair Access | |
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