Lower Mainland. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Visitor guidelines
Use the backcountry access corridor in winter
From November 1 to May 31, the backcountry access corridor (BAC) leads backcountry users safely through Cypress Resort’s ski area.
The Black Mountain and Bowen Lookout trails must be accessed via the BAC, which is marked by green circular signs. For details, see the winter trail map [PDF].
Before heading out, get a backcountry access tag from the Brown Bag Room in the Black Mountain Lodge. There is no charge for backcountry access tags.
No campfires
There is a permanent campfire ban in this park. Campfires are not allowed anywhere in the park, at any time of year. This includes picnic areas.
Prepare for the trail conditions
The mountainous backcountry of Cypress Park is rugged and unforgiving. It is only suitable for properly equipped visitors with backcountry experience. The Howe Sound Crest Trail is an especially difficult route that should not be underestimated.
The Howe Sound Crest and Eagle Bluffs trails should not be used in winter.
Several trails in Cypress Park require you to cross creeks that do not have bridges. You may find this difficult or even impossible after heavy rainfall. Use caution around fast-flowing water. If in doubt, do not cross.
For information on hikes in this park, see the hiking section.
View the Cypress Park trail report [PDF] (January 4, 2025).
Leave a trip plan
Before any backcountry trip (whether it’s an overnight stay or a day-hike), remember to tell someone you trust. Let them know your route and the time you expect to return.
An easy, effective way to do this is by making them a trip plan with the AdventureSmart trip plan tool. A detailed trip plan will help emergency services find your party if you run into trouble.
Be prepared for changing weather
Mountain weather conditions often change suddenly and dramatically. Take warm clothing and rain gear. Bring navigational equipment and ensure everyone in your party can use it.
If mist and fog close in and you become lost or disoriented, stay where you are. Wait until the weather clears or you are found. Never leave the trail.
Stay safe around wildlife
Potentially dangerous animals live in this park. On trails, make noise to prevent unexpected encounters. Be aware that food waste and other scents will attract wildlife.
To learn how to avoid encounters and ensure unavoidable encounters do not escalate, see the wildlife safety page.
Prepare for winter conditions
During winter, you may run into dangerous conditions at this park. The Howe Sound Crest and Eagle Bluffs trails should not be used in winter.
Current avalanche conditions can be found at avalanche.ca. Check the trail conditions report and ensure you are properly equipped before visiting.
For more information on staying safe when visiting BC Parks in winter, see the winter safety page.
Park in designated spots
Cypress Park is an extremely popular destination. During the winter, parking availability can become very limited, especially on weekends and holidays. Park only in the designated areas identified by signs or traffic control staff.
In the winter, we encourage visitors to carpool whenever possible. Alternatively, you can take the Cypress Coach Lines bus. During the ski season, Cypress Resort operates a free shuttle bus running between Lot 3B and the downhill and nordic ski areas.
Assuming spots are available, parking is free of charge year-round in three areas:
- Parking lot 3B
- Designated areas of the road shoulder south of Lot 3B
- The road shoulder between Cypress Bowl Road and the BC Parks nordic area information kiosk
In all other parking areas, between November 1 and May 31, Cypress Resort may implement pay parking.
Park in Lot 3B for overnight trips. If you park overnight in another area, your vehicle will be towed. A search and rescue operation may be launched.
Keep pets leashed
Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be leashed. Please dispose of their waste responsibly. For more guidance, see the pet etiquette section of the responsible recreation page.
Other than service animals, pets are not allowed in park buildings. Pets are not allowed on the Yew Lake Trail when it is snow free. Always follow instructions posted on signs at the trailhead.
No drones
Operating drones without permission is illegal in BC Parks. In the rare cases when we grant permission, you must keep your drone away from wildlife and other visitors.
No harvesting
Harvesting mushrooms or any other crops is forbidden in all BC Parks. The only exceptions are for Indigenous Peoples and research permit holders.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Trail maps
- Cypress Park trails [PDF]
- Cypress Park winter trails [PDF]
- Howe Sound Crest Trail [PDF]
- Winter trails (and backcountry access corridor) map [PDF]
- Yew Lake Barrier Free Interpretive Trail and Howe Sound Crest Trail access [PDF]
Web resources
Getting there
Cypress Park is on the North Shore of Metro Vancouver. It is a short drive across the Lions Gate Bridge from downtown Vancouver. The closest communities are West and North Vancouver.
The road to Cypress Park is from the Upper Levels Highway (Routes 1 and 99) in West Vancouver. From the city of Vancouver, cross the Lions Gate Bridge to the Upper Levels Highway via Taylor Way in West Vancouver.
For the Hollyburn (nordic skiing) area, please follow the road for 12.8 km and turn right. For the Cypress Bowl (Alpine skiing) area, continue another 2 km to the end of the road.
Things to do
Cypress Park is a popular destination for hiking year-round. For trail details, see the Cypress Park: Hiking and skiing page. To download maps that include trail details, see the maps and location section.
Cypress Park’s terrain is often rugged and can be hazardous in bad weather. Check the trail conditions report in the visitor guidelines before heading out. Please follow the guidance posted on signs and keep to designated trails.
In winter, you will need the appropriate clothing and equipment. You may also need a backcountry access corridor pass (BAC). For information on the BAC, see the visitor guidelines.
To learn more about winter hiking in this park, please see the winter recreation section.
The Eagle Bluffs and Howe Sound Crest trails are popular summer hiking routes in this park. They should not be used in winter. The videos below provide safety tips for using these trails:
Many large and small mammals live in this the park. For details, see the wildlife section. There are many wildlife viewing opportunities, including from several viewing stops along the Yew Lake Barrier Free Interpretive Trail. Coyotes and deer are often seen close to the access road.
Never approach, feed or disturb bears or other wild animals. For information on how to stay safe, visit our wildlife safety page.
Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be leashed. Please dispose of their waste responsibly. For more information, see the pet etiquette section of the responsible recreation page.
Other than service animals, pets are not allowed in park buildings. Pets are not allowed on the Yew Lake Trail when it is snow free. Always follow the guidance posted on signs at the trailhead.
Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to the potential for dangerous wildlife encounters. For detailed information on staying safe around wild animals, see the wildlife safety page.
Bicycles are only allowed on park roads in Cypress Park. Bicycles are not allowed on any trails in this park. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in B.C. For information on bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes), see the E-Biking section.
Bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails in Cypress Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motor vehicles are allowed. The only exception is for authorized staff with identified trail maintenance bikes, conducting work for BC Parks.
Cypress Mountain Resort
Cypress Mountain Resort is entirely within this park. It offers downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowtubing, and 11 km of self-guided snowshoeing trails. Tobogganing is only allowed in the designated area.
The alpine ski area features six chairlifts: two high-speed quad chairs, two quad chairs, and two double chairs. For more information, see the Cypress Mountain Resort section of the ‘Cypress Park: Hiking and skiing’ page.
Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour also offer skiing opportunities on Metro Vancouver’s north shore.
Backcountry winter trails
BC Parks maintains three marked snowshoeing and backcountry skiing trails in the backcountry of Cypress Park. To download maps with details of these trails, see maps and location. The trails are:
- Bowen Lookout
- Black Mountain Plateau
- Hollyburn Peak
All three of these trails travel through avalanche terrain. You are responsible for your own safety, so visit avalanche.ca for up-to-date avalanche information. For advice on staying safe, see our winter safety page.
The Black Mountain and Bowen Lookout trails must be accessed via the backcountry access corridor (BAC), which is marked by green circular signs. The trails themselves are marked by red poles.
To use the BAC, you need a backcountry access tag. Get your tag from the Brown Bag Room in the Black Mountain Lodge before heading out. There is no charge for backcountry access tags.
BC Parks strongly discourages winter travel to Eagle Bluffs and along the Howe Sound Crest Trail past Bowen Lookout.
Peak-time parking
Cypress Park is an extremely popular destination. During the winter, parking availability can become very limited, especially on weekends and holidays. Park only in the designated areas identified by signs or traffic control staff.
Please carpool whenever possible. Alternatively, take the Cypress Coach Lines bus. During the ski season, Cypress Mountain Resort operates a free shuttle bus running between Lot 3B and the downhill and nordic ski areas.
About this park
The mountains sitting directly across Burrard Inlet from Vancouver have attracted visitors for decades. Until the Lions Gate Bridge opened in 1939, ferries ran between Vancouver and the North Shore.
As the population of greater Vancouver increased, so did the demand for access to skiing and hiking opportunities. This demand resulted in the creation of Cypress Park in 1975. The Howe Sound Crest Trail was added to the park in 1982.
Cypress Park has many natural highlights, including several mountain lakes, such as Blue Gentian, First, Yew, Cabin, and West Lakes. These are nestled below the peaks of Mount Strachan (1454 m), Black Mountain (1217 m), and Hollyburn Mountain (1325 m).
Where the access road enters the park, at an elevation of 425 m, you pass through a coastal Douglas fir forest. This fire-scarred area has stands of Douglas fir and western hemlock. Logging before the park was established opened much of the forest floor to vine maple and cedar growth.
Between 800 m and 940 m elevation, the forest gradually changes. Near the ridge tops at 1300 m, mountain hemlock, amabalis fir, and yellow cypress (for which the park is named) predominate. The lush undergrowth consists largely of shade-tolerant ferns, huckleberries, red and white heather, and false azaleas.
Invasive plants in the park are being managed by BC Parks and partners. For information, see the invasive plant management strategy [PDF].
Many mammals live in Cypress Park. You may encounter coyotes, deer, black bears, squirrels, hares, and weasels. Cougars have been seen occasionally.
At least 113 different bird species have been reported in this park, including ravens, gray jays, red-breasted sapsuckers, blue grouse, and pygmy owls.
The park also provides habitat for Pacific treefrogs, blue-listed (vulnerable) tailed
frogs, and northwestern and western redback salamanders.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Ski resort questions | Contact Cypress Mountain Resort guest services.
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| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
