Deeks Peak & Deeks Lake

Deeks Peak is at the far north end of the beautiful Howe Sound Crest Trail which runs from Cypress Resort 29k away.  The trailhead near Porteau Cove is the access point Deeks Peak and Deeks Lake. It is a steadily uphill hike as you gain 1615 metres in almost 8 kilometres.  The trail is also very overgrown and strewn with fallen trees.  A multi-day hike in this area via the Howe Sound Crest Trail where you can hike a couple or all of the amazing peaks.

Brunswick Mountain, Mt Hanover, Mt Harvey and The Lions stretch off into the distance eventually leading to Cypress Mountain 29k away.  Backcountry camping is possible in innumerable phenomenal sites along the trail.  None of them are sanctioned or maintained so don't expect any facilities but there are countless streams, waterfalls and lakes to put a tent by.

There is quite an interesting hut at Lost Lake.  Small and very rustic, yet every inch of it has been loved and abused.  Depending on the weather outside the hut will probably colour your opinion of the inside.

It's dirty, grungy, the walls are thin and metal.  The ground is covered with debris, gravel and dirt.  There are alcohol bottles lining almost every surface... and all partly full.

The place is a mess, but a beautiful little mountain hut nonetheless.  A pile of chopped wood lines one wall and possibly the most loved wood-stove in the history of the world sits in the middle.  This beautiful stove makes this ugly little hut feel like paradise.  If there is snow on the ground outside or you just braved a swim in the always icy Lost Lake, then you will quickly learn to cherish this wonderful hut.

If you plan on parking overnight at the trailhead be careful about where to park.  The parking lot has a no overnight parking sign, so you will have to park along the road near the parking lot.  An alarmingly high number of reported car break-ins make this area of concern when parking.  Be extremely careful that nothing of value is visible to passers by.

If you are lucky and find the gate open at the start of the trail you can drive 3.5 kilometres up this fairly decent logging road and take about an hour off the start of your hike.  This road is easily drivable with a high clearance 4x4, however, some deep waterbars will prevent lower clearance vehicles from getting through.

Deeks Peak is part of the amazing Howe Sound Crest Trail in Cypress Provincial Park and is one of the many beautiful peaks to be climbed if desired on the 29k trail.  Among the hiker friendly mountains (in order from Cypress north) on the Howe Sound Crest Trail are: Mount Strachan, St Mark`s Summit, Unnecessary Mountain, The Lions, Mount Harvey, Mount Hanover, Brunswick Mountain and finally Deeks Peak.  This amazing trail has one end here at Porteau Cove and the other end at Cypress Mountain.

Everyone has a different opinion of the Deeks Lake and Deeks Peak trail.  If you hike it on a hot, sunny day in July, August or September and manage to park at the end of the logging road, 3.5 from the gate, then you will find this trail amazing.

On the other hand, if you hike earlier in the season, encounter snow on the trail and have to park at the lower parking lot due to the gate being locked, you will likely hate Deeks Peak.  So keep that in mind. Try to hike the trail later than May/June or be prepared and comfortable hiking in snow.  Try to get a 4x4 and hope for an unlocked gate and if not be super careful in securing your car and enjoy the easy, though boring, first 3.5k of trail/road.

Trailhead Directions to Deeks Peak

The trailhead is easy to find.  22k north of Horseshoe Bay take the Porteau Road exit and park in the large trailhead parking.  The trail begins at the far end of the parking lot and follows an old dirt road.  At the first fork take the road to the right.  At 1k you will reach the trail junction, left for Deeks Peak or straight for Deeks Lake.  The trail is very overgrown but well marked with flagging tape.  With the arrival of spring, enthusiastic hikers rush up this trail, however, snow persists well into June(usually), making the trail brutal and at times, dangerous.

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More Hikes Near Deeks Peak

The Lions dominate the skyline in North Vancouver, about one hour from downtown Vancouver.  The two distinct, rocky peaks are visible from downtown Vancouver.  The view from the top is spectacular.  Howe Sound stretches out into the blue distance.  A tough but wonderful hiking trail.The first half of the hike is very easy as you follow a disused, though beautifully overgrown logging road gently uphill.  The trail after this road is very well marked with flagging tape, tree markers and paint indicators on the rock faces.  There are two plateaus before the final, very difficult ascent to the summit of the West Lion.  Both plateaus have incredible views and most make the second plateau their final destination.  It is at the base of the West Lion.  There are not really any suitable places to put up a tent, but if you had to choose, somewhere in the vicinity of these two plateaus would be the place to do it.  Mount Harvey is one of the huge, visible and hikeable summits in the North Shore mountains.  It is located on the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Cypress Provincial Park near The Lions.  Reachable via the Howe Sound Crest Trail or by its own trailhead in Lions Bay.  The same trailhead used for The Lions, Brunswick Mountain and Mount Hanover.  There are no trail use fees, parking fees or camping fees from this trailhead.  The trail is challenging, though not out of technical skill but due to its steepness of the trail.  You gain 1400 metres in just 6.5k.  The final scramble to the summit can be dangerous in poor weather, but generally not too difficult.  The trail to Mount Harvey is well worn, but poorly marked for the first half of the hike.  Mount Hanover is another amazing and accessible peak in the North Shore mountains.  Located in the beautiful Cypress Provincial Park, Mount Hanover is among several other prominent summits on the amazing Howe Sound Crest Trail.  You can reach Mount Hanover from the Howe Sound Crest Trail if you begin your hike from the Cypress Mountain Resort, however reaching it from the trailhead in Lions Bay is much shorter.  Brunswick Mountain is the highest peak in the North Shore mountains.  Located in the beautiful Cypress Provincial Park, Brunswick Mountain is among several other prominent summits on the amazing Howe Sound Crest Trail.  The trail is challenging as you gain considerable elevation in a short distance, 1550 metres in just 7.3k.

St Mark's Summit is a relatively easy way to get hiking deep into Vancouver's amazing mountains.  Starting this hike at Cypress means you drive most of the elevation.  Even though you still have another 460 metres in 5.5k to hike, the beautiful forest and frequent Howe Sound views make it seem quick and easy.  It takes about 1.5 hours to reach St Mark's Summit and the views are fantastic.  Not only because of the incredible vantage point over Howe Sound, but the abruptness of St Mark's Summit.  The cliffs below you are frighteningly vertical, making the views fantastically majestic.  Unnecessary Mountain gets its peculiar name from the fact it once was part of the route to reach The Lions whereas now the route avoids it.  This now, unnecessary mountain, no longer needs to be climbed to reach The Lions.  Unnecessary is part of the amazing Howe Sound Crest Trail in Cypress Provincial Park and is one of the many beautiful peaks to be climbed if desired on the 29k trail.  Among the hiker friendly mountains (from Cypress north) on the Howe Sound Crest Trail are: Mount Strachan, St Mark`s Summit, Unnecessary Mountain, The Lions, Mount Harvey, Mount Hanover, Brunswick Mountain and finally Deeks Peak.  As Unnecessary lays in the middle of the Howe Sound Crest Trail, it has its own trail from Lions Bay which makes it a manageable day-trip.  The trail is well marked but very steep and overgrown.  It is sometimes compared, as so many other North Shore trails, to the Grouse Grind.  Harder, better views and no people, is the usual description.  Hollyburn Mountain, in Cypress Provincial Park, is an amazing place to snowshoe or go hiking.  The Hollyburn trailhead is an astonishingly close, 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver.  The 30 minute drive is quite something as well.  From the always beautiful crossing of the beautiful Lions Gate Bridge, to the incredible views of Vancouver from the approach drive to Cypress Mountain and the Hollyburn Mountain trailhead.