David Peak


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What:  1480m.  A good climb with excellent views.

Where:  David Peak is located off the Howe Sound Crest Trail above Lions Bay, BC.

Difficulty: 4/5  Challenging trail that offers a little bit of everything
Runnability: 2/5 Popular lower section of trail offers a good warm-up.  Some light scrambling in the alpine
Peak view: 5/5
Clear views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery: 4/5 Old growth, second growth forests. Creeks. Beautiful alpine lakes. Great views.
Children: 2/5 Challenging from distance perspective.
Dogs: 3/5 Sharp rocks on final ascent

Route overview:  David Peak is just off the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST).  The closest trailhead is Lions Bay. 

Trip distance:  From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 11 km.

Trip time:  From Lions Bay, anticipate 2.5-5 hours.  Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay.  This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety: 

  • Cellular coverage is poor to non-existent.
  • GPS spotty under tree cover
  • Emergency shelter at Magnesia Meadows. Firehall in Lions Bay.
  • Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin: Unknown.

Headwaters for:  Some small streams.

Getting there:  From the south:  Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1.  Parking is a challenge.  Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking.  Warning:  Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!

Route Details:  David Peak is just off the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT).  There are 2 popular routes to David from the closest trailhead at Lions Bay: From the south via the Lions or from the north via Brunswick Mountain. 

Lions Bay to West Lion (1.5-3 hours)

  • park where you can.  Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
  • take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km.  Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
  • HSCT to the Lions is popular and clearly marked. 

West Lion to David Peak (1- 1.5 hours)

  • from the base of the West Lion, follow HSCT west past James Peak
  • trail leading to the peak is sometimes hard to follow and beware loose shale near the peak
  • small cairn and great views

Porteau Exit to Harvey Ridge (3-5 hours)

  • From the parking lot, go right and uphill on a gravel road past a yellow gate.
  • Follow dirt and gravel road approximately 4 km uphill to a small clearing with a smaller dirt road to the left with HSCT marker.  If you are driving, best to park vehicle here
  • well traveled singletrack trail continues steeply uphill with a series of 3 beautiful lakes to a red-roofed shelter below Brunswick Mountain
  • continue uphill along HCST to Brunswick Ridge then down through Magnesia Meadows to red-roofed shelter
  • continue south along HCST next to a small lake then up to a ridge. 

Harvey Ridge to David Peak (1-2 hours)

  • follow well-trodden path through blueberry bushes around a wide, open clear-cut.
  • at ridge below David, be careful to *not* descend clearly-marked trail into next valley.  Very small, poorly-marked trail goes southward and steeply up the north side of David.

Neighboring peaks:

  • Bagger Challenge peaks Mount Harvey, James Peak and West Lion are relatively close.  Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by:  Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information: 

  • not much out there!


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