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BC Coast :: Sea to Sky :: Bowen Island - Mt. Gardner

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Panoramic View east from Mt. Gardner.  Howe Sound Crest distance left

March 23, 2013

Mount Gardner is terrific day trip.  Getting to trailhead involves ferry crossing to Snug Cove on Bowen Island, which adds to overall sense of adventure.  There are several scenic highlights, including visit to Crippen Regional Park, Killarney lake and great panoramic views from the summit.  Clockwise loop is recommended option because of fantastic viewpoint of Sechelt Peninsula and Sunshine Coast from west side descent. Due to low elevation hike is feasible year-round, but shady west slopes might harbor snow and/or icy sections in winter.  Note last ferry crossing time back to Mainland in order not to get stranded overnight on Bowen Island!  See this link for BC Ferries Schedule.  Note that public parking is available in Horseshoe Bay, but it is expensive - while nearby street parking is next to impossible to find.  If you live in metro-Van area, it is better to use translink.

From Snug Cove walk to Crippen Park entrance and follow signed wide trail(s) to Killarney Lake.  Walk on wide trail on west side of the lake for ~10mins then transfer to Mt. Gardner Road above and watch for spur road branching uphill -- it leads to marked Mt. Gardner trailhead (see pics in Gallery).  From there you follow signed Skid Trail to a junction; take left branch ("South Mt. Gardner Trail").  If you descend from the west side, this is where you will finish the loop.  Trail rises moderately through some nice forest, then traverses east slopes on a good trail.  Ignore marked South Summit shortcut, instead follow the main trail that loops on the south side before making the final dash to open summit and couple of strategically placed helipads (servicing of nearby telecommunication complex).  On a sunny, clear day views are nothing short of fantastic and solitude will be hard to find, specially on a weekend!

If conditions allow, find west trail descending from second helipad. Initial section is steep, but soon it mellows and traverses some spectacular old-growth. This trail is definitely less used and you will have to keep focus although occasional flags keep you in right direction.  About 45 mins from the summit you arrive to clearing and Sechelt Peninsula viewpoint;  distant peaks of Tetrahedron park look specially impressive.  From there descent is steeper again till you finally rejoin Skid Trail junction and close the loop.  Then simply retrace your steps by Killarney Lake and back to Snug Cove.

Gallery