Deeks Peak

This adventure is another Lions Bay classic that is easily accessed from Vancouver. It leads to a beautiful lake that offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. There is also the option to summit a photogenic mountain. The price to access this area is a steep ascent that may make your thighs burn!

This outing can be done as a challenging loop that ends with a trail that is hard to follow in snowy conditions. Other options include going to Deeks Lake and turning back or going to Deeks Peak and retracing your steps to make this an out-and-back hike. The adventure described here first goes to Deeks Lake and then traverses Deeks Peak.

Start at the northern end of the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT), off the Porteau Road exit on Highway 99. This well-marked trail leads to Deeks Lake. There are a few intersections along the way, but there are indications. The lake is 6 kilometers from the trailhead at an elevation of 1,050 meters.

From the lake, the views of Mount Windsor, Mount Hanover, Gotha Peak, Brunswick Mountain and Hat Mountain are outstanding. The lake will be frozen in winter, so you can venture on it to get better views. From here you could continue south on the HSCT to Brunswick Lake. If you’ve had enough, you can also turn back and return to the car. To work a little harder, keep reading to summit Deeks Peak.

From Deeks Lake, head north toward an obvious col. This trail is not as obvious to follow as the HSCT, but it is flagged. At the col (1,450 meters), head west to Deeks Peak climbing the last 220 meters over a distance of 500 meters. This section is steep and can be difficult in snow conditions.

From Deeks Peak the views are outstanding in all directions. The Sky Pilot group to the north will attract a lot of attention, as will Mount Hanover and Brunswick Mountain to the south. Take a moment to soak in the views before heading down.

To head down, you can retrace your steps to the lake. This should be your preferred option if you are tired or not a big fan of routefinding. If you still have gas in the tank, traverse the summit and complete the loop.

Traversing the summit means descending west for 1 kilometer. This section can be hard to follow and conditions will be hard in winter. However, you will be rewarded with excellent views throughout the descent. At 1,400 meters, follow the river down to Lost Lake. There’s a very basic cabin at the lake, but it is not in the best shape. If you want to make this outing a backpack, bring your tent and consider spending the night at Deeks Lake instead.

From Lost Lake, the trail is flagged, but not very maintained. It descends west for 3 kilometers and a few switchbacks. At around 400 meters you will reach a dirt road that eventually leads back to the parking. Descending from Deeks Peak to the dirt road will involve some tricky routefinding.