St. Marks Summit is one of the famous day hikes from Vancouver near Cypress Mountain. The trail starts from the Cypress mountain parking lot. St. marks summit is along the Lions mountain trail.
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St. Marks Summit hiking trail summary
- Total hiking distance: 10.5 Km (Roundtrip)
- Hiking time: Around 4 hours (Roundtrip)
- Highest point: 1347 meters (4419 feet)
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Best season to do the chief hike: April to November
- Elevation gain: 499 meters (1637 feet)
St. Marks summit hiking in details
St. marks summit hike starts from the Cypress mountain parking lot. There are washrooms and other facilities near the parking lot which you can utilize before commencing the hike.The trail is pretty straightforward from there and you can also see a lot of people going for the hike.
Overall, the hike is easy but it is also little technical. It is steep throughout also but not so much. We did the hike in the first week of November and the snow had begun to form. So, the trail had become very slippery. Also, the trail passes through the forest with a lot of natural roots along the way.
From the top, the view of Howe sound, Bowen Island, horse show bay, Vancouver Island etc. is breathtaking. Please also be aware that the birds at the top have been being fed by hikers so they are very bold and can pick some stuff out of your hand. So, please do not feed birds at the top. Also, at the top, the temperature will be much cooler compared to the parking lot.