As we all know, there's a ton of hiking trails on the North Shore. However, many hikers aren't so familiar with the webs of mountain-biking trails covering the lower slopes of Hollyburn Mountain, Mount Fromme, and Mount Seymour.
These forest paths are best saved for rainy days, when views are nil and only diehard bikers are out. One fall day, we set out from the new parking lot at the top of Mountain Highway in North Vancouver (in the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations) with the aim of reaching Kennedy Falls.
With a rainfall warning in effect, the first big creek we were to cross on the Cedar Trail was a raging torrent. Plan B: explore a few of the bike trails on Mount Fromme.
Leopard. Photo: Stephen Hui.
We followed the Kirkford, Crinkum Crankum, Leopard, and Seventh Secret trails up the mountain, admiring the various bridges, ramps, and other obstacles. (You can support their maintenance by buying a trail pass from the North Shore Mountain Bike Association.)
The latter trail spit us out on the Old Grouse Mountain Highway at an elevation of 770 metres. We strolled down the gravel road to finish our foggy forest hike.
Seventh Secret. Photo: Stephen Hui.
The loop took 3.5 hours. It's worth noting that the Mount Fromme parking lot opens at 9 a.m.
Looking for more mountain-biking trails to explore? Check out Pinecone Burke Provincial Park in Coquitlam and Crumpit Woods in Squamish.
