Hike to Mt. Strachan

On November 23, 1963, the world was faltered by the news of John F. Kennedy’s assassination (the previous day). Vancouver was dealing with it's own tragedy; a military plane crash in the North Shore Mountains. The hike to Mt. Strachan gives you the opportunity to visit the crash site.

The Mount Strachan hike starts at the Cypress Mountain Resort in West Vancouver (free parking is available). Start near the main lodge and walk up the gravel road, follow along the Yew Lake trail.

You'll meander through deep forest as you ascend towards the ski hills. There is excellent signage at each trail junction. As you ascend, you can look back for occasional views of nearby peaks and views of the city.

During the ascent, just before the south peak, you'll reach the site of the T-33 plane crash. The Navy jet was on a training mission in 1963 when it crashed in the heavily wooded area. It took several days for crews to locate the crash site. Today, the area is still preserved with several pieces of the plane among the forest.

Once you reach the top of the South Peak, you'll be greeted by 360 panoramic views. On a clear day, the views extend far beyond the Lions, Howe Sound, and North Shore peaks.

When you've had your fill of views, continue along the trail and drop down to the col between the north and south peaks. Here, you'll notice a trail emerging from the left. This follows the steep Christmas Gully and is a viable option to loop back to the parking lot (careful, it's a steep trail!). For now, ignore the trail to the left and continue straight; the trail steepens until you top out on the North Peak. From here, you can see into the watershed and beyond, views of Crown and Goat mountains. You will also have a closer vantage of the Lions.

If you're looking for a quick hike with solid views and a quick history lesson in the mountains, I recommend Mt. Strachan.