This is it, the whole enchilada. An overview of the complete Baden-Powell trail, as it extends from Deep Cove to Horeshoe Bay.
Sections of it are commonly hiked for pleasure - including "BP to Mosquitoe Creek" and "BP - St. Georges", as well as the return portion of "Brothers Creek", and, further up on Cypress and Black Mountain. All of which you will find on trailpeak. However, very few people will attempt to do the complete Baden-Powell trail, except those foolish enough to enter the knee-knacker race, which is completed by the winner in the range of 6 hours.
We're putting this out there because not many people have a sense for the complete trail. We'll even put a challenge out there for those of you brave enough to take our GPS co-ordinates and navigate the length of it, perhaps over a few weekends. The GPS data is fairly accurate, however, you may be well served by using paper topo maps and cross-checking every now and again.
Click on "view/download GPS" to pre-view and then download the GPS data for the BP. You can download that straigt into your GPS using G7TOWIN or OZI-Explorer (we also provide). G7TOWIN is freeware without map support, whereas OZI works with our digital 1:50,000 topo maps.
We'd like to receive GPS data from those who try it - we'd like to compare - and we'd really enjoy a thorough write-up, of each day's rambles, or, perhaps an account of someone's knee-kancker experience.
ByPosted By: madwithpower62
- Tue Jan 19 01:13:05 EST 2010
Not Rated
CommentWhat SamR says is my concern,too. I see surveyor's pins and flags in at least 3 points right beside the BP Trail including Dempsey and Mountain Highway areas. Save the BP!!
ByPosted By: Rambo
- Sat Nov 14 14:51:50 EST 2009
UpsideChallenging
DownsideBlack Mountain section is a little mental
CommentJust did the Horseshoe bay to Black Mountain section yesterday (Nov. Friday the 13th 2009). Sky was cloudy but mostly clear. I took the Whyte Lake Trail and it was very nice, very green and wet. Merged on Baden Powell Trail and took the alternate route to the summit. This section was crazy, took me more than two hours to go uphill and what started as 1 cm of snow, became 2 feet of snow on top.
The way down is really hard and i could even say dangerous if you are not careful. The snow was covering the moss and dirt which was sliding. Only experienced hikers should try this part going down Black Mountain to Horseshoe Bay. Going uphill ain't that bad.
Horseshoe Bay to Black Mountain and back, 6 hours.
ByPosted By: chameleon4444
- Sat Sep 19 18:04:01 EDT 2009
Not Rated
UpsideGreat hike, good exercise as it's a lot of elevation
DownsideJust wet in warmish weather and snow
CommentTamidog, the same thing happened to my brother and me, got to the top and followed the flags. It turned out those were for the cross country skiiers or something. It looped up back around to the bottom of Cypress without enought time left to go back up and keep going. Definitely take a compass.
ByPosted By: TAMIDOGG
- Thu Jun 11 18:35:18 EDT 2009
Not Rated
CommentI started at horseshoe bay and got lost in Cypress since I could not find anymore trail markers. maybe the snow ate it.
So advice to anyone go in August and get a GPS .....it toke us over 9 hours by the time we left Cypress..haha
ByPosted By: SamR
- Wed Aug 20 17:17:45 EDT 2008
UpsideTravelliing West to East during the Knee Knacker it is a wonderful sight to emerge from the forest on Black Mountain and turn to see Georgia strait and the islands laid out before you.
DownsideThe trail is long and gruelling (doing it in one go - as on the Knee Knacker) and it sure isa welcome sight to exit the trail at the end and see Panaorma Park in Deep Cove.
CommentHaving done the Knee Knacker about a dozen times I feel I know every rock and root of the Baden Powell - so I am probably a bit biased. One thing that deos concern me is the signs of human development encroaching into the whole North Shore area. Most of it is small scale but I think we should all be on our guard to make sure that this fabulous jewel of a wonderful (near) wilderness area on the doorstep of such a large city as Vancouver is not chipped away.
ByPosted By: iDodgimus
- Thu Jul 31 19:16:58 EDT 2008
Not Rated
Questioncamping?thinking of doing this one as an overnighter... any hints on good spots to camp?
thanks :)
ByPosted By: chameleon4444
- Thu Mar 20 03:36:20 EDT 2008
UpsideThe trail was very well kept up Most of it is well away from the sounds of the city - a great day of releif!
DownsideI actually found trail diversity was a downside for my step brother and me. If you're out there to do it in one day we spent a lot of time trying to figure out which was the route to take so that we stayed on the correct BP trail.
CommentMy step-brother and I did this yesterday (March 18th) and started at 0720. We had to get a taxi up to Deep Cove as a bus would have taken way too long. The trail head is on the left side and is joined with a driveway along the Panorma drive right after an S curve. The Eastern part of the hike to Capillano was dry with no snow, but after that we battled the snow all the way. We actually never made it right through to Horseshoe bay. This is a warning to anyone new to the trail also wanting to do it early in the year. We ended up at the top of Black mtn, we could see the bay bellow, it was simply one last long descent. We started off once again following the orange stakes that we had followed up from the bottom of Cypress. But we soon found ourselves going left all the way back to the stakes we had past half an hour before. The BP trail isn't marked after the top of Black Mountain, or at least if it is, the markers must be low on the tress and covered with snow. So lesson learned, if you plan to do it in one day take a compass in case you have to navigate at night. And plan on 12 hours. Without snow, by the time we made it to horseshoe bay it would have taken 12 hours with one half hour break. It's a great trail in all, but I would say it would have been better with more familiarity of the area.
ByPosted By: TeresaP
- Tue Aug 08 16:33:58 EDT 2006
UpsideGreat for a sunny day, even cloudy. Not sure how it would be in the rain. Rain gear a must!! A few camping spots at the Lions. The grey jays (Wiskey Jacks) are neat to watch.
DownsideBackpack is the only way in and out. It's hard on the ol' knees but worth it at the end.
CommentJust remember to take yer time and don't forget bug juice!
ByPosted By: ChrisW
- Tue Mar 30 02:30:51 EST 2004
CommentI'd like to know if there are any designated camping spots. And if not, where are good spots to throw a tent for a night?
ByPosted By: westcoast_pathfinder
- Wed Aug 20 03:12:44 EDT 2003
UpsideTrail diversity is great! Wonderful views at Eagle Bluffs - a nice reward after the boulder climb from Eagle Ridge trail head. Pikas in the boulder field! Hollyburn section had a lot of bear "sign", but also grouse and other fauna. Stops at Cypress, Grouse and Lynn provided refreshments to top up water bottles with. From Seymour to Deep Cove is an easy hike, with a gorgeous viewpoint of Indian Arm!
DownsideIt's a long day for a "non Knee Knacker". Very steep section between Eagle Bluffs and the Eagle Ridge trail head ... I preferred to start at that end instead of attempting to go down such a steep slope with end-of-day tired legs. Some areas had a lot of bear sign.
CommentApparently the land by both trailheads may be earmarked for development - it would be a shame to lose this trail.
ByPosted By: bdagg
- Wed Jan 09 00:51:48 EST 2002
Not Rated
CommentBP Length BP Trail Length, according to the Knee Knacker Web site (www.kneenacker.com) is approx. 48.5 km.
Also, Knee Knacker winners complete the entire course in under 5 hours (not 6, as indicated). Record is around 4:45
Posted By: madwithpower62
Posted By: Rambo
Posted By: chameleon4444
Posted By: TAMIDOGG
Posted By: ChrisW
