Trek Vancouver — Deep Cove, Canada

Quarry Rock from Deep Cove

A short, rooty forest climb on the Baden-Powell Trail from the seaside village of Deep Cove to a bare granite outcrop with a sweeping view over Indian Arm, the fjord at the eastern edge of the North Shore.

Duration: 1 day
Distance: 3.8 km
Ascent: 100 m
Difficulty: Moderate
Best season: Year-round; weekday mornings from May to September for the view without the crowds

Print day cards Packing list

Deep Cove is a small village at the eastern end of North Vancouver, about 13 kilometres from downtown, where the forested mountains drop straight into Indian Arm, a glacial fjord running north from Burrard Inlet. It sits on the traditional territory of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, the People of the Inlet, and it has the feel of a seaside town: a waterfront park, kayak rentals, and a main street of cafés.

Quarry Rock is the village’s signature hike and one of the most popular short walks in Metro Vancouver. It follows the eastern end of the Baden-Powell Trail, the 48-kilometre path across the North Shore that finishes here, climbing through second-growth rainforest on stairs, roots and boardwalk before emerging on a broad granite outcrop high above the water. From the rock you look across Indian Arm to the Belcarra shore, down on the boats moored in the cove, and up the fjord towards the mountains. It is short, but the constant ups and downs on roots and rocks make it harder than the numbers suggest.

The trail’s popularity has brought limits. It closed for long periods between 2020 and 2023, because of the pandemic, neighbourhood traffic and November 2021 storm damage to bridges and stairs, and it has reopened with parking restrictions. Check the District of North Vancouver’s notices before you go.

Getting there. The trailhead is on Panorama Drive, a few minutes’ walk from the Deep Cove village centre. By transit, take the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay, then bus 239 to Phibbs Exchange and bus 212 to Deep Cove. Parking in the village is limited and paid for much of the year, and the lots at Deep Cove Park and Panorama Park fill early on summer weekends.

Permits & tickets. The hike is free and needs no permit. Pay parking applies in Deep Cove during the busy season, roughly March to October; check the District of North Vancouver’s site for current rules and rates.

Good to know:

There are no toilets on the trail; use the facilities in Deep Cove Park before you set off.
Keep dogs on leash near the edge of the outcrop; dogs have fallen from the rocks and needed rescue.
The trail can close for maintenance or storm damage; check before you go.

Tips & Insights for this route Planning this route? Read our practical tips before you go — 8 tips. Read the tips

Download waypoints (GPX) Points of interest in walking order — not a trail trace.

Day by day

DayDistanceAscentDescentWalking time

Day 1 Hardest dayDeep Cove to Quarry Rock and back

Distance3.8 kmAscent100 mDescentNot recordedWalking timeNot recorded

Day 1

Deep Cove to Quarry Rock and back

Panorama Drive trailhead → Deep Cove Park 3.8 km 100 m

Navigate this day Print day

The eastern end of the Baden-Powell Trail through rainforest to the Quarry Rock outcrop, then back to Deep Cove’s waterfront.

Segments

Trailhead stairs 0.5 km 50 m Map

Panorama Drive trailhead → Creek bridge

Stairs and forest trail

The trail begins with a climb up wooden stairs from Panorama Drive into the forest, marked with the orange Baden-Powell Trail markers. It soon levels out and crosses a creek on a footbridge. About 15 minutes.

About this place

The Baden-Powell Trail is a rugged but well-maintained 48 km hiking trail, that traverses from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to Deep Cove in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was named after Robert Baden-Powell, Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the world Scouting Movement.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: Uogpjf · CC BY-SA 3.0
Through the rainforest 1.2 km 40 m Map

Creek bridge → Quarry Rock junction

Rooty forest trail and boardwalk

The trail rolls up and down through cedar, fir and ferns, over roots and rocks and short sections of boardwalk, with glimpses of Indian Arm through the trees. Watch your footing; this is where most slips happen. About 20 minutes.
Quarry Rock 0.2 km 10 m Map

Quarry Rock junction → Quarry Rock outcrop

Open granite rock

Take the short spur to the right at the junction onto the outcrop. The granite slab looks out over Indian Arm, the fjord that runs north from Burrard Inlet between steep forested mountains, with Belcarra on the far shore and Deep Cove's marina below. Take your time here. About 20 minutes.

About this place

Indian Arm is a steep-sided glacial fjord in southwestern British Columbia. Formed during the last Ice Age, it extends due north from Burrard Inlet, between the communities of Belcarra and the District of North Vancouver, then on into mountainous wilderness. The name səl̓ilw̓ət is the Halkomelem word for the inlet itself, and from which the Tsleil-Waututh, Halkomelem 'people of the inlet' derive their name. Later Burrard Inlet and the opening of Indian Arm was mapped by Captain George Vancouver and fully explored days later by Dionisio Alcalá Galiano in June 1792.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: Alex Wen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Back through the forest 1.9 km 0 m Map

Quarry Rock outcrop → Panorama Drive trailhead

Rooty forest trail and stairs

Return the way you came, which means climbing some of the same ups and downs in reverse, then descend the stairs to Panorama Drive. Go carefully on the steps if they are wet. About 30 minutes.

About this place

The Baden-Powell Trail is a rugged but well-maintained 48 km hiking trail, that traverses from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to Deep Cove in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was named after Robert Baden-Powell, Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the world Scouting Movement.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: Uogpjf · CC BY-SA 3.0
Deep Cove waterfront 0.3 km 0 m Map

Panorama Drive trailhead → Deep Cove Park

Village streets and park

Walk down into the village and out to Deep Cove Park and Panorama Park on the waterfront, with a small beach, a dock and the kayak rental shops. It is a fine spot to rest with a coffee before the bus back. About 15 minutes.

About this place

The District of North Vancouver, commonly North Vancouver or North Van, is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada, situated north of the city of Vancouver across the Burrard Inlet. It surrounds the respective City of North Vancouver on three sides, and the remaining fellow North Shore municipality of West Vancouver on the other, and is part of the Metro Vancouver Regional District.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: David Zhang from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0