A moderate hike to a big view, with water along the way. Expect about 180 m of climbing; most people take 2.5 hours.
Moderate · 5 km round trip · +180 m climb · 2.5 hours · Dogs: check local rules
Not yet verified against an official source. Figures are approximate; check the park page before you go. · Sources · Cite this page
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North Shore · ~25 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check District of North Vancouver before you go.
Schematic: an illustrative shape drawn from total distance and gain, not a GPS trace. Real ups and downs will differ.
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| Region | North Shore |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Season | most of the year |
| Trailhead | Deep Cove, North Vancouver |
| Parking & transit | Little or no transit; plan to drive. |
| Permits & passes | Check the land manager's page for current fees and passes. |
| Dogs | Check local rules |
| Kid-friendly | Better for older, fit kids or adults |
| Highlights | Lakes & water, Views |
| Crowds | Not rated yet |
| Managed by | District of North Vancouver |
Steep start and rolling, rooty trail. Deep Cove parking is busy.
Numbers are approximate. Check District of North Vancouver for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 5 km (round trip) with roughly 180 m of elevation gain. Most people take 2.5 hours. Figures are approximate; check District of North Vancouver before you go.
Rules vary or change here. Check the land manager before bringing a dog.
Check the land manager's page for current fees and passes.
Not easily. Plan to drive or carpool.
See also: Hikes with the best views · Lake hikes · Hikes for January · Hikes for February · Hikes for March · Hikes for April · Hikes for May · Hikes for June · Hikes for July · Hikes for August · Hikes for September · Hikes for October · Hikes for November · Hikes for December · North Shore hikes · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "Grey Rock (Deep Cove)." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/grey-rock/
From Deep Cove, a steep start leads onto a well-marked trail heading northeast through fern ravines and nurse-stump trees. After about 40 minutes of rolling terrain, cross a powerline, descend to a bridge at Francis Creek, then climb to a fork: right goes to a pine-topped bluff over Deep Cove, Belcarra and Indian Arm; left reaches the hydro right-of-way with views to Buntzen and Eagle ridges. Return directly or make a partial loop on the Baden-Powell and a dirt road.
Trailhead location from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Dogs, transit, fees and closures change; check the official page.
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Hi, I'm Cam Appleton. I love Vancouver and I love getting out on its trails. When I went looking for a simple, easy hiking guide for around here, I couldn't find one I liked. I also really like helping people, so I built this one.
My day job is real estate. I help people buy, sell and lease. I hope you're enjoying the start of Hike Vancouver. If you're thinking about living closer to trails like this one, I'm happy to talk.
Cam Appleton