Flint and Feather Trail

A steep, quiet, and scrambly trail to the Grouse chalet, located on Grouse Mountain between the Grind and the BCMC.

Statistics

Directions

Follow Highway #1 (Trans-Canada) to North Vancouver, taking exit #14 for Capilano Road North. Follow Capilano Road to it's northern end, at the base of the Grouse Mountain Skyride. Both pay parking as well as free parking along Capilano Road is available.

The 232 and 236 busses operate to the Grouse Mountain parking lot daily. For bus schedules and information, visit the Translink website.

Details

Follow the Grouse Grind until you reach a small wooden bridge as the trail turns to the left a little under 1/4 of the way to the top. Instead of following the Grind, turn to the right and follow a small trail signed as as "Trail to former site of B.C.M.C. cabin". The trail is very short - it simply serves as a connector between the Grouse Grind and the BCMC trail. In fact, it used to be the original trailhead for the BCMC before it was redirected lower on the mountain. Follow the small trail less than 100 meters before reaching the BCMC trail - it's easy to locate with it's red and silver markers. Turn left, and follow the trail uphill.

A short distance after the Grouse Grind connector, the BCMC trail makes a sharp to the right with a number of large red and white arrows pointing the way up. Instead of following the arrows, look straight ahead - there should be one or two blue tree tag arrow markers (pointing the BCMC route) nailed to a tree. This marks the start of the Flint and Feather trail. No other markers identify the route - it is followed by it's footpath alone.

Follow the trail from the blue marker as it climbs uphill and across a rocky, medium-sized, mostly dry creek bed. Once across the creek bed, the trail turns to the right and leads uphill along the creek's west side. Follow the steep trail until a junction - a side trail on the right leads to the base of a small waterfall. Continuing on the left, the main trail switchbacks up and away from the creek. The majority of the trail has short, steep switchbacks without any steps or significant erosion control. Please resist the urge to "shortcut" the switchbacks - the trail could deteriorate rapidly as it is on a very thin soil and pine needle base that will easily erode. Also please don't go down the trail from the top. Running down causes more erosion.

Eventually the trail emerges in a mossy/rocky clearing beneath a small rock bluff. Unfortunately, starting at this point on the trail, many rocks were vandalized with spray paint during the summer of 2007. Instead of scrambling up and straight ahead - look for the trail on the left. Some switchbacks later the trail leads up and over more bluffs - follow the obvious foot tracks over the rocks. Scrambling is required to climb up some of the steeper sections, but there is no serious exposure along the main trail. Use caution on this section of the trail - the rocks will be dangerous during wet conditions and most hikers who are only used to the Grouse Grind will have have serious trouble here. Unsuitable for most dogs and small children.

There are some incredible views from this point on, and some nice spots to sit and relax in relative solitude. Once past the rock bluffs, the trail emerges onto the top of the BCMC trail, approximately 100 meters before the Grouse Mountain chalet.

The trail's name comes from a collection of poems published in 1913 by Emily Pauline Johnson, titled "Flint and feather".

Photographs

GPS Waypoints

Grouse Grind trailhead gate	N49.37140 W123.09829	10U 492864 5468749
Grouse Grind trail leaves Baden-Powell	N49.37053 W123.09604	10U 493028 5468652
Grouse Grind bridge / Start of connector to BCMC	N49.37261 W123.09151	10U 493357 5468882
Flint and Feather trailhead	N49.37250 W123.09068	10U 493417 5468870
Below rock bluffs	N49.37423 W123.08842	10U 493581 5469062
Viewpoint on top of bluffs	N49.37648 W123.08387	10U 493912 5469312
Upper Flint & Feather trailhead (BCMC junction)	N49.37745 W123.08247	10U 494014 5469420
Upper BCMC trailhead (Grouse Chalet)	N49.37879 W123.08301	10U 493975 5469569