Mystery Lake Hike on Mount Seymour

Mystery Lake – Table of Contents

1. Hike Introduction
2. Hike Statistics
3. Mystery Lake Video
4. Map and Elevation
5. Hiking Route Description
6. Directions and Parking
7. Free PDF Download
8. 360° Photosphere

Mystery Lake Hike Intro

Located on Mount Seymour in North Vancouver, Mystery Lake is one of the best summertime swimming holes around. Mystery Lake is a scenic spot, easily accessible, and a worthy destination even if you prefer to stay dry. The shore around the lake is great for relaxing and having a picnic.

The hike to Mystery Lake is comparable to nearby Dog Mountain in difficulty. The short distance is made up for by an uphill climb over the challenging and technical terrain. You’ll still feel you’ve had a solid workout by the time you have finished the hike. The trail is easy to follow all the way to the lake and takes about 45 minutes, each way.

If you’re hiking in the hot summer months, remember to bring a towel. Mystery Lake is chilly but manageable for a swim.

Mystery Lake Hike Stats

*For a better understanding of the stats and difficulty rating, check out the Hiking Guides page for details. Always carry The Essentials and fill out a trip plan.

Mystery Lake Video

Here is a 1-minute video of our experience on this hike!

Mystery Lake Hike Map and Elevation

Mystery Lake Hiking Route

The trail begins from the main parking lot at the top of Mount Seymour. There is a restroom beside the parking lot you can use before beginning the hike. The trailhead itself is at the northernmost end of the Mount Seymour parking lot. You will find a signboard/map at the far end of the lot. From the Mount Seymour Provincial Park map, walk down the gravel road towards the Mystery Peak Express chairlift.

On your left will be the trailhead for Dog Mountain, and on your right will be the trailhead for Mystery Lake. Both trails are marked with green Mount Seymour Park posts. Go right, in the direction marked for Mystery Lake.

You will walk underneath the Mystery Peak Express chairlift and onto a narrow trail. The trail is immediately rooty and rocky and begins climbing uphill. The trail remains like this the whole way to Mystery Lake. The good news is that the route to Mystery Lake is a short hike.

You will see orange markers on the trees to guide you along the way. Overall, the route is easy to follow and staying on track won’t be difficult.

About 700 m into the hike you will come to a small pond on your right with a wooden boardwalk. Shortly after the little pond, you will cut across one of the ski runs. From the ski run, you will get a glimpse beyond the forest to the city of Vancouver, far below.

Keep following the trail, and soon enough you will come to Mystery Lake. The trail goes all around the lake so you can find a nice, unoccupied spot to stretch out.

At the lake, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, and taking a swim on a hot summer day is encouraged.

There are signs that this is a sensitive amphibian breeding area. Be sure to stay on the established trail and out of marshy areas.

The Mystery Lake Trail actually continues up north around the backside of the lake. The trail continues to the top of the Mystery Peak Express chairlift. You can go that way to loop back to the parking lot. But, it’s easier and more scenic to return on the same route that you came from.

Download the PDF version of this guide for offline use

Directions and Parking

Take the Mount Seymour exit off Highway #1 in North Vancouver. Take Mount Seymour Parkway until you come to sign for Mount Seymour Road. Take a left onto Mount Seymour Road and follow it up to the ski hill area. Park your car at the northern end of the top parking lot.

Google Map  directions are here.

Other great hikes in this area

1. Mount Seymour (difficult)
2. Mount Elsay (moderate)
3. Dog Mountain (moderate)
4. View all hiking guides here

Download the PDF version of this guide for offline use

360° Photosphere (click and drag to look around)