Now it is fall again on the trails, the days are a lot shorter… We need adventures closer to home.
 
For these regular exercise trails that we can hit more often (not everyone likes to do the “Grind” all the time) we all know the Capilano Pacific Trail, but one of my favorites is a little combination of bits of trails that we talked about before the storms a while ago.
 
Often we do this trail with people whose experience level is not quite clear yet. It can be long or short, according to what they are able to accomplish, and we go from there.
 
We will start at the Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge, but today we will not cross.
We turn sharp left onto stairs clearly marked Baden Powell Trail. These lead us down to the river. This time of the year you can in some areas let the kids play on the rocks at the riverside.
 
Follow the orange markers on the trees. You will soon arrive at a long set of stairs (good exercise). This is a good time to take off a layer and have a water break to cool down a bit because the trail keeps going up and up until you pop unto Lynn Valley Road. Landmark: a little rest stop restaurant/craft store, formerly described as the Upper Lynn Market.
 
Turn right now to walk towards the Lynn Headwaters park gate. Walk along the road to the first parking lot on the right which is called the second overflow parking lot. Cross the parking lot to the staircase that leads you down to the Varley Trail.

This certainly beats walking along the road inhaling the fumes of the cars. The Trail consists of a number of boardwalks and stairs through beautiful rainforest. This time of the year on a sunny day you would not want to be anywhere else. It is magical.

Walking along you will finally arrive at the B.C. Mills House which is now like a little museum of the logging history of this area. On weekends you may find the building open and volunteers explaining the artifacts.
 
Right beside the House you find outhouses. If you have to go, go now. You have a lot more privacy than out there later.
 
Before you head across the river grab a map at the board. Across the bridge you find a sign-in board -- you know the routine. Turn right along the gravel path until on your right you see the trail entrance marked Lynn Loop. Up it goes now. Keep watching for yellow markers on the trees; also watch for the yellow numbers on the board walks. When you pass over numbers 10 to 12 you will find the storm hit this area hard. Later on, between numbers 15 to 17, the same destruction. These parts look like you are walking through a clear cut with the new fauna appearing on the ground.

Go on to number 21. There you will find signs, some of them bent out of shape by fallen trees. But you can still read that you are supposed to go down left to the Lynn Loop Trail.
Remember this trail is fairly steep downhill but it is sooooo worth doing.
 
At the bottom you will come onto the path along Lynn Creek. Turn left and follow the river back to the parking lot 2, back to the “End of the Line” shop onto the Baden Powell Trail access. At this point you are reversing the beginning of the hike. Coming up the last stairs again you feel deserving of a treat at the café.
 
The whole adventure fits into a three-hour afternoon. And where did you find the fallen trees at the stairs?
 
For our last edition mystery spot, the trail was maintained jut below the ski run crossing.
 
Olga is a member of the North Vancouver Outdoors Club. www.northvanoutdoorsclub.ca

Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Oct - Nov 07