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Course Description

Start- Grouse Mountain (south paved lot)

Starting from the South Paved Lot on the Grouse Mountain Resort, runners will begin with one full loop of the Grouse lot (800m), run back through the start line and cross Nancy Green Way and enter the gravel overflow parking lot to the east of Grouse. Runners will follow the lead bike for 200 meters through the gravel lot and run onto the Skyline Trail.

Skyline trail, a wide, hard-packed path, climbs gradually over the next two miles, skirting the base of Grouse. At the end of the Skyline trail, runners will stay left and continue up the paved switchbacks for approx. 600m until the road gives way to trail again. At this point the trail merges with the Baden Powell. From this point, the trail drops very steeply down to Mosquito Creek. Cross the steel bridge at Mosquito Creek. This is Aid Station #1.

Take the first trail on the left, then an immediate right. Follow the orange triangular BP markers heading east. From Mosquito Creek it is approx. 1 mile of steady climbing to the St. George’s junction. There is a wooden bench and a fairly limited view of Stanley Park at this junction. Heading east, follow the trail to the left.

This next section is very technical and often quite “chewed up” by heavy mountain bike usage. The trail descends steeply in places and the footing can be quite challenging. After short climb just past the Dempsey junction, the trail descends sharply to Mountain Highway, which is a gravel road.

Cross Mountain Highway and back onto the Baden Powell. From here the trail descends down and meanders through a gentle forest on soft trails. There are a number of secondary trails leading to residential areas in this section, so keep a careful eye on the BP markers. At the end of this kilometre long section is a set of 104 steps that will take you down to Lynn Headwaters access road. Turn left and head along the road into Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. This is Aid Station #2.

The Knee Knacker takes runners down the Varley Trail, but due to an increased number of participants, the Iron Knee will take runners through the Headwaters, and over the footbridge. At this point, runners will take the Lynn Headwaters Connector trail to the right and continue along a rolling access path for one mile until the Gazebo at the Lower Seymour Demonstration Forest.

From here, runners will head east for 200 meters on the gravel access path (north end of main parking lot) until the Twin Bridges Connector Trailhead. This is Aid Station #3. Turn right and follow the Twin Bridges Connector trail downhill for approx. 2km until Twin Bridges. Cross the bridge and follow Fisherman’s Trail for approx. half a mile until you reach the first left. This is the Mystery Creek Trail. Take the left and head straight up (very steep) for another half mile until the trail empties out onto the Powerline Trail.

The trail is wide open and the grade is less severe for the next 600 meters until the bridge at Mystery Creek. Cross the bridge and head straight up the debris chute. This begins a long climb through switchbacks that last for approx. 3 km. Where the trail eventually flattens out, runners will reach the intersection of Powerline and the Historic Mushroom Parking Lot trail (also takes you to Ned’s Atomic Dustbin). Aid Station #4 will be at this junction.

Take the right turn and head south-east on this trail until it merges with the Baden Powell. From here the race is almost all downhill. The path is very rocky and can be somewhat treacherous to runners with tired minds and tired bodies. Focus is key here. After a mile the trail flattens somewhat and takes you onto a smoother (“wheelchair accessible”), gently rolling trail that spits runners out onto Mount Seymour Road. Look left, then right, then left again. Cross road and enter Aid Station #5.

The next 2 kilometres descend gradually and easily to Indian River Road where runners will run a 500 metre stretch of paved road. The last forest segment is just over 2km long, but somehow manages to feel like 4 due to its technical nature. After a few hundred metres this section meets a fairly confusing intersection. Stay focussed on finding the orange triangular BP markers. Turn left here, run about 20 metres up the trail and head right back onto the trail. After passing under a high powerline, you begin the last trail segment.

This is a series of very draining sharp ups and downs that can be frustrating when you know the end is so close. At this point you can hear the crowd gathered in Deep Cove. The last half-mile of the trail is a sharp, technical downhill that spits runners onto Panorama Road, 300 metres from the finish. Turn right, dig deep and sprint the last 300 metres to the finish at Panorama Park.