Brothers Creek Loop

Brothers Creek Loop offers a beautiful hike through a forest of large Western Red Cedars along the mountainside in West Vancouver.

After finding parking along the street, walk towards the gate and observe the private property sign and disclaimer. The land in this area is owned by British Pacific Properties Ltd. and they allow hikers to use the trails at their own risk. Continue past the fence and along the forest trail, catching remnants of old wooden rail ties in the ground once used by loggers to bring fallen trees out of the forest.

After a short distance, you come to the Baden Powell Trail sign on your right. Do not take this trail, instead continue to your left, past the sign and continue walking up the rocky road to the next trail intersection. At this junction, go right and follow the Brothers Creek Fire Access Road as it makes its way up hill. On your right, a concrete foundation is all that remains of an old sawmill used during logging operations in the early 1900's.

Continue along the trail until you reach a sign that points to the Crossover Trail. This is a shorter route perfect during the winter months when snow covers the trail at higher elevations. During the late spring, summer, and fall, continue making your way uphill to complete the entire loop.

After another 20 minutes up the trail, you will reach a hairpin turn with a small sign that marks '5+6'. This is a short side trip that takes you to the Candelabra Fir, an old growth tree (now a dead snag) that is 60m tall and over 9m in circumference. Go straight for about 20 meters before heading right at the 'Candelabra Fir' sign and following the bright coloured trail markers downhill through the fallen trees. You cannot miss this monstrous tree that dwarfs all of the surrounding trees. This tree got this name because once its branches resembled a candelabra. A short trip beyond the Candelabra Fir brings you to another large snag of a Douglas Fir, not quite as large as the first, however still an amazing sight. After taking in the sites, head back up hill towards the main Fire Access Road.

The trail continues wandering gradually uphill until you reach a bridge that crosses Brothers Creek. Cross over the creek and slowly make your way downhill. Keep an eye open to your left for occasional glimpses of two beautiful waterfalls tumbling down over the sharp, rocky cliffs.

Continue to make your way back downhill as the trail wanders through groves of cedar trees. About 45 minutes downhill, you meet with the Crossover trail. Continue past this intersection for another 15 minutes until you meet with the Baden Powell Trail. Go left towards the open clearing and stay to your left, following underneath the power lines as you make your way back down towards Brothers Creek.

The bridge crossing offers another beautiful view of a waterfall as water continuously rushes down at a torrent pace. Make your way up the other side of the river and follow the Baden Powell Trail eastbound for about 15 minutes until the trail meets with the Brothers Creek Fire Access Road intersection that you passed earlier in the day. Follow the rocky road downhill, past the Baden Powell sign on your left until you reach the fence and the Brothers Creek Loop trailhead.