Strava Segment Link
This one is our love letter to the Howe Sound, its unforgiving verticality, its infinite shades of green, its blue waters and rocky summits.
Mount Unnecessary is the perfect stage for a finals week. With its steep and relentless gradients and its rooty and technical footing, it's a vertical dance with the West Coast rainforest. This one clocks in at just over 1040 metres of elevation gain. It's a real mountain and a proper day out. We set the finish line at the viewpoint at 1360m of altitude for a reason: the landscapes up there do something to you, and you're going to need a minute anyway.
Do yourself a favour and get up there, whatever pace that looks like. Bring snacks. Sit at the viewpoint for a while. The Howe Sound isn't going anywhere and neither should you, at least not right away.
Don't forget your poles.
Getting there
Park on Oceanfront Road in Lions Bay. Parking is tight up there, so pay attention to the signs.
The best place to park is near the yellow gate, but there are only a few spots up there.
From the yellow gate, follow the gravel road up. After the left turn, look for a narrow trail entrance on your right marked "Erin Moore Trail" and "Mt Unnecessary." Take it and head up.
The challenge starts 0.6km from the yellow gate, at the fork between Erin Moore Trail and Mt Unnecessary Trail. There is a large wooden sign on your right. Do not go right. Follow the pink flagging left onto Mt Unnecessary Trail.
The challenge starts at the fork between Erin Moore Trail and the Mt. Unecessary Trail. Start your watch there.
The Challenge
The Unnecessary Mountain Trail climbs approximately 1040m from its junction with the Erin Moore Trail to the first big viewpoint at 1360m. The lower section is steep, rooty, and unrelenting. It's a proper West Coast rainforest grind through big trees and overgrown trail that doesn't let up until the terrain opens onto a plateau with the first real views of the Howe Sound. Think Mt. Harvey, but harder and with fewer people.
-
Distance: 2.8km
-
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
-
Elevation Gain: 1040 meters
-
Where to Park: Lions Bay
-
Surface: Classic Howe Sound Crest Trail vibes, steep and technical forest.
