Big Cedar Trail and Kennedy Falls

Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, North Shore

This is a great trail with two points of interest. First is the big cedar tree, which has been estimated at over 600 years old; the second is Kennedy Falls. Don’t let the length and elevation gain of 170 m fool you for this hike. There are many ups and downs on this trail, making the cumulative elevation gain 750 m. The length of the trail is 5 km, so the return total is 10 km. The trail traverses the west slope of Lynn Valley, and you will find the big cedar tree 3.3 km from the start; also of note, the big cedar tree is less than 100 m from Lynn Creek. The cedar tree is massive, and the only reason I think it was spared from the saw in the early 1900s, when the whole area was logged, is that there was no saw large enough! The end of the trail marks Kennedy Falls, which is spectacular and fills the air with wind, mist, and rainbows. There is a new parking lot at the trailhead on Mountain Highway, which fills up fast, so get there early. This is a very popular mountain biking area.

Update: as of late 2025, the Big Cedar Tree’s long-term survival has been reported to be at risk due to significant erosion occurring around its base. If you’re visiting, please stay off the exposed root areas and avoid climbing on or around the tree to help protect it for as long as possible.

Interesting Facts

  • Lynn Valley’s first lumber mill began operation in 1863, and most of the valley’s old-growth “cathedral forest” was systematically clear-cut through to the 1920s. The Big Cedar is one of only a handful of old-growth trees on the North Shore to have survived that era
  • Beyond where the historic loggers’ cutting reached near Kennedy Creek, local tree-hunters have since found remnant patches of old-growth forest that were never logged at all, making this area one of the largest publicly accessible tracts of old growth left near Vancouver
  • This trail sits within the Coastal Western Hemlock (CWH) biogeoclimatic zone, typical of the North Shore mountains at this elevation range

Trail Stats

  • Distance: 10 km (return)
  • Time: 5 hours (many breaks)
  • Low point: 300 m
  • High point: 470 m
  • Elevation gain: 170 m
  • Cumulative elevation gain: 750 m
  • Trailhead: 49° 21′ 31″ N, 123° 2′ 7.5″ W (Google Map)

The Route

The actual GPS track from this hike (one-way to Kennedy Falls; the return follows the same path), drawn on the map below. Green marks the trailhead, red marks the turnaround at the falls. Use the layer control in the top right to switch to a satellite view.

Photos

My complete photo set can be seen on Flickr.

Here is the Big Cedar Tree:

Big Cedar Tree

Kennedy Falls:

Kennedy Falls

Crossing creeks:

Crossing a creek
Crossing a creek

Relics of the forestry era:

Forestry relics

Old wooden boardwalk planks:

Old wooden boardwalk planks

Rainbow:

Rainbow

Roots for steps:

Roots for steps

There we are!

There we are!

Trail pics:

Trail
Trail
Trail
Conditions on this trail can change over time — trailheads move, access rules shift, and businesses close. This post reflects what I found when I did the hike.

Before You Hike

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged, and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring backup battery packs for extra peace of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device. I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule that hikers follow called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed. To learn more about LNT, please check out this blog by a certified LNT Trainer.