Paton Peak
- Kaitlin
- Aug 29, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 20, 2024
August 29, 2024
Distance: 6km round-trip (from trailhead)
Elevation gain: 830m
Time required: 3.5-4 hours
Paton Peak is a rock bluff lookout that sits above the west side of the Seymour valley. It is generally considered a passing-through point on the way to greater mountains such as Coliseum Mountain or Cathedral Mountain. However, it can be its own destination, especially for an enjoyable day trip where you might not have all day.
In order to access Paton peak, you must first bike 9.5km up the Seymour Valley Trailway in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. The SVT is a 10km long paved biking path. It has small hills but overall, is not difficult to bike. At about 9.5km, you will see a road on the left-hand side called Stoney Branch. The trailhead starts at the top of this 600m long service road. You can stash your bikes in the trees.
Because I work for Metro Vancouver, I was lucky enough to hike this peak as part of a patrol with five coworkers. This meant we were able to cut out the SVT portion of this hike and instead, start from the bottom of Stoney Branch.
The trail climbs steeply and steadily through the forest. It is well-marked and well-trodden. Quick hikers will be able to make the journey in about 1.5 hours. Because I was with a larger group with a range of hiking abilities, it took us 2 hours to reach the peak.
We spent almost an hour at the summit. While making our way back down, we came across a great find: chicken of the woods! Also known as sulfur shelf, this is a delicious shelf fungus that has the taste and texture of chicken (hence the name). I didn't want to take too much considering I was on a work patrol but I did manage to take home a couple of pieces.
Overall, this is a nice day hike if you're into biking and want to spice up your normal ride. Or at the very least, be sure to stop at Paton Peak on your way to other mountains and take a look at the valley.
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