Length: 12 km
Elevation Gain: 1,405 m
Difficulty Level: Hard
Mount Harvey trailhead is located at Lions Bay. Several popular trails share the same parking lot, and the main lot is quite small. If you want to park in the main lot, arrive early. Otherwise, you’ll have to park at least 500 m to 1 km away from the trailhead. All parking is paid.
The first 2 km of the trail is a wide service road shared by several popular hikes, including Tunnel Bluff, Brunswick, Harvey, and the Lions. To avoid taking a wrong turn, make sure to watch for signs or check your hiking maps.
The first trail split is at the 2 km mark, and the second split is at 3 km. After the second split, the trail becomes a steep ascent almost all the way to Mount Harvey.
At about 4.1 km and shortly after that, and one more view point before the scrambling, you’re treated to a preview of what awaits at the peak — a view of the ocean and surrounding islands. There’s no need to linger at these viewpoints for too long, knowing that the views from the summit are even better.
The last 200 m or so before the summit involves scrambling over a boulder field. It’s not particularly dangerous or exposed, and scrambling is fun in the summer. However, if there is any snow or ice on the boulders, it can be risky. The scrambling section and the summit are fully exposed to the sun, so proper sun protection is essential. Before the sun exposed sections, you are pretty much hiking in the shade which is nice. There is no water source along the trail.
At the summit, if the weather is clear, you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view. You will see see some famous mountains like Brunswick, Hat, and of course always highly recognizable – the Lions. However, the area around Mount Harvey is often prone to clouds and fog. I’ve hiked Mount Harvey three times — the first two times were very cloudy, and I couldn’t see anything from the top. On my third trip, I got lucky with a clear day and enjoyed the full panoramic view. As I descended, I saw a large cloud rolling in over the nearby mountains.
You return to the parking lot via the same trail. Note that, due to the steepness and dirt surface, some sections can be slippery.
