Absolutely in love with this place. So serene!!!! Sasamat Lake has some of the most peaceful views…read more Loved the easy hike around the lake as well as the bridge on the water. Pretty shady for most of the trail and there are also some stairs. Super nice beach at the beginning of the trail head near the parking lot too! Cannot wait to come back, definitely worth visiting.

I was so happy and excited to find this hidden gem spot. My only regret was I didn't bring a…read morebathing suits. At 8:30am, the first parking was full. But please be patient. Other parkings might have spots and better than street parking. Or after 3pm, you can find parking spots easily. No life guard is working. No motor sports neither. But paddle boat is ok to use. Two beaches with clear water which is very warm. A concession store opens maybe around 10am and they serves hot food like fish and chips and burgers. That's very convenient for swimmers or cyclists. My impression for those beaches were for family or a group. If you walked into the trail, you will find a small groud(beach) for 1-3 people. I preferred to stay there for chil...

Belcarra Regional Park (now re-named to acknowledge the Tsleil-Waututh peoples*) is a 1,100-hectare…read moreregional park. It is an extremely popular regional park with beaches, picnic areas, a lake, and numerous hiking trails of various difficulty levels. There is something for everyone at the park, including decent washrooms. The various trails within the park are: Bedwell Bay Trail, Woodhaven Swamp Loop Trail and Woodhaven Trail, Sasamat Lake Loop Trail, Springboard Trail, Admiralty Point Trail, Jug Island Beach Trail, Sugar Mountain Trail, and Buntzen Ridge Trail (and the nearby Buntzen Lake and Diez Vistas trails). Until recently, I had only hiked the Jug Island and Admiralty Point trails (both excellent, easy to intermediate hikes), and on Sunday I had planned to hike around the Woodhaven Swamp Loop, continue along the Woodhaven Trail to Sasamat Lake, and around the lake with my hiking group. Unfortunately due to a recent windstorm, the Woodhaven Trail leading to Sasamat Lake was closed, but we still enjoyed the lovely hike along the Springboard Trail and around the swamp. It was a very easy hike (pretty much a walk), but the trails were beautiful, and being the off-season, very peaceful. I love Belcarra Regional Park and would like to eventually hike all the trails, as well as re-hike the ones I have already done. Unfortunately it is quite difficult to get there by transit, although it is technically possible -- the #182 bus runs from Moody Centre Station to the park, but it only runs once an hour. During the summer months, the #150 runs to White Pine Beach and the #179 runs to Buntzen Lake (I don't recall if it is once an hour or every half an hour). So because transit is so lousy, most people drive, but parking is very limited -- good luck finding parking after 8am on a weekend during the non-winter months! IDEA: to alleviate the parking issue, have transit run more than once an hour! Despite the horrible transit to the park, at least it is technically possible to get there by bus, and with my hiking group (which focuses on transit accessible hikes), I will definitely be going back to Belcarra. *I cannot include the name in my review as Yelp does not recognize Indigenous script. [Yelp collections: Hiking; Parks and Gardens]

This review is about Admiralty Point Park. For return 6km…read morehike, 2 hours to Burns point. Some sections follow rocky shoreline, beautiful view of Burrard inlet. There are some wooden bridges over creek and well maintained trail. Easy hike and good for family hike. You can find small beaches with clear water. I'm sure I will be back in spring time with kayak.

On Wednesday (March 10th), I went hiking on the Jug Island trail with my sister and friend. I've…read moredone this hike once, about ten years ago, but being located in Belcarra Park, which is not easily accessible by transit, I haven't gone since, so I was happy to finally have the opportunity. Jug Island is an easy 5.5km hike with minimal elevation, so the majority of the trail is flat. However, there are a couple of steep areas and a few stairs, so despite being an easy hike, it would be challenging for people with mobility issues. The hike could probably be completed in about 1.5 hours, but we took our time, admiring the scenery (I love the vibrant green of moss growing on trees and logs!), and including the 20 minutes we spent at the beach at the end of the trail, we completed the hike in two hours. Jug Island is good if you want something quick and easy, and it's perfect for beginner hikers. I hope I will have the opportunity to hike this trail again! [Yelp collections: Hiking]

5.5 km trail to the beach from the parking. A little bit up and down but not hard at all. Most of…read moretrail part had wood chips or soft soil. Easy to hike for everybody. At beach, flat part is limited. After 11am or high tide time, you might not be able to find a spot to sit for relax. Lots of kayak,paddle boat and small boat people would stop for the rest too.

I cannot get enough of rocky point park. It's so beautiful and peaceful. Even though it's small…read morewith some trails, it's one of those parks that's really good to come to for some wellness and enjoyment

The perfect spot for a summer hang or an autumnal stroll. Bring your kid, bring your dog, or just…read morego solo. Not only does the park offer tremendous mountain and ocean views, but there are several activities you can partake in along the way. Pajos Fish & Chips, Rocky Point Ice Cream, and the adjacent Brewer's Row will support a rumbling tummy or craving for something sweet before (or after) revelling in the surrounding nature. Too hot during the summer? Pop down to the outdoor pool! Or grab a camping chair and read a book under a shady tree. There is fun for everyone at Rocky Point Park.

Review from May 29, 2021…read more The parks open 8am to 8pm. I got there around 8:10am on Sunny Saturday and parking was half filled. Some people will leave around 1 pm. I saw empty parking spots. A group of police officers and BC hydro team are patrolling the beach area constantly. Pls don't make a big party more than 10. Behave nice please.

terrible place. need to make a reservation on a website…read morebuilt in 1990. entire experience getting there and the terrible condition once you get there ensures you'll never return. they won't need to worry about reservations ...

Surprisingly nice hike in the middle of nowhere Coquitlam. Had no idea this existed until recently…read more Basically it's the Coquitlam version of the Grouse Grind, but much tamer. 2.92km horizontal, 242m vertical according to the website PDF. The website says 2.2km for some reason - I think they're measuring from the Lansdowne parking lot. From Runnel Drive, it's basically 1/3 the vertical of the Grind, but a longer walk overall. Parking is available in several lots along the length of the path. For the full experience, park at the bottom of the valley (Runnel Drive). There are also parking lots accessible from Lansdowne and Panorama (major streets farther up the mountain), if one wants a shorter version. The path basically follows a set of BC Hydro power lines up the mountain. There are warning signs about potential electric shocks, though I imagine this probably only applies during wet weather. The path itself is divided into several sections. The "crunch" section" is technically the 3rd section of 6 (N side of Lansdowne), where there are 2 sets of stairs (some 500 steps) going up what is arguably the steepest section. Guessing they built 2 sets of stairs to facilitate 2 way traffic. I was told the proper travelling convention is counterclockwise. In other words, take the stairs on the "right" side. The stairs are pretty well built, with wire mesh nailed into the steps to prevent slipping. There are mini signs of encouragement along the way. I got a kick out of these. My only complaint is that the step tread (horizontal "depth") is a bit too wide. As in I couldn't decide whether to go up 1 or 2 steps at a time. This really threw off my pace. After the stairs section, the rest of the Crunch is actually a nice gentle uphill path. There are some more stairs here and there, but nothing too crazy (up to 20 steps at a time). The end of the Crunch is at Eagle Mountain Drive, where there's a 2.25km trail marker. To be honest, they really need to mark the end better. The trail actually continues further up the mountain, and I only knew this was the point to turn around because someone in the group had done it before. After walking all the way up, take a break, and enjoy the walk back down. Great time to take some photos, and look at the Runnel Drive parking lot way at the bottom of the valley. There is a lookout point partially down the length of the stairs section (accessible on the "downhill" steps). To be honest, this is a great alternative to the Grouse Grind. I was actually quite impressed. Nice views, no gondola fee, no seasonal limitations, way fewer people, and non overpriced restaurants nearby. What more can one ask for?

After hearing about the Coquitlam Crunch for many years from various friends (workout aspect…read moreincluded), I finally decided to try the hike for myself. From my "out-of-towner" experience, I saw a ton of pros and some cons about the Crunch. Nearly the entirety of the trail is situated underneath high power voltage lines, so I suspect the city wanted to make that space as useful as possible (that's my personal theory, so a pro if the city is actually trying to do that). It can be a little unsettling if you have sensitive ears and you can hear the hum of the high voltage electricity above you. PRO: The trail and related parking is free. I found parking in the lot at the trailhead just off of Runnell Drive (across the street from the Coquitlam Grill), though in my drive around the area I saw a lot of walkers using the street parking off Lansdowne. As of writing this review, I also saw construction for a new parking lot close to Bramble Park. CON: A bit confusing to find the parking spot I wanted. The trail website I used originally directed me to the parking lot off Lansdowne (which I suspect was closed) and was about halfway up the trail. Finally had to resort to Google giving me a different parking lot, which turned out to be the one by Runnel Drive and the one I wanted. PRO: The trail itself routes through a few parks, off-leash dog areas (dogs can use the trail as long as they are on-leash) and schools, and great washroom facilities are located along the route. I noted one at the field by Eagle Ridge Park, and another set about halfway up the trail. I also noted a number of benches along the trail, in case you wanted to sit and take a breather and look at the city below. CON: The trail winds it way across a number of streets. There are crosswalks at each one, but after I crossed the street I wasn't always sure where the trail continued. Since I was there mid-day, I managed to follow other walkers to the start of the next section of the trail. I wonder if the city could put some more visible signs to say "Coquitlam Crunch this way" after you cross the street. PRO: A good leg workout similar to the Grind, without having to make the long drive there (especially if you are from the suburbs). Lower half consists of stairs that are much easier to navigate in comparison, and I loved the feeling of getting a good workout on the Crunch, without feeling like I was going to pass out. The top half is a mix of paved road or gravel. Don't be fooled though, I did work up a very good sweat especially when the vast majority of the trail is out in open! Verdict: If this is your first time coming, research where you want to park. It may be a more convenient location for an outdoor workout, versus the grind (depending on where you live). A more forgiving trail than the Grouse Grind, but you can still work up a great sweat!

Very Challenging Hike. Be ready for a real workout. But the climb is worth it when you get to the…read moretop

This trail is rated easy, however not for the average person. It takes about 1.5 hours round trip…read morefor an average person. However, if you play sports and can run an easy 5-6 minute mile, it is quite easy. Parking is very hard and I parked half a mile away on a Friday afternoon. The trail is very crowded but the view is beautiful.

Had a surprisingly early finish for work today, decided to explore this beach…read more One thing that bugs me is an overcrowded beach with moronic people that have decided to bring their full camping gear to the beach. Those that not only has setup their 20 people Julius Caesar tents but also invited an army of people to their intimate loud music playing party. FYI, others may not enjoy your brand of metal rap. Or those that bring their Canadian Tire little power boats and pumps. For reasons unbeknownst to me, does being on beach equal to doing whatever you want? Social etiquette is shed with the clothes. So, simply reviewing this, may adulterate this pristine little sandy beach and lake into that monstrosity. It is a good kept secret. Beautiful clean water and beach. Not a lot of nutters yet.

My first time coming to this beach and it is quite peaceful. The lake is not huge but the water is…read morestill and great for SUP, canoeing, kayaking, and other inflatable rafts. There isn't any waves at all from speedboats. There is a small sand and grass area for picnics. Bathrooms and a concession stand is nearby too. This place is great for families and big gatherings. Parking is nearby, but it is paid.

Overall 4 Stars So…read morethe Baden Powell Trail is not for the faint at heart! It is considered a beginners trail however the trail is steeped with a lot of steps up and down the mountain trails. If you have weak knees or back, I recommend not to do it due to the steps and the distance to the No Name Rock - I made this up. Can find a name of the Rock peak anywhere ( the rock at the peak where you have a beautiful view of Deep Cove. You will "huff and puff" throughout the trail. Also, we saw people having to carry their pets with them because they were hot, short winded, or were the short legged breed. The trail itself is decently manicured with a lot of pressure treated wood for the steps and bridges. But the trail itself can be steep. I believe you will cross about 6 bridges before reaching the peak. It will take about 45 minutes (if you are in top shape) or more to reach the peak. I believe it took about 75 minutes due to popularity of the trail. Went around 4:30 PM on a Saturday during peak season. BRING WATER!!! We brought One 1Litre of Water each which was sufficient. Also, some snacks when you reach the "no name" rock. I really don't know if there is a name of the rock. I just call it that. The snacks is your reward with the view of the cove. It is spectacular! And we forgot ours! Don't make our mistake. I didn't take pictures of the steps and trail and I regret it now. However the trail itself is pretty and there are sections where the salty breeze feels lovely on your glistening skin. HAHA! The trail is about 2.2 kilometers or 1.37 miles from beginning to the No Name Rock - aka the Peak then 2.2 miles back. It is quicker coming down. Just give yourself rest during the train. It can get narrow and there are limited bench seats. Cons: 1. Limited bench seats 2. No signs to tell how far you come along or how far you have to go. I wish they will add a sign in the bridges as a Marker Point. The trail only has a beginning and ending sign 3. Trails on the steps can be narrow. Take your time. It is not a race. Advice: 1. Wear good comfortable shoes. Trail can be rocky and soil slippery at times. 2. Be courteous to other people on the trail. Some were oblivious on the people on the trail taking selfies or videos by blocking certain areas. Be patient and let the other people pass before you become an "influencer". When it is busy, it is not respectful. 3. Wear long sleeves early in the morning or later in the evening due to mosquitos. They seem to appear during those times. And when they saw me, it was "Asian Buffett" time! However, these mosquitoes were nothing like the ones in Alaska wear they will take you away for their feast or down in the South where they add some hot sauce on ya' before enjoy the entree'. Eat some Kimchi or garlic and they will stay away from you and maybe everyone else. Hmmm, that's not a bad idea!

Wonderful hike in Lynn Valley near the Suspension bridge. There's lots of parking, and a great hike…read morefor those looking for a leisurely hike, and all the inclines have been fixed with stairs so you don't need to worry as much about tripping on roots or slipping when it's wet. For those looking for a longer hike, the trail also leads/around Rice Lake for some beautiful views. Good hike for beginners looking to get into hiking. It can get pretty busy during the summer time, but we went on a weekday afternoon and it was empty and so peaceful!

This hike is not worth the view at all. There are many hiked out there with the same level of…read moredifficulty and much better views. I saw somewhere that it should be renamed to Uno Vistas, and I couldn't agree more. Of all the 10 "views", only one was decent -and even that one was partially covered by trees. The lack of markings also made the hike super confusing. My friend and I kept getting lost and circling back Only good thing was the lake (which is at the bottom btw)

First I was heading to Buntzen Lake but when we got there at 8:30am, the parking was already full…read more So changed to here. It was lucky we could find a parking spot because here was almost full too. We left a car at Sesamat lake parking and started to hike through the beach. I recommend to stop by bathroom before the hike. There is no toilet or water spot on the hill. The ground were very variety: wood chips, soil, dirt, gravel and huge rock. Sometimes I needed to assume the trail line because it was so blended into the nature and got lost. If the tree roots were shiny, you will find that is path the hiker stepped on. There are three view points and highest one #3 must be the best.