Coquitlam Lake View Trail

• Panoramic views of Coquitlam Lake and the surrounding mountains

• 610m elevation gain through dense coastal forest

• One of the more challenging hikes in the Tri-Cities area

• Remote feel despite being close to suburbia

A demanding out-and-back through Pinecone Burke Provincial Park starting from the Harper Road gate. The trail follows old deactivated logging roads through second-growth forest, crosses multiple creeks on boulders, and ascends steeply through rocky terrain to a small bluff viewpoint overlooking Coquitlam Lake and the protected watershed. The final section is a steep scramble on rock to a narrow viewpoint that holds about 6 people.

The Route

1. Metal gate / Harper Road trailhead km 0.0, elev 324m

2. Deactivated logging road through forest km 0.5–2.0

3. Junction with Woodland Walk — stay RIGHT on upper road km 1.5

4. Powerline clearing with partial views km 3.0

5. Multiple creek crossings on boulders km 3.5–4.0

6. Junction with South Ridge Trail km 4.5

7. Steep final ascent — rocky scramble km 5.0

8. Rocky bluff viewpoint over Coquitlam Lake km 5.4, elev 932m

Along the Way

• Panoramic views of Coquitlam Lake and the watershed from a rocky bluff

• Views extending to Eagle Mountain, Tangled Summit, Mount Beautiful, and Dilly Dally Summit

• On clear days, views reach to Vancouver, Burnaby, and the Strait of Georgia

• Old-growth cedar stumps from early 1900s logging

• Multiple creek crossings through second-growth forest

• Part of Pinecone Burke Provincial Park

Best Times to Visit

Insider Tips

• 💡

  The trail is not well-marked in places — stay on the main path

• 💡

  Bears are common — carry spray and make noise

• 💡

  Much quieter than the popular Buntzen Lake trails nearby

What to Bring

Not Available

The Coquitlam Lake View Trail climbs through the forest above the Coquitlam watershed to a viewpoint overlooking Coquitlam Lake, a critical drinking water reservoir for Metro Vancouver.

Source · metrovancouver.org