We were lucky to snag a parking spot Saturday at 5:30 pm here. I love discovering a peaceful oasis…read morein the middle of a city! Trees and lakes keep the air fresh, the noise pollution down and makes you feel like you escaped the city without leaving town. Plenty of people were enjoying the 69 degree weather. Some lounging in their lawn chairs, walking the dogs on the trail or canoeing on the lake. The boardwalk is especially nice for walking, for the structural metal strips keep it bike-free and peaceful. Meanwhile, there are many scenic trails through the trees that cyclists can enjoy. We completed the one hour/2.6 mile loop trail around the lake passing gorgeous heritage homes, a wedding taking place on the festival lawn and people fishing off the docks. Next time, I'm renting a canoe or kayak from the Deer Lake Boat rentals to see the park from a different perspective. Bonus:Parking and the views are free!

I've been to Deer Lake several times before, but most recently went there for the Vampire Weekend…read moreconcert. On a clear sunny day, this place beats any other concert venue: it's large enough for concert goers of all types to enjoy. You could easily make your way up to get close to the stage, or you could sit down on the lawn and listen to the tunes. Since the lawn tilts at an angle, it's easy to see the stage from almost anywhere, even if you're really far back. There are also a lot of food trucks to get food or drinks from, and there's a water station where you could fill up your water bottle. The only downside of this venue is that it's not very easily accessible by transit and parking is limited on a busy concert evening.

Nothing beats this in person sun set view in Vancouver. Been here plenty of times and almost tread…read moreall different trails leading to burnaby mountain. From easy to hard, woody to gravel and stairs to incline climb , you find all sort of trails here. Big seating area on the grass and on some benches to enjoy the downtown view and sunset view from this place . Its not the highest mountain but at such a height that it gives good view of beautiful Vancouver. Mesmerizing feeling no matter when and how many times you come here. I personally like when its not crowded with people but you do get lots of student, visitors n other nature lovers on certain occasions like evenings. Especially closer to sunset so make sure to come little earlier ro get a good spot on the grass. Though all mountain gives amazing view.

Gorgeous surroundings but very limited parking.. also quite dangerous at times due to sudden bursts…read moreof mountain bikers or runners charging down the hills.. not ideal when one side of the trail is basically a cliff.. the incline makes for good exercise

After over four LONG years, I finally finished school, so now I can finally have a life and do the…read morethings I enjoy doing, such as hiking. For my first hike post graduation, I did the Brother's Creek Loop with a couple of friends last weekend. I had never done this trail before, and at 7km and 4 hours (per https://www.vancouvertrails.com), it was just what I looking for -- not too easy, but not too hard. Brother's Creek Loop might be one of my new favourite intermediate hikes -- the trail offered a good mix of flat and easy and some elevation (I definitely worked up a sweat!), without being absurdly difficult -- perfect for an intermediate hiker building up their endurance and skill. (Note -- parts of the trail were smooth, while some areas had rocks and roots to walk over, as well as short wooden bridges, so I wouldn't recommend it for people with mobility issues or bad knees.) The surroundings were beautiful -- a canopy of trees to protect from the sun, green, and a couple of waterfalls. We drove to the trailhead (parking, which is along a residential street is quite limited, but we managed to find a spot), Brother's Creek is transit accessible (take the #254 bus in West Vancouver to Eyremount Drive and Crestline Road and walk about ten minutes), so now I can add this hike to my short list of transit accessible hikes. (I don't drive, so not being able to access metro Vancouver's many hiking trails really limits my ability to go hiking.) It took us about 3.5 hours to complete the hike, and that included us walking slowly (I am a slow hiker), taking photos, stopping for a quick lunch, and getting slightly lost (the instructions on www.vancouvertrails.com were quite good, up to a point). I highly recommend this trail for people who want more than a walk but aren't expert hikers, and it's nice that non-drivers can access the trail as well. I'm looking forward to hiking Brother's Creek Loop again! [Yelp collections: Hiking]

It was drizzling a little and with no sign of any breaks in the clouds as we headed up the trail…read more We seemed to have the park to ourselves for quite some time allowing us to enjoy the peacefulness that this perfect loop trail has to offer. Rich green ferns line the rocky trail through wooded areas and over old log foot bridges, muddy creeks and magnificent rushing cascades. Yes, this is one of those enchanted places that is best kept a local secret, and getting there is challenging enough to keep it that way. The loop trail is easy to moderate and I would recommend that proper hiking boots be warn. Some of the bridges are in need of repair but mostly it's an easy trail, with moderate elevation.

Even though I have lived in Vancouver all my life, I only recently heard about Byrne Creek Ravine,…read morewhich is located right by Edmonds Station. I can't believe that all this time there was a wonderful walking trail right by the skytrain station! Since I've discovered the trail, I have gone three times, and I intend to go semi-regularly when I want some exercise but don't have the time for a long hike. The trail is a loop and doesn't take long to complete -- no more than an hour (I can complete it in about 45 minutes walking at a fast pace), and it's not particularly challenging. But there are 200 stairs (I counted) you must walk up at the end of the loop (or walk down at the beginning, depending on which direction you go), and the stairs are a great workout. It's perfect if you want a little cardio or want to increase your fitness level. (Last time I went, I walked up and down the stairs three times, for a total of 600 stairs up.) The trail is quite flat, although there are areas with quite a few roots and after about 20 to 30 minutes (depending on how fast you walk), there is a steep, but short, incline and about two dozen stairs to walk down (or up, if coming from the other way), so people with mobility issues may have some trouble. Otherwise it's an easy trail, perfect for someone who is looking for an easy, beginner hike. The trail can also be quite muddy, so I recommend hiking boots instead of running shoes. I'd give the Byrne Creek Ravine trail four stars, but I am removing a star due to the behaviour of asshole entitled dog owners and my experience the last time I went. Dogs are permitted on the trail, but they must be leashed. Of course many dog owners disregard this rule which is a problem when their f*cking dogs can't behave. The last time I was there, after walking up the 200 stairs, I was off to the side of the trail (ie. I was not blocking the way), catching my breath and drinking some water, when a dog, who was off leash, came bounding up the stairs and ran towards me. I firmly yelled "NO" to the dog and tried to take a step back (which was hard, because I was off to the side and if I had stepped too far back I would have fallen several feet into the ravine below, seriously injuring myself). The dog owner came walking up the stairs, and instead of APOLOGIZING to me or telling his dog to stop bothering me, he started yelling at me, for yelling at his dog. When I told him to train his dog, he swore at me and told me to train myself! And then he proceeded to continue yelling and swearing at me as he walked off. He was a tall white man, and I'm a petite Asian woman. I doubt he would have behaved like that had I been a man. Also, I had seen them earlier, walking beside the creek, off the trail, which is not allowed, as it disturbs the plants and fish. And the dog was wet, indicating it had been in the creek, which is absolutely forbidden. All in all the Byrne Creek Ravine loop is a lovely little trail if you're short on time and the stairs are a great workout, but beware of irresponsible dog owners. [Yelp collections: Hiking]

Nice get away place in Burnaby with family and kids. It has lots of squirrels. Kids will like itread more

Gorgeous and peaceful lake. The perimeter around the lake has a 3.5 hour easier moderate trail that…read moreis mostly shaded. Toilets at the start (main beach/waterside area) and at the midway point (outhouse at small beach). Thr main beach area has an enclosed off leash area for dogs, ehoch also has a waterside section. There is a doggie washing station, which is very convenient. The good and bad part about this place is the required reserved parking. The good part is that you know that you will have a parking spot. The bad part is that it's required and they won't let you into the area without it. It was free but had a time restriction.

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.

The first and only time I have hiked to Kennedy Falls was in the summer of 2016, nine years ago…read more I've been wanting to go again, but unfortunately I never had the opportunity until yesterday (June 14, 2025). As nearly a decade has gone by, I didn't remember much about the hike except that it was fairly challenging because the terrain was quite rugged and technical with rocks and roots, there were logs to climb over, and I had to scramble up some short, but steep inclines. None of that has changed, but now along a short section of the trail (probably the part that I had to scramble up nine years ago), there is a chain to assist with climbing up and down. I had quite a bit of difficulty descending this portion of the trail (it was quite scary!), but it was fairly easy hiking back up. Until quite recently, I had no idea that Kennedy Falls was accessible by transit, and I organized a hike yesterday with my transit accessible hiking group. The #210 bus stops at Mountain Highway and Coleman Street, only about a ten minute walk from the entrance to the trails on Mount Fromme, although the walk up from the bus stop is quite steep, and I was huffing and puffing. (The walk from the bus stop was actually the steepest incline encountered on our entire hike. The hike, while difficult due to terrain, had minimal elevation.) The hike to Kennedy Falls, round trip, is 10km and about five hours. Hiking at a slow, relaxed pace, taking breaks (including 20 minutes at the falls and 10 minutes at the big Cedar tree, as well as other shorter breaks), the hike took six hours. To get to Kennedy Falls, you first hike along the Cedar Tree Trail. The first portion is quite easy and flat, then you eventually encounter logs, rocks, and the chain. After about 1.5 hours, you come to the big Cedar -- a HUGE tree that is estimated to be about 600 years old. Once leaving the Cedar, it takes about an hour to get to the falls, so a total of 2.5 hours from the beginning to the falls, one way. (The timing was also the same on the way back.) It was a great hike, and now that I know that it is transit accessible, I will be sure to go more often. As it can be quite wet and muddy, with numerous streams to cross, it is best to go during the summer when it's dry, so I likely won't be going in the spring, only summer and early fall. (Also due to the length of the hike, I prefer to go when the sun sets later.) Other things to note: the outhouses located at the start of the trail are still gendered (which makes no sense!), and the sign telling you not to throw pianos and other objects into the toilet is still there. There is also a water refill station at the entrance. Not that it matters to me, as I take transit, but parking there is difficult. A few of our group members drove, and they had trouble finding parking. Parking is free, but the parking lot is quite small, and Mount Fromme is very popular with mountain bikers (there are numerous mountain biking trails), so the parking lot was full at 10am. They were able to find parking on nearby side streets, but then had to walk 20 minutes up the steep hill (the bus stop was closer than where they parked). One person did manage to get a parking spot in the parking lot (after waiting 30 minutes), but it was only after we completed our hike that we noticed there was a three hour limit (thankfully he did not get a ticket). While transit is a pain in the ass (our bus was over ten minutes late!), it has its advantages. [Yelp collections: Hiking]

There are a few trails in Coquitlam area that are worthwhile for those into hiking…read more Crystal Falls in one of them. As mentioned in my previous review of Lions Park, this trail starts from Colony Farm near the entry of Coquitlam at Lougheed Highway and terminates far beyond Crystal Falls. It is a good 2-3 hour hike just one way. A more manageable trip would be to start from David and Shaughnessy Street in Coquitlam, if your destination is Crystal Falls. This takes approximately 1hr and 20 minutes on foot according to Google. However depending on the weather and road conditions, it may take significantly longer. Winter, rainy, muddy, lots of struck down trees. All in all, it is a good way to recharge and take in some rich oxygen to detox the work week.

The Crystal Falls trail was a very easy hike. For this particular section, the trail head starts at…read morethe end of Shaughnessy Street. Stay on the trail for about 40 minutes, going over a few streams and around many mud puddles after it has rained and you will come to the falls at the end. There were a few good stops along the way to sit, take in the river and to take in all the nature around you. Some parts of the trail can be narrow. Good for all ages, but can be tricky on some of the stream crossings.

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

Part One We arrived and parked within the main parking lot…read moredirectly in front of the area by the Pier, just before 9:30 am yesterday. A first-time experience for my lady and I to the Park - the daughter had been there a couple of times before, but a good while ago. Daughter and I had plans to walk the Park's walkaways and trails, and Mom to stay behind, to take in the views near the pier and surrounding areas, waterfowl activities, and generally to enjoy her time outside in the warm sunshine and fresh air of the beautiful morning we had on the go. A visit to the 'Recreational Pier' was first on the walking agenda. The walk out on the structure offered views of the pier itself (lined from one end to the other, with colourful flowered-planters, and benches to sit and take in sights), and views of the water and mudflats below (with lots of waterfowl resting and feeding), several boats, the boat launching area, and full extent views of both sides of Burrard Inlet as seen at this location. A splendid start to our morning walks. Second on the walking agenda was the walkway along the shoreline, to the start of the 'Shoreline Trail'. We did not make any stop in between -- at the 'Playgrounds', or picnic lunching areas -- just caught some rather distant views, we had forested-trails on our minds. The walkway itself though, offered a very plesant, well-treed walk, with several good viewing spots of the Inlet along the route. We walked with no stops other than enough time along the way to view, catch, and capture some of the natural sights. Part Two Walking the 'Shoreline Trail'. We continued our walk, and when we reached the entrance(s) to the 'Shoreline Trail' we headed left into the route closest to the actual shoreline. This took us into a well-groomed dirt, walking only trail. The route to the right was a paved roadway, and much more popular with family groups, and such. The route taken was definitely 'the' right one for us, and we sure enjoyed it. Heavily-forested, mostly flat, with only a couple of 'stair walks' up slopes, some interesting boardwalks over wet areas, and several lookout spots to stand or sit, and view the sights of the inlet along the way. We walked as far as a smaller trail off the main trail that took us inland, up and into the 'Noons Creek Hatchery' site. After an interesting stop and visit there (review forthcomcoming), we returned to the main trail, and walked back to Rock Point. Next on the walking agenda -- Part Three - walking to the end of 'Shoreline Trail' (soon, I hope!).

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!