A park gem in the middle of the city…read more Small parking lot near the main entrance off of 100th Avenue. Lots of different trails that circle the lake and beyond. Trails are well maintained with lots of family friendly traffic on a good weather day and the trails are relatively flat. Recommended you download the park map if you want to create your own jogging or walking route as several major roads cut through the park grounds.

Trail Series, Part 22 Wondering if Fall has arrived in…read moreCanada? Yep, we'd say that indeed it has! The "Green Timbers Urban Forest Park" located in Surrey (just outside of Vancouver) offers spectacular opportunities to get out and immerse yourself in some "Fall colors" when that need strikes you. Their numerous trails funnel you to (and around) the lake and are extremely well marked and maintained. Bicycles, runners/walkers, and leashed dogs are all welcome. In fact, we felt that most of the trails are flat and wide enough to also welcome wheelchairs and strollers. Although we always recommend the buddy system when enjoying a trail, we found these well traveled enough to give it our highest safety rating. For those seeking a challenge when enjoying these trails, we'd recommend trying to locate the beaver dams and their inhabitants. There is convenient parking located on 100th Avenue (between 144th Street and 148th Street), so get out there and enjoy some fresh and vibrant Canadian air, eh? And that's...Henry's Take. #canadiantrails

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

My last decades have been spent living in the Southwest USA. This summer I am visited my old…read morestomping grounds in Burnaby, B.C. After seeing the water or lush green trees in the Northwest, it makes me truly appreciate nature! This 770 acre (3.11 sq kilometer) park offers 6.2 miles (10 kms) of gravel and boardwalk trails. During our visit, we saw cyclists enjoying the trails, dog walkers getting their daily steps in, and plenty of people taking in the peaceful atmosphere. I think this area is a wonderful oasis away from traffic, horns and the constant sounds of a city. Waterfowl and birds can be spotted all around the park. At Piper Spit, there are viewing platforms to get a closer look at these feathered creatures. The novelty may wear off eventually, but after years in the desert, I'm still not over all this greenery--so I expect I'll be back often. Park hours are: June 2​​ to August 24: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm​​​​​​​​​​​​​ August 25 to September 7: 7:00 am - 9:00 pm​​​​​​​​​​​

Metro Vancouver Regional Parks offers programs year-round​. Nature activities, guided walks and…read moreevents reveal the natural world through exploration and discovery. Today I attended to one of their event, Beaver Watch. It's kids friendly event and like me, solo adult can join as well. Cost $10 for adult. We started learning class about beaver in the nature house (30min). We got rental binoculars for practice and headed to observatory deck and bridge. On the way, we learned beaver diet by the instructors. Beaver tend to active after sunset. We had to wait patiently (lucky to see double rainbow!) But worth enough to wait chilly evening. We could find eight beavers tonight. According to the instructor, eight is big number. Normally less. They swim peacefully and sometimes land on the small island. In second, they dive into again. I highly recommend this nature event and well maintained park.

Pinecone Burke Provincial Park is a wonderful place to spend some time exploring. The park is…read morenamed after Burke Mountain and Pinecone Lake. Burke Mountain was once the location of a Ski Resort and if you poke around enough you can still find remnants of the old operation up there. Old Cabins to some old machinery are tucked away along the trail. It makes for a good treasure hunt. There are three main access points for this park and two minor access point for this park. The three main access points are as follows: by Car at the end of Harper Road at the Gun Club and Quarry Road just after Minnekhada Regional Park and through and by kayak or Canoe through Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area starting at Grant Narrows. The two minor access points are taking a water taxi to the far end of pit lake and accessing old logging roads on that side via bike or boot and on Mamquam FSR from Squamish (Mamquam FSR will get you to Pinecone lake). The portion of the trail near the Gun Club sounds like you are walking through WW3 and is a bit unnerving really but once you get around the corner and loose the sound the park comes to life with amazing forests and lakes to explore. The park is open year round but the higher elevations will require skis or snowshoes to access and care should be taken to not get into avalanche danger wile playing in the snow. Always check avalanche.ca before heading up into the back country in the winter!

Lovely trails all around and nice view. Clean area and beautiful tree, decent walk and a bit of a…read moredecent hike. Nothing too difficult but definitely not a flat ground so some trails aren't suitable for very young kids and elders. A couple lakes around the area too. Munro Lake, Dennett Lake and the Village Lake Trail. A parking lot and some street parking too. Not hard to find too

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.

Burnaby, while not exactly New York City, does have plenty of people situated in a not very large…read morearea - just witness the heavy concentration of skyscrapers, many of which clear 50 stories. Kingsway, the main drag leading into Vancouver proper, witnesses more than its share of traffic, as do the various side streets. So it's a testament to the vision of the founders of the town that this oasis exists. While one can occasionally hear the hum of the Metro or the nearby avenues, by and large it's a place to quickly and efficiently get away from it all. If walking and nature viewing don't fully complete your needs, there are plenty of more physical activities to partake in or watch others partake in - the stadium, the pool, the golf course, the picnic tables - you name it, Central Park has it.

There was lots of parking when I arrived. I liked that the park offered a lot of benches (in…read morevarious sizes), and had shade as well. There was also a splash park and playground. Washrooms were kept relatively clean. Great place for summer picnic or event.

Such a gorgeous area - so lush and green.. the kind of place that just makes you feel lucky to be…read moreliving in B.C.. the riverside hike is a bit rocky but fairly easy.. love hearing the flowing water while hiking. There were bear-proof garbage cans and doggie poop cans along the way. Outhouses at the base of the trail. We visited on a rainy day so parking was plentiful - but I can see how it would be very limited when the weather is good. Paid parking closest to the entrance and free parking beyond that.

An update of Lynn Headwaters Regional Park is long overdue…read more First of all, several years ago, the signage on the outhouses in the park were changed to be gender neutral. I don't know if this was done because of feedback from the public, but I had made a complaint. In addition to the two outhouses, there are also some port-o-potties installed, but I have never used them because port-o-potties are disgusting; however, more toilets are never a bad thing. Second, I have been back to the park many times over the past several years, and I have now done more hiking trails. In addition to Norvan Falls, I have now done Lynn Loop, Lynn Headwaters Trail, Varley Trail, and yesterday, I attempted part of the Lynn Peak Trail with friends. I have done all the green (easy) and blue (intermediate) trails below Norvan Falls, as well as a portion of Lynn Peak, which is yellow (ie. difficult). I knew the Lynn Peak Trail would be challenging and I would not be able to complete it, but my friends and I wanted to try it. We never intended on completing it as we knew it would be too long and difficult, but we hiked for just over two hours and then turned back, which was our plan. There is no rule that you must finish a trail! I have no plans to ever attempt the more challenging trails past Norvan Falls, although one day I might hike up to Hanes Valley Junction, which is one kilometer past Norvan Falls. Lynn Headwaters Regional Park is a great place for hiking as there are so many different trails for all levels and you can go for an easy walk or a hike anywhere between 2 to 10+ hours, depending on which trails you take. There's something for everyone. It is also very transit accessible (either take the #210 or #228 bus), so that non-drivers have access to the park. It's little wonder that this is a very popular place for not only hikers, but for people going to a picnic just inside the park entrance or a swim on a hot day. Lynn Headwaters Regional Park is also a short walk to Rice Lake and other hiking trails in the nearby Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. [Yelp collections: Parks and Gardens; Hiking]

This park, located at the foot of Cumberland Street, is a pretty place to walk along the Fraser…read moreRiver and to wave at the frequent trains that go by. It also has a bit of dark history - the fishing pier and old house near the entrance were formerly where prisoners were brought in via the river to the old BC Pen across Columbia Street. But even if you know that, it's still a peaceful park to visit. Even on a sunny day, very few venture across the railway tracks to visit, so every time I come here, I've got the place practically to myself. The path is nicely landscaped and has a number of wooden bridges that make good stopping points to enjoy the view of the Fraser River in all it's working glory - tugboats, seabirds, log booms - with the mighty Golden Ears and Mt Baker in the distance. The only real problem is that, as of yet, the path abruptly ends at Front Street. Narrow and travelled heavily by freight trucks, it's not safe to walk further along the road. So, you must either turn back along the path, or walk along the paved trail that runs alongside the railroad tracks back to the beginning. This can be fun if there's a train going through, especially one of the Rocky Mountaineer trains, full of people who like to wave hello to me and my cute dog. Someday, I really hope that this park will be part of a much longer waterfront trail. That would be awesome.

I have mixed feelings about giving the masses instructions on how to get into the secluded park…read more Just read this, but don't come to the park! Getting to this oasis is a bitch. Sapperton Landing is only accessible by vehicle if you're traveling east on East Columbia through a ramp down exit. The park's entrance is located at the intersection of East Columbia and Cumberland, but you can't enter the park by vehicle via Cumberland. The closest intersection to drive into the park is Richmond Street and East Columbia Street. By foot, you can easily get into the park off of East Columbia and Cumberland. It's a ten minute walk from the Sapperton SkyTrain Station, but be careful that you don't get ran over on Columbia by the many souls rat running through New West to avoid the Port Mann tolls. As far as picking blackberries as mentioned in the previous review, I wouldn't do it. The Metro Vancouver employees are constantly spraying herbicide.