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Blaze a trail in Burnaby
Thursday, May 31st, 2007 by GetawayBC.com
If you’re a cyclist, runner or walker, Burnaby is the place to be, with hundreds of kilometres of trails and pathways to explore. The city has one of the most elaborate networks of trails and paths in the Lower Mainland.
And what makes Burnaby’s trails unique is they’ll take you to the top of Burnaby Mountain, along the mighty Fraser River, through the middle of a busy city, across ocean beaches and around Burnaby Lake.
With such variety, picking a great trail ride, run or walk becomes a personal choice. Here’s some information to help you make a decision.
Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
The mountain, water and city views from high atop Burnaby Mountain make this 1,423-acre park popular for locals and visitors alike. Make sure you bring your camera – you’ll want to capture the beauty of this park.
Simon Fraser University, located on top of Burnaby Mountain, transferred 820 acres of university land to the City of Burnaby in 1995 for inclusion in the conservation area. Since then the city has worked on plans to allow use by cyclists, runners, walkers and horseback riders. At the same time, key environmental areas are protected.
Over recent years, Burnaby Mountain has becoming increasingly popular with mountain bikers because they offer a technical challenge as well as demanding climbing and downhill tracts.
Lower areas of the mountain, below the BC Hydro power lines, aren’t as steep but there are a number of challenging technical trails.
Share the trails with courtesy. Runners and walkers use them as well so give others lots of room and advanced warning when approaching from behind. It’s best to dismount and walk your bike if you encounter a rider and a horse.
Trails are marked and a trail map can be found on the northeast end of the utility road located under the hydro line. Most bikers enter the trail system from the end of North Road.
For trail runners, Burnaby Mountain offers a fitness test best left for those not discouraged by long hill climbs and switchbacks. Be prepared to get muddy when conditions are wet and don’t be surprised if you find yourself climbing through the clouds, especially in the late fall and winter. Expect cooler temperatures the higher you climb.
Hikers and walkers will also find the mountain a great place to explore. Many trails are found on the north and east sides of the mountain but a unique feature of the conservation area is found on the southwest side. Centennial Pavilion (located off Centennial Way) is a good place to start your walk.
Beside the pavilion you’ll find acclaimed Horizons Restaurant, the Centennial Rose Garden, majestic B.C. coast native totem poles and the Kamui Mintara (playground of the gods) sculptures. The large sculpture was created by Ainu sculptors (Japan’s aboriginal people) to commemorate 25 years of goodwill between sister cities Burnaby and Kushiro, Japan.
The Trans Canada Trail runs through this park area and travels along the north side of the mountain.
How to get there: Go along Lougheed Highway and turn north on Gaglardi Way, right on Burnaby Mountain Parkway and left on Centennial Way.
Burnaby Lake Regional Park
Burnaby Lake is the most popular park of the many administered by the Greater Vancouver Regional District, with more annual visitors than any other.
The trails, which go around the lake, are restricted to walkers and runners. About 10 kilometres (six miles) in length, a lap around the lake is a favourite among runners. Much of the trail is rebuilt with the wood chip surface being replaced by gravel.
Wood chip equestrian trails can be found on the south side of the lake.
The lake itself was dug out by a glacier 12,000 years ago. At the turn of the last century it was important to local industry and its shores were dotted with saw mills. It is now considered an important wildlife sanctuary with over 100 bird species visiting or calling the lake home, including osprey, great blue herons, bald eagles and belted kingfishers as well as beavers and turtles.
A viewing tower provides a bird’s eye view for spotting wildlife. Or you can canoe the lake and get a close-up view of busy beavers, diving ducks and turtles feeding in the marsh. Don’t miss the north shore, which includes Warner Loat Park and the Nature House. The House is open weekends in the summer and provides interpretive nature classes and displays. On the south shore visit the Wildlife Rescue facility, which houses a wildlife habitat garden.
Interpretive nature classes are run out of the Nature House at the foot of Piper Avenue. The lake is primarily fed by Still Creek and water flows out through the Brunette River.
How to get there: Take the Trans Canada Highway. Exit at Kensington Avenue North to Sprott Street and Sperling Avenue.
Barnet Marine Park
Due north of Burnaby Mountain lies Barnet Marine Park, located on the spectacular Barnet Inlet. This linear park is a favourite of water lovers as on can swim in the ocean, explore the shoreline or just bask in the sun.
Picnic tables and barbeques are scattered under shady trees and a concession stand, change rooms and outdoor showers are available in summer. If you like to be on the water, launch your canoe, kayak or sailing dinghy. You can even try your luck at crabbing!
Just across the water, large freighters are at work and pleasure craft navigate the choppy waters. At high tide, the water can rise 14 feet, making the marine traffic appear closer than it really is.
A mill town at the turn of the century, this park still has remnants of its early days. The remains of the mill’s scrap burner juts out into the water, resembling a small castle.
In mid-December merry makers gather at Barnet Marine Park to watch the flotilla of Christmas Carol Ships sail by. A huge, cheery bonfire makes this a popular vantage point for this Lower Mainland custom
Last April, Burnaby named a trail in this park after former Mayor Doug Drummond, who was instrumental in creating the park. The trail, now named Drummond’s Walk, west of Thluck-Way-Tun Creek and adjacent to Texaco Drive, is one of Drummond’s favourite places to walk dog.
Drummond’s Walk is marked by a gateway featuring three tapered, metal masts topped by three birds, a bald eagle, a cormorant and raven, sculpted in welded, galvanized steel by artist Sandra Bilawich. At its base is a band of beach rocks set in concrete representing Drummond’s habit of collecting rocks from each beach he visits.
How to get there: Travel east on Hastings street and continue on as it turns into Barnet Highway; stay left and follow the signs for the park.
B.C. Parkway
Cyclists commuting to Vancouver and New Westminster love the B.C. Parkway because it offers a car-free route. It’s also a great trip for families on bikes or just walking. Trails are paved in most sections.
The parkway runs along the Expo SkyTrain line for 19 kilometres (11.8 miles) from Westminster Quay to False Creek in Vancouver and is separated for cyclists and pedestrians. The Highland Park line is an extension running from Buller to Edmonds.
The linear path is dotted with playgrounds and gardens while greenspace surrounds it.
The parkway offers a unique view of the city and is an easily traveled route suitable for families.
Central Park
Burnaby’s western end of the B.C. Parkway crosses through Central Park. Towering douglas fir, hemlock, poplar and maple trees can be found in this urban forest that boasts a 8.5-kilometre web of well-marked wooded trails criss-crossing the park.
As trails are mostly flat, the park is popular with families who have strollers to push. Children enjoy the playground and the ducks and geese that gather near the two ponds.
Some of the stops along the way are a pitch and putt golf course, tennis courts, gardens, playgrounds, an outdoor pool, baseball diamonds, playing fields and Swangard Stadium. There’s also a horseshoe pitching area, lawn bowling green and two ponds that are home to ducks and geese.
The century-old park is just minutes from the Metrotown shopping area and is easily accessed by car from Kingsway and Boundary Road.
How to get there: Central Park is easy to get to by public transit or car. On transit, take SkyTrain to Patterson station and cross the street to the park. Imperial, Patterson or Kingsway will get you there by car.
Fraser Foreshore Park
By gradually buying up industrial land along the Fraser River, Burnaby has been able to build the Fraser Foreshore Park, a linear park on the city’s south edge.
The park currently runs from Boundary Road to the Big Bend area along the river. The long-term plan to is to continue to buy up land and convert it into park. Fraser Foreshore may eventually extend eastward as far as the New Westminster border.
The current eastern edge of the park, near the Canadian National Railway crossing of the Fraser River, is becoming an important environmental area. Off-channel habitat for young salmon has already been built in the secluded area.
The park’s trail stretches from Boundary Road to the railway corridor. Two spurs connect with the park and travel north for a short distance.
How to get there: From Marine Way in South Burnaby, turn south down to the very end of Byrne Road.
Robert Burnaby Park
A park of tall trees and deep ravines. Many of the trails here are on hills, so expect to do a bit of climbing. The effort is worth it however, as Robert Burnaby Park has many quiet corners and creekside spots to rest. Other features include an outdoor pool, a disc golf course, tennis courts and a picnic area. There’s an off-leash area for dogs at the north end of the park.
How to get there: Follow Canada Way to 16th Avenue, turn northeast and then left on 1st Street, Robert Burnaby Park is not accessible from Highway 1.
Scenic Trail
Spend an afternoon or evening ambling along this chain of trails that affords close-up views of Burrard Inlet. Begin at Kensington Park and head west to Boundary Rd., then continue north to the wooded Penzance Nature Trail. The trail wraps around Kensington Park. The eastern section wraps around Capitol Hill to end up back at Kensington Park.;