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Westwood Plateau Hiking

March 17, 2016Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, Other Metro Vancouveradmin

There are some great little hiking trails all around Northeast Coquitlam, specifically Westwood Plateau. One hike I do regularly starts from Bramble Park, goes down to David Avenue and then west on David Avenue – a trail starts just west of Forest Park Way and heads upwards beside West Noons Creek. At the top of the residential development, there are a couple of ways to go. I decided to go down Hickory Drive and start heading up again at the Reservoir at the end of Hickory Drive. From there, you head up many mountain biking trails until you reach the large cell tower at the top. I make my way onto a gravel road and head southeast, eventually reaching Eagle Mountain Drive and then onto the Eagle Mountain Park driveway. Heading north for a bit, I pass the first field and turn right, heading down a path towards Westwood Plateau Golf Course. Eventually reaching Parkway Boulevard and finding the trail again on the other side. There are again many choices for trails in here and I find myself choosing different options each time. Heading down, I eventually reach Panorama Drive and head back towards Bramble Park.

Here are the stats for this route:

Distance: 10 km (return)
Time: 2 hours
Low point: 177 m
High point: 459 m
Elevation gain: 282 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 518 m

Here’s a PDF of Coquitlam trails from the City HERE

The route:

Some photos on the hike:

Viewpoints…

Looking south towards Lafarge Lake…

Looking East towards the Pitt River…

Westwood Plateau Golf Course…

The inside of a burnt tree…

Wetland Area at top of Eagle Mountain Drive…

Trail…

Trail along West Noons Creek…

Trail…

Towards Eagle Mountain Park…

Mountain Biking Trails…

See Mt. Baker from Gravel Road…

Hole in a tree…

Fork in Trail…

Forest…

Creek Crossing…

Cell Tower…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★

Sumas Mountain

November 28, 2015Fraser Valley & Beyond, Non-Buntzen Lake Hikesadmin

This is the Canadian Sumas Mountain – not the US one ! Sumas Mountain is located in North Abbotsford. The route starts on Upper Sumas Mountain Road and enters the forest to the east. The trail starts out with a gentle descent across a ravine and then it rises from there to Chadsey Lake. Near the 2km mark, you enter onto a forest service road, where you take a right, follow the road for a short distance and join the trail again on your left. As an addition, there is a great view northwards down the FSR (this can be done on the way up or way down). Once entering the forest again, you head up the trail again for another 2.3 km where you’ll reach Chadsey Lake. Follow the lake trail to the left and keep hugging the lake until you see trail markers where you go left up the mountain; it is easy to miss, as the trail continues around the lake. After the turnoff, another 2 km will get you to the summit, where there is a splendid view of the Fraser Valley.

Distance: 14 km
Time: 5.5 hours
Low point: 139 m
High point: 905 m
Elevation gain: 766 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 1,300 m
Trailhead: 49° 07’ 19.8” by 122° 11’ 18.6” (Google Map)

Here is the route…

Photos from Nov 2015 and May 2017…

Beautiful view of Sumas Prairie…

Chadsey Lake…

Little waterfall…

Stream…

Crossing a Bridge…

Pink Trillium…

View a short distance north from Chadsey Lake…

Crossing a Bridge again…

Another bridge crossing…

Relaxing at the summit…

Walk through the trees…

View from clearcut area (down FSR)…

Walking through the ferns…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Jug Island

November 26, 2015Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, Other Metro Vancouveradmin

The Jug Island hike is a route on the Belcarra Peninsula that takes you to a beach on Indian Arm, with a close up view of Jug Island. Jug Island is a tiny island, with an area of 6,500m² (1.6 acres) and a diameter of 90 m. The trail starts on Bedwell Bay Road, near Midden Road. The trail is well established and ok marked – route finding might be difficult with a heavy snow cover. But overall, it’s a great little hike. The beach at the end is a real treat and I’m sure it’s very refreshing on hot summer days. There is a small bluff on the route with tree-obstructed views of Bedwell Bay.

Distance: 5 km (return)
Time: 1 hour (with no breaks)
Low point: 0 m
High point: 88 m
Elevation gain: 88 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 300 m
Trailhead: 49° 18’ 48.3” by 122° 55’ 22.7” (Google Map)

The route…

This is the Belcarra Peninsula and Jug Island as seen from Diez Vistas Trail…

Here is the Beach…

A nice view up Indian Arm…

A small lake along the hike…

Stairs on a section of the trail…

A trail pic…

Another trail pic…

Trail head sign…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Lynn Peak

October 27, 2015Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, North Shoreadmin

This is my second post for a hike in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. The first was for a hike to Norvan Falls. Lynn Peak is a much different hike than the Norvan Falls hike. The Lynn Peak hike is uphill pretty much all the way – it’s more of a workout. I found the trail well marked with some bits quite rocky, but overall the trail was very manageable. Compared to the nearby Grouse Grind, this trail is much easier and much less crowded. The trail offers the occasional flat area to catch your breath. Once at the top, there is a large rock bluff at which to have a snack and take in the views looking south. Today, it was overcast, but Mt. Baker was still visible !

NOTE: The access road for vehicles is now closed indefinitely. You will have to hike park on the street somewhere and hike into the park.

Here are the stats starting from the second parking lot…

Distance: 9.1 km (return)
Time: 3 hours moving time
Low point: 192 m
High point: 942 m
Elevation gain: 750 m
Trailhead: 49° 21’ 40” by 123° 01’ 41.5” (Google Map)

Here is the route…

Photos…

Great view from the top…

Another view…

View of Mt. Baker…

Sun fighting through the trees…

Mushrooms…

Notch in blow down…

Rocky section…

Steam on dead tree…

Trail pic…

Wooden stumps at a sometimes swampy section…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Tunnel Bluffs

October 24, 2015Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, North Shoreadmin

This hike is also known as Tunnel Point.

This hike starts just north of Lions Bay, about 15 mins north of Horseshoe Bay. For this hike, it is best to have someone drop you off in the parking lot on the ocean side of the highway (HERE). This is a 30 minute max parking lot. If coming from Vancouver, you cannot directly access this parking lot; however, after another 1.7 km there is a gravel pull-out alongside of the highway, where you can safely turnaround. (If you miss this pull-out, there is a proper turn-around location 2 km further. Once you’re back at the parking lot, you must make your way across the highway (be careful) and look for the big yellow highway sign that reads “Rockfall Hazard Area – No Stopping” – This sign is right by the trailhead. The hike starts uphill immediately and continues so until about the 600 m elevation mark – at this point you travel on an old logging road until you reach the end. On the way up, there are 3 viewpoints, but none are near as good to what you’ll see at the end. The trail is in good shape and is not technical – there are a couple of ropes, but they aren’t really needed. There is one small creek (at 640 m) and a few monster trees. The view from the bluff is quite spectacular – you see Howe Sound, Bowen Island, Gambier Island and Anvil Island, among others.

NOTE: Cars have been towed from the parking lot for illegal parking. If you see a bunch of cars parked on the side of the entrance or exit driveway, don’t think that’s ok – there is a good possibility you’ll be towed.

Distance: 7.3 km (return)
Time: 3-5 hours
Low point: 64 m
High point: 708 m
Elevation gain: 644 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 850 m
Trailhead: 49° 29’ 5.3” by 123° 14’ 52.1” (Google Map)

The view from the top bluff…