This loop which gets very hilly at times offers a variety of superb greenways and parks. Through Coquitlam we will enjoy older parts that include Como Lake Park, Blue Mt. Park, Mundy Park and Riverview, as well as, Coquitlam Centre Park, the Coquitlam River and the David Ave Parkway. In Port Moody and Poco, it takes in Sasamat Lake, Bedwell Bay, Belcarra Regional Park, as well as the Shoreline Trail along Moody Inlet to Rocky Point Park the old parts of town. It involves greenways, bike paths, and some roadway. Along the Coquitlam River we experience part of the PoCo Trail.
This extraordinary routing which is close to 60 kms in length for the complete loop will feel more like 65 kms because of its hill climbs and relatively slow trails. This routing has been changed to reduce repetition from another TriCity Cycle Tour and now includes the upper west side of Coquitlam.
Here is a Youtube video of a large part of this ride:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRgaDvxSssYÂ
It is important to note that this larger loop can be divided into smaller loops denoted on the map using magenta-colored lines. Â As well, the map shows an extra loop that goes around Shawnigan Lake which is also part of the Trans Canada Trail. Doing the whole 100 km orange loop is the equivalent of 2 loops 28a and 28b.
This extraordinary loop features more than 60 km of rail trail that takes in the Kinsol Trestle, the Marie Trestle and Canyon, Skutz Falls, the Cowichan River, spectacular forests as well as Duncan, and the touristy fishing village of Cowichan Bay.
The rail trail is known as the Cowichan Valley Trail, which is the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s contribution to the Trans Canada Trail along with the Cowichan River Park section makes for a spectacular multi-use trail and an integral part of the TCT route on Southern Vancouver Island. Between Lake Cowichan and the Kinsol Trestle, the trail follows the gentle grade of the former turn of the century CN and CP railway lines that served pioneer logging and settlement communities.
Note that through the Cowichan River Provincial Park, walkers have the option of taking the footpath that connects with the rail grade from time to time (the brown track on the map gives the approximate location of the pathway).
A step-by-step pdf description
Here are the main features: (all sensational!)
- Coquitlam Centre Park with Lafarge Lake
- Coquitlam River Loop
- Loops to Crystal Falls
- Smiling Creek Greenways all the way to Hyde Creek
- Hyde Creek Greenway
- Coquitlam Lake lookouts
- Burke Mountain Village
- Burke Mountain Summit makes up Pinecone Burke Provincial Park
- Deboville Slough
- Minnekhada Regional Park
- Widgeon Slough Regional Park
- ETC.
The main loop can be done between 47 and 50 km. It is worth noting that this can be divided into a number of shorter cycling or walking loops.
It highlights a number of waterways:
- Howe Sound
- Squamish River
- Maquam River
- Stawanus River
- Maquam Blind Channel
- the Squamish Spit Estuary
The main Centers are:
- The Squamish Town Centre
- Brakendale
Connects a number of trail routes: or greenways
- The Sea-to-SkyTrail/Trans Canada Trail-The Great Trail
- Ocean Front Loop Trail
- The Apron Trail to the Stawmus Chief cliff
- The Stawamus Dike Trail
- The Laughing Turtle Trail
- The Maquam River Trail
- Ray Roberts Trail
- The Discovery Trail
- Estuary Trail
- Smoke Buffs Trail
Interesting Features:
- Shannon Falls Provincial Park
- Stawamus Chief cliffs
- Totem – Squamish Nation – Salish Coast Indigenous People
- Visitor Centre
- Mountain Peaks all around
- Forest and bog experiences
- Alice Lake Provincial Parks
Highlights for this interesting orange cycle loop features:
- Beaches, parks, and accommodation along the Okanagan Lake
- Summerland town Centre
- The high level Lakeview Trail allows for exceptional views across the lake towards Naramada
- A wonderful TCT trail to rail along Mt. Conkle
- The famous Trout Creek Trestle
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