The best hikes from bus stations around Pitt Lake

The Coquitlam Crunch Trail is a wide, multi-use path that is a mix of gravel and paved sections that gains significant elevation over a short distance with panoramic city and mountain views. Popular with locals for fitness and training, the route includes stair sections and multiple rest points along the way. Easily accessible and well-maintained, it’s a fantastic path for a leisurely walk or a challenging workout right in the heart of the city.

The Fraser River is British Columbia’s longest river, stretching over 1,300 kilometres from the Rockies to the Pacific. It flows through diverse landscapes, from alpine valleys to urban centres, and supports one of the largest salmon runs in North America. The river has shaped the region’s ecology, economy, and history for thousands of years.

Harris Landing Park is a charming waterfront spot in Pitt Meadows, nestled along the north bank of the Fraser River. It offers access to a quiet stretch of shoreline with a boat launch, lots of green space, and breathtaking views of the wide river channel. The setting feels open and lightly developed, with the river and surrounding floodplain shaping the landscape, making it the perfect spot for a picnic or a place to relax and soak in the scenery.

Pitt Meadows Regional Airport sits right along the Pitt River Regional Greenway and the Fraser River, serving general aviation, flight training, and small aircraft operations in the Lower Mainland. The low-lying airfield is surrounded by farmland and dike trails, making aircraft activity a constant backdrop for nearby walks and rides. As you pass by, you'll likely see planes taking off and landing at close range against the open valley setting.

Waterfront Commons sits directly along the Fraser River, and though small, it is one of the main access points on the Pitt River Regional Greenway. The space is simple and open, with a wide gravel path, grassy edges, and unobstructed views out across the Fraser River. With little development and constant exposure to the river and sky, it feels more like a pause along the greenway than a traditional park, with several picnic tables, making it an ideal place for a scenic lunch along the water.

The Pitt River Regional Greenway follows the Fraser and Pitt Rivers and is a flat, easy route that is part of a wider network of cycling and walking paths through Pitt Meadows. The trail runs through open farmland, with long, uninterrupted views of the river and the surrounding mountains. With minimal tree cover and expansive scenery, it feels exposed and spacious, shaped more by the river and sky than by forest. There are plenty of access points and parking at both ends, making it perfect for a short or extended hike along the riverfront.

This section of the Trans Canada Trail follows the wooded banks of the Coquitlam River through Coquitlam. The mostly gravel path runs through forested river habitat, offering a quiet stretch of trail where the sound of the river accompanies much of the walk. It’s a multi-use route popular with hikers, runners, and cyclists, and several bridges and viewpoints along the way provide good views over the river as it flows through the valley.

From the Eleanor Ward Bridge, you will be suspended high above the flowing waters of the Coquitlam River. The bridge provides a clear view down into the forested river corridor as the river winds through the valley below. It’s a striking vantage point along the route and a great place to pause and watch the river moving through this green stretch of Coquitlam.