Poplar Trail

Poplar Trail in Burnaby is short, steep, and way tougher than its distance suggests. At just 2.4 km out and back with about 205 m of gain, it packs a serious workout into roughly an hour. If you want a fast leg-burner in the forest without driving far from the city, this one does the job.

The trail climbs quickly through classic Burnaby forest, with dense trees and a few partial views as you gain altitude toward about 301 m. The grade is sustained and “steeeeeeeeep” in sections, so you’ll feel it both on the way up and on the way down. It’s shared with mountain bikers and crosses bike trails, so stay alert and be ready to step aside when you hear riders coming.

Recent hikers call Poplar Trail challenging, not easy, with loose rock, ankle-twisting spots, and some muddy patches, especially after rain or when there’s a light dusting of snow hiding trail markers. Good footwear and decent balance really help on the descent. Dogs are common, but skip the retractable leash because of fast bikes. This Burnaby trail is doable year-round for prepared hikers, but conditions swing from wet and slick in the colder months to dry and dusty later in the season, so plan your pace and gear with that in mind.