Dennett Lake

Dennett Lake is one of those Coquitlam hikes that makes you earn every metre. This 10.6 km out-and-back on Burke Mountain climbs roughly 941 m to around 957 m, and it feels like it from the first step. The opening stretch is a serious grind, but locals hit it for the workout, the quiet forest, and the payoff around Munro Lake and the Munro lookout on the way to Dennett.

The trail is mostly in shaded forest, zigzagging up steep terrain with roots, rocks, and a few hands-on sections, so expect a steady cardio climb rather than gentle cruising. Views are limited early on, but the lower viewpoints break things up, and the Munro Lake lookout between Munro and Dennett is the real highlight, with big open views and even cell reception. Dennett Lake itself appears suddenly after about 6 km of dense trees, a calm spot for a cool-down dip if you don’t mind it being a bit on the swampy side at times.

Recent hikers report that Dennett Lake is rated “difficult” for a reason: steep, knee-busting grades, overgrown sections past Munro, and lots of bugs, especially horseflies and mosquitoes in summer. Expect mud and some swampy patches between Munro and Dennett, and snow and ice hanging around into late spring, when microspikes and poles help a lot. Parking at the Quarry Road trailhead is limited roadside space on a curve, so arrive early and park smart, bring bug spray and a GPS track, and plan on 5 hours or more round trip rather than the optimistic 2-hour estimate.