Diez Vistas and Buntzen Lake Forest Loop

Diez Vistas and Buntzen Lake Forest Loop is one of those Coquitlam-area hikes that looks manageable on paper, then humbles you in the last few hours. The loop is about 17.4 km with roughly 929 m of gain and tops out around 560 m, but between the long approach, the lakeside exit, and any side trips, many people end up closer to 20 km plus. Expect a solid 6–7 hours on your feet if you’re hiking, more if you’re coming by transit or tagging on Sugar Mountain.

The first climb up to the Diez Vistas ridge is the steepest part, with rocky, rooty sections that feel tough on the legs but never overly technical. Once you’re on top, the grade eases off and you cruise along a mix of shaded forest, drier open stretches, and short viewpoints over Indian Arm, North Vancouver, and West Vancouver, with vista #1 usually stealing the show. The back half winds down toward Buntzen Lake, then you still have to walk out along one side of the Buntzen Lake Trail to get back to the parking lot or over toward White Pine and Sasamat if you parked there.

Recent hikers report very mixed conditions: in dry weather the trail is rugged but straightforward, while after heavy rain or in winter it can be muddy, blown-out in spots, icy, and slow going, with spikes and poles almost mandatory. Marking ranges from clear orange signs in some sections to confusing junctions and loops where it’s easy to drift off route, so download a map and don’t expect cell service. There are no reliable water sources, most of the route is shaded, bugs are mainly an issue near the lake, and parking at Buntzen Lake now often requires reservations, so many locals start from White Pine instead and tack on a post-hike swim in Sasamat Lake.