Lakeview and Buntzen Lake Trail Loop

Lakeview and Buntzen Lake Trail Loop is one of those classic Lower Mainland hikes that gives you a solid workout without chewing up your whole day. The 11.7 km loop sits above Buntzen Lake in Anmore, just north of Coquitlam, and rolls through forest with steady ups and downs, topping out around 268 m. Most hikers clock it in about 3.5 to 4 hours and rate it a true moderate: easy in sections, but with a few hills that definitely wake up the legs.

Once you’re on the Lakeview and Buntzen Lake Trail Loop, expect a mix of wide, easy walking and rougher, rooty singletrack. The “different terrains” people mention are real: there are mellow lakeside stretches, steeper forest climbs, and spots where you’ll want to watch your footing. Views pop through the trees toward Buntzen Lake and the surrounding North Shore-style hills, with enough variety to keep things interesting the whole way around.

Current reports say the official loop back section is closed, so you can’t complete the full Lakeview and Buntzen Lake Trail Loop right now and will likely end up doing an out-and-back or a modified route around Buntzen Lake instead. Plan for about 4 hours with breaks, and be ready for “lots of hills” even though the elevation number doesn’t look huge. The trail feels quite natural and can be rough in spots, so bring decent footwear, keep dogs leashed, and aim for March through October for the best conditions, checking BC Hydro’s Buntzen Lake updates before you go in case of bridge or trail closures.