Old Buntzen Lake Trail (McCombe Lake)

Old Buntzen Lake Trail (McCombe Lake) sits just north of Coquitlam, in the Buntzen Lake area near Anmore, and is about as mellow as it gets. At 3.1 km return with only 98 m of gain, this easy out-and-back is more of a relaxed leg-stretcher than a big hike, usually wrapped up in under an hour.

The trail follows the east side of McCombe Lake through second-growth forest, with a wide, well-defined path and gentle grades. You’ll get one solid viewpoint where you can snap a photo of the lake and Swan Falls across the water, then the route continues to Powerhouse Road and the option to link up with the Diez Vistas trail if you want something longer and steeper.

Recent hikers are clear: Old Buntzen Lake Trail is not about huge views or dramatic terrain, so go in expecting a quiet forest walk and a quick look at the lake, not a big payoff summit. The route can be damp and a bit muddy after rain, but it’s generally in good shape and easy to follow year-round, with snow rarely an issue at its low 153 m high point. It’s a handy choice if Buntzen Lake parking is busy and you still want a short, easy outing close to Coquitlam, or a gentle warm-up before tackling Diez Vistas.