Swan Falls Trail

Swan Falls Trail in Coquitlam starts out like a casual walk around Buntzen Lake and turns into a legit workout once you leave the shoreline. AllTrails still flags Swan Falls Trail as closed in some places, but on the ground it’s been rerouted and reopened, with a new signed trailhead just before the fenced-off service road. Expect a 9.2 km loop with about 323 m of gain on paper, but most locals will tell you it feels harder than “easy,” especially near the falls.

The first part of the loop follows the Buntzen Lake area on wide, well‑maintained paths, with forest, lake views, and lots of people out walking dogs or going for a swim on warm days. Once you hit the Swan Falls turnoff via the Halvor Lunden Trail, the character changes fast: the climb is steep, rooty, and a bit scrambly near the top, with a fixed cable/rope to help you up a rock section. The waterfall itself can be underwhelming in late summer or dry spells, but the views toward Diez Vistas and Mount Seymour make the grunt worthwhile.

Right now, conditions around Buntzen Lake can change often: floating bridges, the north beach, and parts of the west side trail have seen flooding and occasional closures, so check BC Hydro’s Buntzen Lake updates before you go and book a parking pass. Start early to dodge crowds and heat, and consider taking the service road for a faster approach if it’s open, or the lakeside trail if you want more scenery. The upper Swan Falls Trail is not very dog friendly due to the cables and steep rock, gets sketchy when wet or icy, and in winter you may hit deep snow much lower than expected, so save the full loop for dry, snow‑free days and treat this Coquitlam hike as more of a solid moderate than an easy stroll.