Tianna ClarkeYears ago, I thought it’d be a fantastic idea to impress a cute hiking enthusiast by pretending I was also into hiking. I thought, how hard could it be? Spoiler: bad. Very bad.
It started so well—we were hiking at Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area for about 30 minutes, and I assumed that would be enough. That was until my date kept going up for another hour. Then another. And another. And of course, I followed.
Long story short, my date ended up carrying me back to the parking lot. Easily the most embarrassing day of my life! But luckily, he found it hilarious. Romance is alive and well. Anyway, here’s a handy travel guide we crafted from our fun and sweet little adventure.
What is Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area known for?
Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area is known for its picturesque views, hiking and biking trails, public art installations, and local wildlife, as well as the Simon Fraser University above the mountain.
Best Time to Go
The best time to go to Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area is May to October or during late spring to early fall. You’ll likely experience drier and more accessible hiking trails, clearer sunset views, better-looking wildflowers and greenery.
Things to Know
Entry Fees: You can enter the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area for free! However, it’s best to check certain events there if they charge for admission.
Operating Hours: This location is open from dawn until dusk on any day of the year.
Parking: There’s free parking at designated areas, including along Centennial Way toward the Centennial Rose Garden and Harry Jerome Sports Centre off Barnet Rd. You can also get limited street parking at Hastings St. and Ridgeview Dr.
Washroom: You can find a public toilet along the Powerline Trail, though this isn’t usually shown on the information kiosks’ maps.
Dogs: Leashed dogs are allowed in the conservation area, but you must be a responsible owner. Don’t forget to pick up after your pups and use the waste disposal bins available.
How to Get Around
Trains: You can take the SkyTrain Expo or Millennium Line to Production Way-University Station. Then, you can take the bus, specifically Bus 145, to reach the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Transit Exchange—just a quick stroll to your destination!
Buses: There are several bus routes for direct Burnaby Mountain access. Some are Buses R5, 143, 144, 145, and 160. Most of these go to SFU, except for Bus 160, which stops near the entrance of the Mountain Air Bike Park.
Taxis: From downtown, you can hail a cab to Burnaby Mountain, which could take you around 20 minutes.
Car: From Vancouver, go east on Hastings Street to Burnaby Mountain Parkway. After that, go left onto Centennial Way and to the main parking area. Otherwise, you can take the Mountain Air Bike Park via Barnet Highway and Takeda Drive.
What to Do in Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
Explore the Trails
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Love hiking or mountain biking? The Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area has a massive space for you to enjoy—over 28 kilometres of trails spanning more than 500 hectares of forested lands!
Our favourite route is the Velodrome Trail, sometimes known as the Burnaby Grind. We love its panoramic views as it ascends to the summit at more than 300 meters. Very rewarding after a long exercise, we say.
Have a Mini Photoshoot
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You can also enjoy the summit’s lovely Burrard Inlet and North Shore Mountains. The way we see it, these are great attractions for practising being a sunrise or sunset photographer!
And if you want something colourful as a backdrop, we recommend going to the Centennial Rose Garden. It’s got more than 900 rose bushes!
Marvel at the Art Installations
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Appreciate art in any form? You can easily see the Kamui Mintara or “Playground of the Gods” sculptures.
These carved wooden poles were created by Nuburi and his son Shusei Toko. Their work aims to represent goodwill between Burnaby and Kushiro, Japan.
When you stay long enough to see the sunset, we think these poles would look amazing against the city skyline. If you love it, you can even have your wedding here!
Where to Eat around Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
Burnaby Mountain Restaurant
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Website: https://foodburnaby.ca/restaurants/burnaby-mountain-restaurant
Address: 7600 Halifax St, Burnaby Mountain Gold Course & Driving Range, Burnaby
Contact Details: +1 604 297 4888, food@burnaby.ca
Pricing: $$
Should you want more lush sights after spending a whole day at Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, we say head straight to Burnaby Mountain Restaurant!
This dining spot provides West Coast cuisine in a chic, rustic space with serene golf course views. We suggest snagging the patio seating for a breathtaking sunset dining experience.
We recommend its signature York steak with Merlot demi-glace too. But if you prefer seafood, we love the lobster tail and crispy shrimp! And if you like tea or coffee, we say go for innovative desserts like the Earl Grey cheesecake or coffee crunch cake.
ParkCrest Diner
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Address: 5901 Broadway, Burnaby
Contact Details: +1 604 293 1633
Pricing: $
Want a nostalgic ambience? ParkCrest Diner has the old-school charm of a mid-20th-century eatery while serving classic North American comfort food. There are a few Chinese-Canadian dishes too, so we reckon you’ll have many options in one go.
The standout items for us are the Salisbury steak, chicken chow mein (stir-fried noodles), and the clubhouse sandwich. If you’re feeling hungrier than usual, we like that the hearty dishes often come with hashbrowns, fries, or salads too.
JOEY Burnaby
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Website: https://joeyrestaurants.com/location/joey-burnaby
Address: 1899 Rosser Ave #109, Burnaby
Contact Details: +1 604 564 5639, guestrelations@joeyrestaurants.com
Pricing: $$
Just a short drive from the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, JOEY Burnaby is a chill, modern restaurant offering global and regional dishes. It also holds an all-day happy hour from Sunday to Thursday—get those Bellini cocktails for a good price!
Notable items for us are the steak and lobster ravioli, crispy mashed potatoes, and crispy chicken burger with yam fries—we love the textures! For dessert, we think you can’t go wrong with the crowd favourite: the molten lava cake with ice cream.
Where to Shop near Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
Mountain Village Market
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Address: 8650 Cinnamon Dr #29, Burnaby
Contact Details: +1 604 421 8855
Mountain Village Market is a convenience store 4.8 km from Burnaby Mountain Park. This has been open for over 25 years—a popular choice for the neighbourhood.
We think this shop is very handy since it has most, if not all, of the items you’ll typically see in a regular shopping list. On top of that, it offers DVD rentals for nostalgic movie lovers!
The City of Lougheed Shopping Centre
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Website: https://thecityoflougheed.com/shopping-and-dining/
Address: 9855 Austin Rd, Burnaby
Contact Details: +1 604 421 2882, guestservices@thecityoflougheed.com
The City of Lougheed Shopping Centre is a big urban mall with tons of international brand-name stores, dining spots, various services, and regular events. There’s an indoor playground for kids as well—handy for busy parents!
We appreciate that almost all essentials can be found here. You can go to the London Drugs pharmacy, Walmart, Kin’s Farm Market, COBS Bread bakery, Oomono Japanese variety store, Coles Bookshop, and many more.
And when you get hungry, we like its diverse and bright food court. We think this is great for those in the mood for either fast food or a sit-down meal.
Highgate Village Shopping Centre
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Address: 7155 Kingsway
Highgate Village Shopping Centre is an organized shopping mall to consider if you need groceries, the bank, medicine, flowers, and so on. We also like that this place is highly accessible for kids and disabled people.
When you’re done with retail therapy, you can enjoy freshly made pizza, coffee, or bread in the area. Moreover, there’s 90-minute free underground and paid street parking, so you won’t have problems bringing your car.
Where to Stay near Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
The Simon
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Website: http://www.sfu.ca/stayhere
Address: Residence Administration, 2010 Courtyard Residence, 8888 University Dr W, Burnaby
Contact Details: +1 778 782 4503, reginfo@sfu.ca
Pricing: $
Book Now
The Simon is a 2-star hotel located on the Simon Fraser University campus. This chill and modern accommodation is your closest option to the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area—only around 1.9 km from the mountain!
Its casual rooms and suites both provide mountain views too. And besides the free internet, minifridge, coffeemaker, and TV, we adore the DVD players accessible for you to indulge in pure nostalgia.
Executive Plaza Hotel Coquitlam
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Website: http://www.executiveplazahotel.ca/
Address: 405 North Rd #1, Coquitlam
Contact Details: +1 604 936 9399, reservationsc@executivehotels.net
Pricing: $$
Book Now
Executive Plaza Hotel Coquitlam is a 4-star haven around 7 km from the Burnaby Mountain Park. It’s also an 11-minute walk from Lougheed Town Centre Station—great for commuters, in our opinion.
Its comfy rooms seem to ooze with a classy vibe too. Apart from the usual amenities, the upgraded rooms add balconies and/or Jacuzzi tubs for a more VIP feel. The suites have pull-out sofas and kitchenettes too if you need more amenities.
When it’s time to dine, there’s an informal dining spot and a piano lounge showcasing regular live music. You can also stay active and enjoy the outdoor pool, tennis courts, and fitness centre.
Best Western Plus Burnaby Hotel
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Website: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.62024.html
Address: 5411 Kingsway, Burnaby
Contact Details: +1 604 438 1383
Pricing: $$
Book Now
This one’s for the shopping aficionados—Best Western Plus Burnaby Hotel is a 14-minute walk from the Metropolis at Metrotown shopping centre. But if you want to see the charming Burnaby Village Museum, it’s also only 4 km away.
The informal rooms and suites come with the usual amenities, but we feel you’ll have to check which quarters are available if you want kitchenettes and/or sofabeds.
We think this accommodation is good for both business and pleasure, as it has a meeting space and a business centre. It has an outdoor pool for relaxation too.
Tips When Visiting Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
Now that you’re familiar with this beautiful park, here are some tips and tricks to ensure a satisfying adventure:
| Dress well for the outdoors. While it’s great to look nice in photos, it’s best to make your outfit functional. For one, wear comfy and sturdy shoes if you’re going to the Velodrome Trail—it’s got over 500 stairs! We say bring a light jacket too—you never know when it can get breezy. Bring water and snacks. There might not be any convenience stores on the mountain, so be prepared by bringing enough water and snacks. Download a trail map. Though the trails are marked, we think it’s smart to have one on your phone in case of emergencies. The cell signal here is typically good too. Lower your headphone volume! Make sure you’re still hearing well enough to know where people or animals are approaching nearby. Safety first! |
