I started at the top of Shaughessey Street in Port Coquitlam and headed up the Coquitlam river trail - very muddy and rutty for the first couple of kms - saying to myself - why am I doing this? The weather is sunny and cold about 0C and the trail is in the shade.

        My goal today is to proceed up the river trail passed a small waterfall and continue until an extension of the Woodland trail is reached which will steeply climb up the lower slopes of Burke Ridge until it junctions with the main Woodland trail . From there you proceed along the main trail until it junctions with the Burke Ridge trail - follow it down to the gate at the top of Harper Road - then follow Harper Road or Rod and Gun Club road as many people know it until you reach Coast Meridian - follow it down past the Fire Hall to David Road, turn right and follow to its end - by the concrete divider and gate there is a path that leads down to an unbridged creek crossing - then up to David Road near Oxford and a new housing development - follow David St down the long steep hill to the bottom and you will be at the start of this trip.

        This trip is better done as an medium to expert bike trip rather than as a hike because it is some 20 - 25 kms in length and walking along gravel and paved roads isn’t all that much fun.

        If you want to hike - do the stretch to the waterfall - it is level although very muddy even in drier weather.

        There are at least four creek crossings that need to be forded - on a bike most can be rode but on foot you may get wet feet attempting then during wet periods.

        Below is how my day went.

        After heading up the trail or old road I pass the abandoned homestead and continue until I reach the waterfall where the first tricky creek crossing provides me with a few anxious moments for if I wasn’t slipping on the rocks in my less than perfect hiking boots I was doing a balancing act with the bike. Once safely over the creek crossing the trail narrows to single track and a second ford is necessary - this one is easier and soon after I see the trail junction indicating a right turn for the trek up to the lower Burke Ridge trails - the first few hundred meters are fine for all bike riders but then for the next forty-five minutes it is a straight up slog - pushing the bike up the eroded trail - very few people will be able to bike up this part - even coming down - it will be a wild ride - make sure your brakes are in top condition and that you are an expert rider - otherwise push your bike up this part for your safety and the safety of others.

        After about forty-five minutes the trail start to moderate and good riders should be able to ride the remainder to the power line and the Woodland trail - the trail here is single track but has dried out considerably as the terrain is more mature forest.

        At the junction with the Woodland trail if you want to head back right away go right and follow the double track down pass a bridged creek . If however you want to explore some more you can do the Woodland loop - Instead of going right , proceed left on an old road and a few meters later turn right at the marked Woodland loop and follow it around for a little more adventure - it is a good ride for competent riders.

        Follow the Woodland trail downhill slightly until it junctions with the main Burke Ridge trail and follow this to the parking area at the top of Harper Road by the Rod and Gun Club. From here it will be all downhill back to your starting point.

        All the while that I am riding I have a rear tire that is very soft and showing signs of giving out on me so I just hope that I will make it back to my truck. I proceed down Harper Road to Coast Meridian - about a 2 km downhill trip on good gravel - then down Coast Meridian to David where I turned right and follow it its end and then onto a well defined path and down to the last creek crossing - this one can be ridden but I hit the deepest part of it and got a little wet - oh well it only a short distance to the end.

        Coming back up the trail to David at Oxford my tire was now shot and the bike wouldn’t move - so I locked it up and walked the last KM downhill to my truck.

        This trip could be done in reverse order but you will have more climbing and the downhill slog through the woods may turn you off.

        This urban trek is becoming more popular as more people move into the area and are starting to find that just like the more famous North Shore mountains - this area was also logged at the turn of the century and many of the old skid roads are being rediscoved.

        This trip took me a little over three hours to complete but there are several nice areas along the river that you might want to explore as well as numerous side trips on Burke Ridge.

        TRIP RATING - MODERATE TO DIFFICULT

        TRIP DISTANCE - 20 TO 25 KMS

        TRAIL - SINGLE TRACK - DOUBLE TRACK - GRAVEL ROAD AND PAVEMENT

 
        URBAN TREK #2 - COQUITLAM - BURKE X-OVER UPDATED AND WITH A DISTANCE LOG.

        Here’s an updated report on this trip that was done on June 20 ,1998

        This trip is better done as a bike/hike but if hiking is your game park a car at Burke Mountain Park by Rod and Gun Club.

        Most people in their right minds would probably do this trip in reverse - however it’s a much longer and safer downhill blast doing it this way or in other words - less but more strenuous climbing and in reverse: Read on for details

        Mileage: Description:
 
 

KM 0     Shaughessey and Carley Crescent - Coquitlam : caution unmaintained trail down and to          the right along side the Coquitlam River.

KM 0.35 Rough single track gives way to stretch of level trail which becomes double track.

KM 0.75 Muddy and wet stretch and a small creek crossing

KM 0.92 Trail to right rejoins main trail at KM 1.1 - better in wet weather

KM 1.10 Creek crossing

KM 1.40 Trail enters from right - keep left

KM 1.70 Creek Crossing

KM 2.20 Trail splits as it nears old homestead - rejoins shortly

KM 2.50 Creek crossing - bridge for hikers out as of 6/20/98

KM 3.50 Creek crossing - dry in summer

KM 3.70 Major unbridged creek crossing and waterfalls - easy to carry bike across in summer - could  be problem in wet, high water. Falls been dubbed Crystal Falls - this is a good turnaround point for casual hikers and those bikers who don’t want a workout slogging up the lower slopes of Burke Mountain. Trail becomes narrow single track after crossing Pickett creek.

KM 4.10 Unmarked trail junction to the right - this is your turnoff for the climb up Burke Mt.. However if you want to continue straight you can do so until you come to the Coquitlam watershed fence.

        Caution - whether you do the next section going uphill or downhill it is only for experienced riders and make sure that your brakes are new or well tuned if going downhill.

KM 4.30 Creek crossing - okay in dry weather - a little dicey if wet - this is also the start of the uphill grunt - top riders should be able to do most of this - us regular mortals will probably push our bikes for some distance.

KM 5.00 Trail grade has eased somewhat - good riders should make some progress in granny - vegetation is changing to more mature forest KM 5.50 Trail moderates and most riders should now be able to start riding If going downhill this is where you will need your wits - I prefer to carry or push my bike uphill rather than risk losing it going down steep inclines.

        Meet party of three who don’t think I’m crazy going this way Another party of two are of the opposite opinion.

KM 6.20 Power line tower - you have now reached the trail network on Burke Mt. and the riding is easy from now on - and shortly will be all downhill.

KM 6.30 Junction with Woodland trail - if you have time to spare go left and do a loop before continuing back to main trail - otherwise - turn right - lots of easy riding now.

        Meet seven more riders going downhill - wish them luck - look like the face plant types.

        There are some views of Eagle Ridge

KM 6.70 Creek and small waterfall - bridged - on old road here

KM 6.90 Junction - stay right - otherwise you may continue for the main Burke Ridge trail.

KM 7.90 Junction of Woodland trail with main Burke Ridge/Coquitlam Lookout trail - the downhill fun starts in earnest.- go straight for exit or left for more exploring.

KM 8.30 Junction - turn right - Burke Ridge trail

KM 8.70 Gate and Rod and Gun Club parking area.

KM 10.8 Downhill to junction with Coast Meridian Road - turn left - pavement begins

KM 12.0 Galloway Road

KM 12.2 David Road - turn right

KM 12.5 Road ends at Glen Brook Road - continue straight - follow trail down and around creek - usually an easy ford - ride able in low water

KM 12.9 Pavement resumes at junction of Oxford and David street.

        Start downhill run back to start

KM 13.5 Shaughnessey St - turn right

KM 13.6 Trail ends
 
 

        Note - you can park anywhere along Shaughnessey street and ride to the start - it’s basically level all the way from the town centre.

        Hope you have enjoyed this trek report - all distance are approx. based on my odometer readings.
 
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