Pinecone Burke Provincial Park

There are many firsts in Pinecone Park. Pitt lake is the largest recorded fresh water tidal lake in North America. Widgeon Slough is the recorded largest fresh water marsh located in British Columbia's southwestern region. The highest elevation in the park is Pinecone Peak measuring at 2027 m (6650 ft). And the Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Area is a nationally recognized protected wetland in the park.

The Pinecone Burke Provincial Park is centrally located in the centre of many parks. To the north of the park is the Garibaldi Provincial Park and to the southwest is the Indian Arm Provincial Park. And located to the east of Pinecone is the Golden Ears Provincial Park and the Tantalus Provincial Park is located northwest of the park.

The Pinecone Park is a wilderness park with very little services, development and maintenance. The park is cared for and maintained by natural forces being that much of the park is very rugged, remote and hard to access. Hiking trails, rough dirt roads and waterway routes are the only access routes leading into the park.

The wilderness environment and rugged terrain attracts the most adventurous of people to the provincial park. Some of the more popular activities enjoyed in the park include canoeing, kayaking, fishing, backpacking, wilderness camping, hiking, off roading, boating, birdwatching, wildlife sightseeing, photography, swimming, mountain climbing and mountain biking.

Hiking, backpacking and wilderness camping are some of the more popular activities in the park. Most of the trails are very challenging, rough and covered with exposed tree roots and boulders. Some of the wilderness trails cross bridges and some cross over boardwalk when exploring sensitive wetland areas. Signage can be poor and conditions vary as trails are not regularly maintained.

Some of the main wilderness trails in the Pinecone Burke Provincial Park include the Boise Creek Trail (24 kms), Woodland Walk Trail (7.8 kms) , Fools Gold Trail (50 kms), Widgeon Falls Trail (15 kms include canoe), Coquitlam View Trail (11 kms), Burke Ridge Trail (24.5 kms), Village Lake Trail (18.2 kms) and Munro Trail (9.8 kms).

Overnight camping trips into the park require good planning, proper equipment and good fitness levels. Beware weather conditions change fast on the mountains on the west coast of Canada. Prepare well as there are no campfires permitted in the park, as well as, there are no fresh water taps. Dogs are permitted in the park but must be kept on a leash at all times.

Campgrounds are accessed on a first come, first serve basis. There is no pre booking of campsites in the park. All backpackers and campers must pack out what they pack in. Some of the wilderness campsites provide tent pads, pit toilets and food cache poles.

There are three wilderness overnight campground areas located in the Pinecone Burke Provincial Park - Widgeon Creek Campsite, Burke Mountain and some water access campgrounds on Pitt Lake.

The Pinecone Burke Provincial Park is also a very popular destination for wilderness water activities including fishing, boating, kayaking and canoeing. Accessing the park via its waterways is best from Pitt Lake and Widgeon Slough.

There are some marine access picnic areas in the park for day trippers as well. Kayaks and canoes can access the day use picnic area at the Widgeon Creek campground. Defrauder Falls day use picnic area located on the western shore of Pitt Lake can also be accessed by boat, kayak and canoe.

There are many popular activity locations in the park for many different type of adventures. The Five Fingers mountainous area is a popular destination for mountain climbing. Burke Mountain is very popular for mountain biking in the summer and snow shoeing in the winter.

The hiking trails and waterways provide access to many remote areas in the park including mountains, rivers and alpine lakes. Some of the creeks in the park accessed include MacIntyre, Deiner, Partington, Munro and Prichett Creeks. Some of the lakes in the park include Munro Lake, Dennett Lake and Ted Kay Lakes.

At all times in the park there are possible wildlife sightings. Some of the wildlife to be aware of while exploring in the Pinecone Burke Provincial Park include black bears, mountain goats, grizzly bears, beavers and many various species of birds.

Explore Pinecone Burke Provincial Park in Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada