Beacon Lane Trail (Lighthouse Park), West Vancouver

Beacon Lane Trail is the perfect trail to attempt on the rainy days of spring on the West Coast. It’s a short, quick route that takes you within spitting distance of one of the area’s most recognizable and historic landmarks: Point Atkinson lighthouse. With its extensive network of trails and stunning scenery, Lighthouse Park is extremely popular with local hikers, dog walkers and folks just out for a leisurely stroll.

GETTING THERE

In West Vancouver, head westbound along Marine Drive. As you emerge from the shopping and business section, the roadway will narrow and make its way along the coastline. Continue past Caulfield Cove Marina and watch for the sign marking Lighthouse Park on your left. Turn left on Beacon Lane and continue until you reach the parking lot. If driving is not your thing, the route is also easy to access on transit.

TERRAIN

Wide, compact gravel paths with paved sections. Expect little to no sun since the majority of the trail is shaded by trees. The trail slopes downward as it travels toward the water (great on the way out, not so much on the way back).

STROLLER RECOMMENDATION

Umbrella, all-terrain or anything in between.

LENGTH

Departing from the parking lot, it takes just 10-15 minutes to get to the gate at the end of the trail. If the gate is open, the public is welcome to venture a little closer to get a better view of the lighthouse and accompanying scenery. Because of the steady slope, plan about double the time for the return trip to the parking lot.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES

Lighthouse Park has limited family-friendly amenities but does come equipped with picnic tables and stroller-accessible washrooms (with no change tables). Along the trail you’ll find a few benches perfect for taking a rest on the uphill climb back to the parking lot.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS

The highlight of this trail has to be the view at the end. With a stroller, you won’t be able to venture up the rocky path up to the official viewpoint, so if you’re comfortable doing so, it may be worth unstrapping junior and carrying him the last little bit. The payoff is worth the extra effort.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

There are several other parks in the area so if you have to travel a ways to get to Lighthouse Park, plan on hitting at least a few of the others to make the venture worthwhile.

GOOD TO KNOW

The park is in an ecologically sensitive area, so stay on the marked trails and observe all park notices during your visit.

IMPORTANT: Any adventure in the outdoors carries a certain level of risk. The route information and maps contained in this blog are provided as rough guidelines only and are based on just one person's experience. Baby Meets Trail and its authors are not responsible for any harm that may occur while attempting one of the posted walks. We will, however, take credit if you have an excellent time!

Beaver Lake (Stanley Park), Vancouver

The beavers the lake was named after may be long gone, but Beaver Lake still has lots of interesting wildlife to hold your attention as you make your way around its shore. Whether it’s a stately blue heron, a noisy family of ducks, or one of the park’s many squirrels or racoons, you’ll more than likely get a chance to point out some of these big city animals to your kids. The trail is a popular one with dog walkers, cyclists and birdwatchers, so it can get a wee bit busy at times.

GETTING THERE

From either the North Shore or Downtown, enter Stanley Park and make your way toward Malkin Bowl and the Stanley Park Pavilion (located on Pipeline Road). Parking within the area is limited, so transit is an excellent option. To access the trail, head to the northwest edge of the Rose Garden and look for the trailhead and marker indicating the South Creek Trail. The South Creek Trail meets up with the Beaver Lake trail after a short distance.

TERRAIN

Wide, flat paths of mostly compact gravel. Expect a fair bit of shade as the route travels through Stanley Park’s stunning coastal forest. The route takes you directly along the water’s edge.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATION

Umbrella, all-terrain or anything in between.

LENGTH

Walking at a decent pace, the loop will take about 45 minutes. With plenty of other trail options in the area, it’s easy to extend your walk with any number of alternate routes which are clearly marked.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES

Washrooms (available at the Pavilion), benches, and a playground (including toddler equipment).

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS

The path was designed to accommodate wheelchairs and incorporates several wooden platform rest areas. These are perfect to park the stroller and let little ones out to peer down into the boggy marsh and waters of the lake.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Since the trail is located in the heart of what could arguably be called the greatest park in the world, there are plenty of attractions to stop in at after you’ve rounded the lake. There are the aquarium, miniature train and children’s farmyard, Rose Garden, and Lost Lagoon to name just a few.

GOOD TO KNOW

Do not be tempted to feed the animals. There is plenty of natural food available to all of Stanley Park’s animal residents.

IMPORTANT: Any adventure in the outdoors carries a certain level of risk. The route information and maps contained in this blog are provided as rough guidelines only and are based on just one person's experience. Baby Meets Trail and its authors are not responsible for any harm that may occur while attempting one of the posted walks. We will, however, take credit if you have an excellent time!

Burnaby Lake: Cottonwood Trail, Burnaby

Before we had a child, Burnaby Lake was one of the walks we did quite often. In fact, back when I used to be able to call myself a "runner" and keep a straight face, I used to hit this trail at least once a week. What's great about this trail is that simply by parking at a different lot, your experience can be different each and every visit. Overall the trail is 11 km long, so for our purposes, I'm chopping it into three distinct sections.

The first section is Cottonwood Trail stretching from the Burnaby Sports Complex to the Nature House at Piper Ave. The trail is quite popular with joggers, walkers and dogwalkers so expect to share a few friendly greetings along the way.

GETTING THERE

From Vancouver, take Highway 1 eastbound to Exit 32, Sprott Street. Travel along Sprott and at the first lights, turn left to cross over the highway overpass. At Kensington Avenue go straight and turn left at the stop sign. Immediately turn right into the parking lot by the sports fields. The trail starts along the edge of the sports fields beyond the Rugby Club.

This portion of the trail can also be accessed fairly easily on transit, either by bus or Skytrain (Sperling-Burnaby Lake station).

TERRAIN

Running along the north side of the lake itself, the wide, flat trails take you under the shady cover of trees. The trail surface is mostly bark mulch and compact gravel with short sections of wooden bridges. Unfortunately, there aren't really any good looping options so it's just an in-and-out route. In spots the trail takes you straight out to water's edge or over bridges for beautiful views of the lake and plenty of opportunities to see what's in the water.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATION

Any type of stroller can manage, however, the trail can get quite soft after a rainfall (it is on a bog after all). Strollers with smaller wheels may have a tougher time getting through the muck.

LENGTH

This stretch of trail is 2.6 km long so plan for about an hour for a return trip - longer if you take advantage of the viewing tower or the Nature House.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES

This section of the Burnaby Lake trail includes a couple of viewing points and the Nature House. There is a playground near the Burnaby Sports Complex as well as washrooms at both ends of the trail. Unfortunately, only the washrooms at the Nature House have a change table. There are a few picnic tables located behind the Nature House which would be an idyllic spot for a lunch break before heading back to the car. The Nature House itself is a great family-friendly feature in that it has some lots of interpretive displays for kids and parents to interact with as well as knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions. Even small babies would enjoy a leisurely wheel around the gardens out front.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS

If you make it up the viewing tower, expect to see expansive views of the entire lake. If you're lucky, you may see some wildlife during your visit.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

There is a swimming pool, ice rink, soccer fields and rugby fields at the west end of the lake.

GOOD TO KNOW

There are no benches along the trail so don't plan on resting along the way. Bird feeding is permitted only at Piper Spit (near the Nature House). Dogs must be leashed. Take only photographs, leave only footprints (or stroller wheel impressions as the case may be).


View Burnaby Lake: Cottonwood Trail, Burnaby in a larger map
IMPORTANT: Any adventure in the outdoors carries a certain level of risk. The route information and maps contained in this blog are provided as rough guidelines only and are based on just one person's experience. Baby Meets Trail and its authors are not responsible for any harm that may occur while attempting one of the posted walks. We will, however, take credit if you have an excellent time!

Rice Lake, North Vancouver

Calm. It’s the perfect word to describe the surroundings you’ll enjoy on this trail. Calm…and lush. Lush would also be a good word to describe this trail. Calm…lush…and quiet. It’s definitely quiet too, despite the popularity of this area with anglers, joggers, mountain bikers and walkers. Calm, lush, and quiet. Sounds just about perfect, doesn’t it?

Nestled among the trees of the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, this looping trail is just the route to tackle on a hot, sunny afternoon. The towering trees provide almost complete shade and present an interesting backdrop for an easy stroll around the lake.

GETTING THERE
Take Exit 22a at the north end of the Second Narrows (Iron Workers Memorial) Bridge. Turn left at the first intersection and proceed up the hill along Lillooet Road past Capilano University. Continue along the road for approximately 2km until you arrive at the gravel parking lot. The trail is also accessible by transit.

TERRAIN
Wide, shade-covered paths, minimal hills, mostly compact gravel with a few wooden bridges. Don’t expect to see much sun as the trail runs through thick forest.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATION
If push came to shove, just about any stroller could make it on this trail but an all-terrain stroller is recommended given the uneven terrain.

LENGTH
Walking at a decent pace, the loop will take less than an hour. With several other trails in the area, it’s easy to extend your walk with any number of alternate routes which are clearly marked with signage.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
A beautiful picnic area, benches, viewpoints, a couple of docks, and plenty of trail-side outhouses (no change tables). Interpretive signs along the trail tell tales of the area’s historical significance.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
Mountain views peeking out between the trees and stunning views across the lake.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Though the area feels quite remote, it’s actually just a short ways away from the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge and the suburban streets of North Vancouver.

GOOD TO KNOW
Bikes and dogs are not permitted on the trail around Rice Lake. Both are allowed on many of the other trails in the area though. Be sure to note the designated park hours as gate will be closed after these hours.


View Rice Lake, North Vancouver in a larger map
IMPORTANT: Any adventure in the outdoors carries a certain level of risk. The route information and maps contained in this blog are provided as rough guidelines only. The walks written about on Baby Meets Trail are based on just one person's experience. Baby Meets Trail and its authors are not responsible for any harm that may occur while trying one of the posted walks. We will, however, take credit if you have an awesome time!

Mundy Park, Coquitlam

When exploring Coquitlam’s Mundy Park, it’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of a bustling city. At over 440 acres, there are enough trails and sights (including two lakes) to keep you busy for multiple visits (or for a really long stroller nap, should you be so lucky). The park is a popular spot for dog walkers and sports enthusiasts as it features a lacrosse box, soccer fields, ball diamond, outdoor swimming pool, and disc golf course.

GETTING THERE
From Lougheed Highway, take Austin Road to Hillcrest St. Turn up Hillcrest until you reach one of several parking areas for Mundy Park.

TERRAIN
Wide paths, some hills, mostly compact gravel or bark mulch with short paved sections. Don’t expect to see much sun as most trails are through thick forest.

STROLLER RECOMMENDATIONS
Umbrella, all-terrain or anything in between.

LENGTH
The perimeter trail around the entire park can easily be done in about an hour with the option to extend your walk by taking any of the dozen or so looping options.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES
Washrooms (no change tables), playground equipment (separate equipment for toddlers and older kids), picnic tables, benches, and sports fields.

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
The two lakes make for interesting resting spots.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Mundy Park is set among residential neighbourhood so there is not much else around.

GOOD TO KNOW
Dogs are not allowed on certain paths in the ecologically-sensitive areas around the lakes.


View Mundy Park, Coquitlam in a larger map

IMPORTANT: Any adventure in the outdoors carries a certain level of risk. The route information and maps contained in this blog are provided as rough guidelines only. The walks written about on Baby Meets Trail are based on just one person's experience. Baby Meets Trail and its authors are not responsible for any harm that may occur while trying one of the posted walks. We will, however, take credit if you have an awesome time!