Lower Mainland. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Visitor guidelines
Camp on designated sites
Camping at Widgeon Creek Campground is allowed only on designated tent pads. To protect critical salmon habitat, do not camp along the riverbanks past the campground.
When camping in areas with no designated tent pads, try to camp on user-established sites. To minimize your impact on the environment, do not camp on areas where plants are growing.
For more information about camping in this park, please see the camping section.
Be bear aware
Use the food cache provided at Widgeon Creek Campground to avoid attracting bears. Be aware that food waste and other scents will attract wildlife.
To learn how to avoid wildlife encounters and ensure unavoidable encounters do not escalate, see the wildlife safety page.
Always boil water before use
Creek water is available at all day-use and camping areas in Pinecone Burke Park. Always boil, filter, or otherwise treat your water before drinking it, cooking with it, or using it for anything else. Bring your own drinking water, if possible.
For more information, see HealthLink BC’s advice on purifying your drinking water.
No campfires
There is a permanent campfire ban in this park. Campfires are not allowed anywhere in the park, at any time of year. Bring a portable stove for cooking.
No garbage at Widgeon Creek Campground
Widgeon Creek Campground is a user-maintained area with no garbage or recycling facilities. Leave nothing behind. Pack out everything you pack in. Do not bury or burn garbage.
Avoid Widgeon Falls Trail
We do not recommend using the old Widgeon Falls Trail. This trail has many slippery footbridges and wooden stairs that are in poor condition. If you are travelling to the falls, we encourage you to use the old road instead.
Leave no Trace
Always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. Minimize impacts on plant and animal life and be considerate of other visitors. Dispose of waste properly.
For detailed information on outdoor ethics, visit the Leave No Trace Canada website.
Keep pets leashed
Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be leashed. Please dispose of their waste responsibly. For more information, see the pet etiquette section of the responsible recreation page.
Bike safely
Cycling is allowed on park roads and designated bike routes. Watch carefully for signs, to ensure you stay on designated routes. There are no separated bike trails, so watch out for hikers. Bike helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
For more information, see our responsible riding information on the cycling page.
No off-road vehicles
To protect the local environment, ATVs, snowmobiles, and other off-road motor vehicles are not allowed in this park. This includes vehicles registered under the Off-Road Vehicles Act.
No drones
Operating drones without permission is illegal in BC Parks. In the rare cases when we grant permission, you must keep your drone away from wildlife and other visitors.
No harvesting
Harvesting mushrooms or any other crops is forbidden in all BC Parks. The only exceptions are for Indigenous Peoples and harvesting permit holders.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Getting there
Pinecone Burke Park is south of Garibaldi Park, west of Pitt Lake and the Pitt River. It includes Burke Mountain in Coquitlam. Nearby communities include Coquitlam and Maple Ridge.
To access the park by car from Port Coquitlam, drive north on Coast Meridian Road. Turn east on Harper Road and follow this road for 2 km. Park near the District Hunting and Fishing Club at the end of Harper Road.
To access Munro Lake via the Munro Trail from Port Coquitlam, drive north on Coast Meridian Road. Turn right on Victoria Drive, which becomes Quarry Road, and drive for 7 km. West Pitt Lake, including DeBeck Valley, is accessible by boat.
Widgeon Slough and Widgeon Valley are accessible by boat. Launch canoes or kayaks at Grant Narrows at the south end of Pitt Lake and paddle through Widgeon Slough.
Things to do
There are hiking opportunities in Pinecone Burke Park. However, much of the hiking infrastructure is in poor condition and the signage is incomplete. Use caution when travelling over creek crossings, as the bridges and boardwalks are in particularly poor condition.
We do not recommend using the old Widgeon Falls Trail, which has many slippery footbridges and rickety wooden stairs. If you are travelling to the falls, we encourage you to use the old road instead. For a map with details of hiking trails, see the maps and location section.
Pinecone Burke Park includes two day-use areas that can only be accessed by boat: Widgeon Creek and Defrauder Falls. These are popular destinations with canoeists and kayakers.
Widgeon Creek also has a backcountry campground. For information, see marine-accessible camping. Defrauder Falls day-use area is on the west shore of Pitt Lake and has no facilities.
Pinecone Burke Park includes two day-use areas that can only be accessed by boat: Widgeon Creek and Defrauder Falls. These are popular destinations with canoeists and kayakers.
Widgeon Creek also has a backcountry campground. For information, see marine-accessible camping. Defrauder Falls day-use area is on the west shore of Pitt Lake and has no facilities.
Pitt Lake is well known for excellent cutthroat trout fishing. Several species of salmon pass through the lake in the fall.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Widgeon Slough provides unique waterfowl habitat. You may see a large variety of migratory birds, depending on the time of year. Blue herons are common on the banks of the slough and lake.
For information on how to stay safe when viewing wildlife, please visit our wildlife safety page.
Dogs and other domestic animals are welcome but must be leashed and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You must always be in control of your pets and dispose of their waste appropriately. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to the potential for conflict with bears.
Pinecone Burke Park is a popular destination for mountain bikers. However, there is no formal infrastructure or separated trails. Take extra care when mountain biking in this park and always be on the lookout for hikers and wildlife.
All bicycles must stay on park roads and designated trails. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia. For information on bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes), see the E-Biking section.
Bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are allowed on signed or designated trails. They must conform to the e-bike rules and classifications outlined on the cycling page.
Pinecone Burke Park includes an alpine ridge known as the Five Fingers, which is popular with mountain climbers.
Hunting in Pinecone Burke Park is only allowed in lawful hunting season. Hunters in this park may also need a Fraser Valley Special Area Hunting Licence [PDF]. Check the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for regulations and updated maps.
It is effectively impossible to hunt or trap legally in the Widgeon Valley. To access the Widgeon Valley, you must travel through the Widgeon National Wildlife Area. Under federal regulations, there is no hunting or trapping in this area. And carrying hunting or trapping equipment through the area is not allowed either.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
You can explore the backcountry of Burke Mountain in the winter on touring skis or snowshoes. No winter trails are marked and there are no winter facilities. Snowmobiles and other off-road motor vehicles are prohibited in Pinecone Burke Park.
About this park
Pinecone Burke Park includes part of the traditional territory of the Katzie First Nation and borders a Katzie reserve. The area within the park has been used extensively for its plant, fish, and wildlife resources.
The Five Fingers alpine area north of Widgeon Lake has long been a destination for mountain climbers. An abandoned mine tunnel and old steam donkey west of Pitt Lake are evidence of resource extraction in the area.
Pinecone Burke Park was established to protect the western shore of Pitt Lake, North America’s largest freshwater tidal lake. This area includes old-growth forests, alpine lakes, and remnant icefields.
Widgeon Slough is the largest freshwater marsh in southwestern British Columbia. Widgeon Lake is the largest hanging lake in the mountainous region on the North Shore of Greater Vancouver.
Pinecone Burke Park’s environment supports the lifecycle of all five species of Pacific salmon.
The park also provides habitat for black-tailed deer, mountain goats, black bears, and grizzly bears.
Six sensitive or vulnerable species live here: tailed frog, great blue heron, Vaux’s swift, Huttons’ vireo, shrew mole, and the Pacific jumping mouse.
The Widgeon Valley is an essential habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. This wetland is an official National Wildlife Area.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
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