Minnekhada Regional Park

I did this hike this past Thursday with my mom. The weather was perfect: it wasn’t too hot, but it was dry and the sun was out. We went early as we usually do when we hike because it gets hot later in the day and sometimes busier.
We both are beginner hikers, but we do other physical activities such as aerobics and swimming, so the cardio part of it wasn’t difficult. It’s a good hike for all levels, not too flat, has some steep and winding parts but nothing crazy. Personally, when I hike my trouble is my balance, so coming down steep parts takes up time as I’m afraid of falling or my knees giving out. However, for those with better balance it shouldn’t be a problem.
It’s also not too long. Took us about two hours, which I feel is perfect time for a hike. We saw some baby frogs along the way! There are bears and other wild life in this trail so beware when you go. Just make sure you’re talking, and if you see a bear, do not run but back away slowly and speak softly. We didn’t run into any dangerous wildlife but there was bear shit near the end of the trail so it definitely was possible!
This has probably been my favourite hike so far. Not too busy and crowded like the Grouse Grind or Quarry Rock. You also get a nice view at the High Knoll.

I went hiking at Minnekhada Regional Park for the first time yesterday. I’m at an intermediate level for hiking, and Minnekhada was the perfect level for me – not too easy and not Grouse Grind insane, but I did work up a good sweat. This is a great hike for people who want an actual hike and not just a walk, and don’t want to hike for 8 hours or have a heart attack doing the Grind. Also, it’s not as crowded as some other popular trails (such as Quarry Rock, another of my favourites), perhaps because it’s not accessible by transit.
The trails and forest were absolutely gorgeous, and we saw some wildlife: an eagle, squirrel, and a BEAR!
As our group (8 people) was nearing the end of our hike, heading back towards the parking lot, we saw a bear on the side of the path, about 20 feet away from us. We stopped, started backing away, and the bear started to slowly come towards us. We then noticed that she had a bear cub with her. We got the hell out of there pretty quickly, and decided to take the long way back to the parking lot. You don’t mess with a mama bear!
Including stopping to look at the scenery at the various lookout points (we went to every one of them) and our bear detour, our hike took about 2.5 hours, at a leisurely pace.

This park is beautiful.
It offers several circular trails, the map notes the difficulty and length of each option. We intended to take the shortest trail, but the beauty of the park kept baiting us forward. Part of a trail is surrounded on both sides by water, and it’s breath-​taking there. Further in, the trail gets higher and you get wonderful views of the trees and water below. Great destination for a real hike.
Entrance is free, definitely worth a visit if you are near Vancouver.

Minnekhada is a beautiful pocket of almost-​wilderness in the northeast corner of Coquitlam. Only 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver, it offers a great selection of short family hikes over easy to moderate terrain and some beautiful views.
The highlights for me and my family are the climb up High Knoll with fantastic views across the Fraser Valley, and sitting on the rocky outcrop above the causeway across the marshes snacking on cheese sandwiches. Close encounters with eagles, frogs, herons and woodpeckers are added bonuses.