Minnekhada Regional Park is easily the wildest of Coquitlam's parks — 175 hectares of marsh, forest, oak meadows, and granite knolls at the far northeast edge of the city, right where Coquitlam meets the forested slopes of the Coast Mountains. It's managed by Metro Vancouver Regional Parks and has a network of hiking trails ranging from flat marsh boardwalks to steeper knoll climbs. The main attraction for most visitors is the wildlife: bald eagles year-round, great blue herons nesting on the marsh, black bears in the forest (rare sightings), beaver, and occasionally elk.
The park's historic centrepiece is Minnekhada Lodge, a 1930s rustic hunting lodge originally built for BC Lieutenant Governor Eric Hamber and now used for weddings, public events, and tours. It's worth a look from the outside even if you don't tour it. The High Knoll trail (about 3 km round trip, moderate climb) leads from the lodge to a rocky summit with a 360-degree view of the marshland, the Pitt River, and Golden Ears provincial park across the water.
Minnekhada is genuinely off the beaten path. It's far from any SkyTrain station, accessible primarily by car, and often empty even on sunny weekends. For a wild hike on the Coquitlam side of the region, it's the best thing going.
How to get there
By car only — take Lougheed Highway to Coast Meridian Road, then east on Victoria Drive to the park entrance. About 15 minutes from Coquitlam City Centre. No transit service.
Local tips
- High Knoll trail (3 km, moderate) has the best views
- Minnekhada Lodge is worth seeing from outside
- Spring migration brings the best bird-watching
- Bring bear spray and hike in groups — this is real forest