Burnaby

Existence of TCT signage usually indicates the official declaration of useable trail:

• Some of the signed trail may not be the final route. 

• Please do not rely on the signs to find the route. 

• To avoid disappointment, plan ahead by going to this website for updates.

Caution is required using these trails as they are being upgraded. Expect detours where there is trail construction in progress..

The Pedestrian/Cycling Trail (West to East)
(Also accessible to wheelchairs adapted for unpaved trail.)

Map copied from the Burnaby City Parks site (see links below)

Burnaby Heights Trail

Montrose, Eton, and McGill Parks

The Burnaby Heights section of the Trail starts at the foot of Boundary Road and proceeds westward in Montrose Park following the North Burnaby Burrard escarpment. This newly finished trail continues along the south side of the Chevron property through Eton and McGill Parks to Willingdon Avenue and Penzance Drive. Along this route, the Heights Trail Partnership is working on a Burnaby-Vancouver Gateway and a series of viewing areas offering Heritage and Ecology Interpretation and views over Burrard Inlet.

Penzance Trail

The Trail continues along Penzance Drive through Confederation Park to the Scenic View Trailhead in the Capitol Hill Conservation Area. Washroom facilities are available on the south side of the park. Walkers may want to follow a densely forested loop trail from the Parking lot on the north side of the park that ends back on the Trail on Penzance further along. Also, when open to the public, it is well worth visiting the unique Miniature Railway Park at the corner of Willingdon and Penzance.

Scenic View Trail

The Scenic View Trail continues along the edge of the Shell Refinery to Hastings Street east of Fell Avenue. This pleasant undulating trail through forest completely isolates the trail user from the busy urban life just to the north of this park.

Special Note to Cyclists

Cyclists need to get off the Scenic View Trail where the trail intersects Fell Street. Follow Fell Street to Hastings. Cross Hastings to Kensington Park and Follow the Urban Trail South in Kensington Park to Union Street Follow Union Street to Duthie Avenue. Follow Duthie Northward to the Burnaby Mountain Parkway. Follow it going southward to the pedestrian and cyclist activated traffic lights and cross the Parkway. Get on what used to be  a section of Burnwood Avenue and follow it to the top of Hastings Street where there is a new cycling path to Centennial Way.

Hastings Trail

Here one can access Kensington Park by going west less than 100 metres to Fell Avenue and crossing Hastings Street to Kensington Park, a great place for a picnic. to continue on the Trail, follow the paved curved path to Kensington Avenue and cross over to the Shell Station.
Follow Hastings Street eastward to the northeast corner of the Kensington intersection, take the path behind the Shell station and follow the urban trail along the golf range. Continue along a lane (to be upgraded) to the last street that will take you back to Hastings Street. Follow Hastings Street under a pedestrian overpass to a large intersection. Cross over the start of the Barnet Highway toward 7-Eleven and continue on the North side of Hastings Street (Burnaby Mountain Parkway) towards Burnaby Mountain and continue straight up the mountain on a road that aligns itself with Hastings Street.

Map copied from the Burnaby City Parks site (see links below)

Burnaby Mountain Trail

Caution to cyclists - This is a steep grade up and then down on the other side.  Going down is somewhat treacherous because it is very steep in places, there curves and there are many other people on the trail (some with dogs).  Go down slowly.

At the top of what looks like Hastings Street there is a walking and a cycling trail. The walking and cycling trail meet at Centennial Way at the top. 

Cross Centennial Way and follow the newly constructed trail at the bottom of a grassy slope, through a forested area and up to the Trans Canada Trail Marker with its red roof (117 m to the Rhododendron Rock Marker and .575 km to the TCT Pavilion).

Continue up the Mountain to Joe's Trail (.39 km) and fork south east to SFU. Before going on it is worthwhile to take in the Centennial Park (Burnaby Mountain Park) features such as the Centennial Rose Garden, the Haida Totem Poles, the Kamiu Mintara sculptures (Playground of the Gods) and the magnificent vistas over Vancouver City, Indian Arm and Burrard Inlet. On clear days it is possible to see over Georgia Strait to Vancouver Island. Also public washrooms are available on the north side of the Horizon Restaurant.

Joe's Trail is on the North side of the Mountain. Simon Fraser University is just to the south of the Trail. This modern monastic-like campus is well worth a visit. The trail goes through a conservation area which is a mountain retreat of mixed deciduous/coniferous forest, creek habitat, and wildlife and ends on a BC Hydro right-of-way (.875 km to next exit to SFU, 1.2 km to lst bridge, 1.85 km to 2nd bridge, 2.1 km to Cardiac Hill to SFU, 2.675 km to Mel's Mountain Bike Trail, 2.9 km to Hydro Right of Way).

Continue northward on the Hydro right of way towards the Barnet Highway to a point where you will enter the forest again (.28 km).

From here follow this extraordinary wooded area down to the Barnet Highway (.66 km -- .5 km is an easement provided by Petro Canada).

Follow the Trail to the Port Moody Boundary by first following the Barnet Highway to a crosswalk and traffic light to cross over to the north side (164 m) and to the Port Moody Boundary along the Petro Canada Port Access Road (.46 km)

Distances:

(Note:   The TCT km markers are intended to start at 0 km at Granville Island TCT Pavilion and finish at the TCT Burnaby Mountain TCT Pavilion at the 20 km mark.  At this time they start at New Brighton Park 10 km away going east from Granville Island.  The TCT km markers start at 0 on at the Burnaby Mt. TCT Pavilion and finishes 15.6 km later at the Tri-City Pavilion in Coquitlam Town Centre Park)

Granville Island TCT Pavilion to Burnaby Mt. TCT Pavilion = 20 km
Burnaby Mt. TCT Pavilion to Tri-City Pavilion = 15.6 km

Elevation Changes
While the terrain is undulating there is no significant elevation change to the base of Burnaby Mountain. The elevation change to the top of the Trail on Burnaby Mountain going east is approximately 250 metres (820 ft). Elevation of Burnaby Mountain at the summit is 330 m./1080 ft

Public Washroom Facilities and Staging areas
There are public washrooms in Confederation Park and on the North side of the Horizon Restaurant on Centennial Park on Burnaby Mountain. Parking is available at Confederation Park, Kensington Park, and Centennial Park. There is limited parking at the north end of Boundary Road at the start of Montrose Park. Otherwise, there is limited street parking on side streets.

Public Transportation
TransLink: Note that there is a bus stop on the Barnet Highway near the Burnaby/Port Moody Border in front of Petro Canada. By using bus transportation along Hastings and the Barnet, it is possible to access the Trail at Boundary Road, Confederation Park, Kensington Park, Burnaby Mountain Parkway, and  Petro Canada -- and other points in Port Moody)
Westcoast Express (train)

Accommodation
Camping
RV Park
Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, other

Shops and Restaurants
Shops and restaurants abundant in the Burnaby Heights and Kensington areas along the way. Access the Burnaby Heights Business Centre by continuing southward on Wellington Street along Confederation Park to reach Hastings Street.

For More Information
Burnaby Tourist Information (Accommodation, parks, etc)
Cycling Map including the TCT