The sun is shining at maximum light so now is the perfect time to take a dip in the cold lake waters, especially because there are many pristine and tucked-away lakes in Pitt Meadows and nearby.
Seriously, this is a list for your next two summers. Enjoy!
Read: A guide to local lakes in and near Maple Ridge
Here’s the list.
Pitt Lake
As obvious as the day that Pitt Lake is the number one spot to visit when it comes to lakes in Pitt Meadows. Not only is it a short drive from the city centre, its scenic views and calm waters make it a perfect getaway from the city.
You can rent a kayak or canoe and explore the waters as far and wide, as you like.
For the adventurous, kayak/canoe for approximately 75 minutes (depending on your speed and pace it might take longer) down the Widgeon Slough toward Pinecone Burke Provincial Park and hike for another 75 minutes to enjoy the breathtaking views of Widgeon Falls.
Take a dip in the cold, clean water and beat the heat.
P.S. Please be cautious as rocks may be slippery.
Widgeon Lake
If you don’t want to hike to the falls, you can enjoy Widgeon Lake via the Pinecone Burke Provincial Park trail that leads there.
Drive 23 minutes from Pitt Meadows City Centre towards Grant Narrow Park where you can rent a kayak or canoe to the park. From there, you will have to hike for nearly 1.5 hours to get to the lake.
You could also take the difficult route via the Burke Mountain Summit Trail which is a 50 minutes drive from Pitt Meadows City Centre and then a challenging hike which can take up to 9 hours.
Loon Lake
If you want to enjoy a retreat in every sense of the word, head to Loon Lake. A private lake and lodge centre is hidden in the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest.
A 36 minutes drive from the city centre, this lake is ideal for those looking to relax and unwind as no fishing and no motorized water vehicles are permitted.
You can kayak the clean, fresh waters or go for a swim. Please contact Loon Lake Lodge and Retreat Centre before visiting.
Goose Lake
Another local lake tucked in the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest is Goose Lake. Hikers have reviewed that it is not a groomed trail and is challenging in parts but the lake is stunning!
The Goose Lake Trail is a 3.1km out-and-back trail and a 31 minutes drive from the city centre via 132 Avenue and 39 minutes via Golden Ears Way. You can also park at Golden Eagle Golf Club and hike from there.
Katherine Lake
Instead of going on to smaller lakes, take the Katherine Lake trail which will take you through smaller lakes inside Malcolm Knapp Research Forest including Jacobs Lake, Placid Lake, Eunice Lake and Gwendoline Lake.
This hike is moderately challenging and takes up to 6.5 hours out and back with a 24.5km loop.
From the city centre, it can take between 30 minutes to reach the forest and from there you can hike to the lake in 2.5 hours.
There are many more lakes within Golden Ears Park that we couldn’t include on the list! Look out for the next guide!
If we missed a place, please write to us at hello@readtheridge.com
