6 Things To Do at Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

September 28, 2022

4 min read

Tall wooden totem poles arranged in a grassy park with trees and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Although it is only 366 meters tall, Burnaby Mountain has great views from its summit. Its forested slopes are protected as Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area and are home to great hiking and biking trails, outdoor art, and lots more.

How to Get to Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

There are several entrances to the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. The easiest places to access the park are at the top of Centennial Way and the Mountain Air Bike Park on Barnet Highway

By car to Centennial Way: From Vancouver, take Hastings Street east into Burnaby. Hastings turns into Burnaby Mountain Parkway. Turn left onto Centennial Way and follow it to its end at a parking lot.

By car to Mountain Air Bike Park: From Vancouver, take Hastings Street east into Burnaby. Turn left onto Inlet Drive which becomes Barnet Highway. Turn right at the traffic light on Takeda Drive into the Mountain Air Bike Park parking lot.

By Public Transit: You can reach the Mountain Air Bike Park access on the #160 bus from Hastings Street or Port Coquitlam Station. Get off at the Takeda Drive stop. You can also take any SFU-bound bus to the SFU bus loop, then walk into the park.

Tips for Visiting

Visit the park website and use the park map to plan your trip.
The park is open from dawn until dusk year-round.
Dogs must be on-leash throughout the park.
Smoking, vaping, and cannabis are not allowed.
There are washrooms at the Centennial Way and Mountain Air Bike Park parking lots.
Be safe in the park. AdventureSmart recommends bringing a backpack with essential safety and first aid gear on every hike. Check the forecast and pack extra clothing for the weather. Leave a trip plan so someone knows where you are going and when you will be back.
Read our tips for safe fall hiking in Vancouver.

Go for a Hike

With a network of 28 trails, there are lots of hiking options at Burnaby Mountain. We recommend the Velodrome Trail. It starts with a mellow meander through the forest at the north end of the park and finishes with a heart-pumping ascent of over 500 stairs.

Two people walking down a forested wooden staircase surrounded by green ferns and trees.

Enjoy the Fall Colours

Each autumn the trees around the Rose Garden and Panorama Trail near the Centennial Way entrance light up in reds and oranges. There are lots of opportunities for festive photo ops.

Empty park benches along a path covered with red and orange autumn leaves under trees with red foliage on a foggy day.

Hone Your Mountain Bike Skills

Both beginners and advanced riders will enjoy practicing at the Mountain Air Bike Skills Park, located on the north side of Burnaby Mountain. It includes tons of obstacles including skinnies, elevated bridges, drops, and teeter-totters. And you can get some air on the dirt jumps.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPMl0_HMq8N/

Hit the Mountain Bike Trails

There is a great network of mountain bike trails at Burnaby Mountain. Most trails are on the southeast side of the mountain. With ratings from beginner to expert, there’s something for everyone.

Soak Up the Views

The open grassy slopes in the Centennial Way area of the park provide a great vantage point to look west to the skyscrapers of downtown Vancouver. It’s beautiful at any time of day, but it is spectacular at sunset.

Sunset over a body of water with silhouetted pine trees and hills under an orange sky with scattered clouds.

Visit the Sculptures

Don’t miss a visit to the Kami Mintara sculptures in the Centennial Way area. Also known as the Playground of the Gods, these intricately carved wooden poles were created by Nuburi and Shusei Toko to commemorate the sister city relationship between Burnaby and Kushiro, Japan.