Coquitlam’s trail system covers more than 134 kilometres. The trails can be used for fitness and recreation, as well as for wildlife watching and nature experiences. They cater to a range of interests: outdoor exercise, relaxation or observing nature. You can choose which of these possibilities will shape your stay as the first focus in planning your trip.

Trails and Lakeshore

Como Lake Park has a 1 km walking trail along the lakeshore. This is a different scale from the more than 134 kilometres of the trail system: here, the focus is on a single lakeside trail, while the other figure describes Coquitlam’s trail system as a whole. If you’re looking for a walk with a specified length, the lakeside trail is a concrete option; the city’s network, by contrast, provides a broader framework for spending time outdoors. This lets you distinguish a specific walking trail from a broader interest in nature and exercise.

City History and Art

Mackin House Museum gives the cultural side a historical focus. Mackin House was built in 1909 for Henry Mackin, the sales manager of Fraser Mills. The museum offers tours devoted to Coquitlam’s diverse history and culture. The house’s historical connection and the tours’ subject complement each other as two perspectives: one anchors Mackin House to a specific person and year of construction, while the other focuses on the city’s history and culture. If you’d like to include Coquitlam’s history as well as art in a cultural stay, this is a distinct option.

Place des Arts is located in the historic Maillardville neighbourhood and is a non-profit arts education centre. Place des Arts offers classes in visual arts, literature and performing arts for people of all ages and skill levels. While Mackin House offers tours about Coquitlam’s diverse history and culture, the focus here is on arts education. The three disciplines give you different ways to engage, while the broad audience means the offerings are not limited to a particular age or skill level.

An Event in May

Every May, Festival Coquitlam holds the free Como Lake Fish Derby at Como Lake for children and young people up to and including age 16. The month and age limit give the event a clear framework for trip planning. If you’re travelling with children or young people aged 16 or under, May may be an important factor in choosing when to stay. Check the specific event dates before planning your stay around it.

To help plan your trip, compare the formats: Would you like to focus on a clearly defined lakeside trail or the broader trail network? When it comes to culture, are you more interested in tours about the city’s history or classes in the arts?

Discover more destinations: Port Coquitlam, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Pitt Meadows, Richmond, Langley, Port Moody

For the broader travel overview: Metro Vancouver.