The trail slowly winds upwards past small waterfalls, large forested regions, and some small rocky scrambles. There are 3 viewpoints along the way and the trail is slightly overgrown in places and requires some climbing over and under some fallen logs that block the trail. After a few hours, the trail winds back down to the marsh. You need to cross the footbridge, which was broken on one side but scalable without having to wade in the marsh. Then turn right and follow the Mountain Dike until you hit a T-junction where you turn left and retrace your path to the parking lot. Note that the Mountainside Trail has some challenging sections and is not a hike for small children.
* editor's note: Nick Bogod, who sent this trail in, provided a very nice GPS plot of the hike, which you can see if you click on "Download GPS" above. You can insert this data into your own GPS to find the trail.
Directions:
Lougheed Highway, Coquitlam, to Pitt Meadows. After the Pitt River Bridge turn left on Dewdney Trunk Road, then left on Harris Road, right on McNeill Road, and left on Rannie Road. Follow to the end and park in the Grant Narrows lot. Walk along the dike for 20-30 minutes. The dike ends and you continue walking towards the wooden lookout. Shortly after a narrow trail bears right and heads towards the trees. This is where the Mountainside Trail begins. Follow the square silver trail markers and (sometimes excessive amounts of) fluorescent pink tape that mark the trail.
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ByPosted By: LucasL
- Thu Feb 07 21:00:33 EST 2013
Not Rated
UpsideNice marshes and wildlife.
DownsideThe hike to the mountainside is closed. The dyke that continued towards the mountainside has been broken and the only way to get there would be to walk 4 or 5 steps through the water but I do not recommend that. The marshes has mudflats all over and people have died there getting stuck in the mud. Especially canoeing on the south-west of the lake when the tide goes down people have got stuck in the mud and the tide went up. Anyway never get off those dykes. It's too bad though we cannot access the forest trail, wonder why they closed it off.
CommentHeard there was recently introduced wolves at the north end of the lake and they apparently have thrived there. A grizzly bear also at the north so who knows if they make their way down the lake over the next few years.
ByPosted By: stickquest
- Sat Dec 11 11:15:58 EST 2010
Not Rated
UpsideWas great!
DownsideHi folks, I originally posted this trail, and it was as great as it looks but last time I tried to access it some of the land appeared to be closed off for development and the trail is lo longer accessible.
ByPosted By: m1086
- Sun Sep 19 20:26:49 EDT 2010
Not Rated
QuestionJust curious to see if anyone has done this trail recently and if they would recommend it. The description and photos look beautiful and sound great.ANSWERS are in this forum: Anyone been on this trail recently?
ByPosted By: trailblazer
- Wed Dec 27 17:54:18 EST 2006
UpsideEasy on legs. Nice views. Birds and beavers.
DownsideUnable to access mountain side trail.
ByPosted By: Deeks
- Sat Feb 18 22:49:53 EST 2006
Not Rated
CommentTried to get to it today but the bridge to the southern access is out. Next week I may try to get to it from the North end.
ByPosted By: bigbadbarry
- Thu Jun 09 00:22:32 EDT 2005
UpsideOld Growth,Waterfalls, Great Lookouts
DownsideUnkept Trail, Closed and Labled "Private Property" at Pitt Lake Entrance, Dug up Dyke at Waterfall Entrance.
CommentIt seems that the Powers that Be Do Not Want Us On This Great Trail, To Bad, It Was Right Up There In The Top Trails In The Pitt " we still go in there but I do not recommend it"
Posted By: LucasL
Posted By: m1086
