Canadian Trails
A trail runner’s paradise just 30 minutes from Vancouver
Buntzen Lake, Anmore, B.C.
Located a quick 45-minute car ride from downtown Vancouver, the Buntzen Lake Recreation Area offers a wide variety of trails suited for all levels of runners.
Formerly called Lake Beautiful, Buntzen Lake was renamed in the early 1900s in honour of the first general manager of the B.C. Electric Co., Johannes Buntzen. The lake is an active hydroelectric reservoir and was formerly the main source of electricity for Vancouver, and the location of the first hydroelectric generating plant to supply the Lower Mainland.
Since BC Hydro completed the beautification process of the area in the 1970s, the trail network has become a local favourite thanks to its multipurpose use for hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians and runners. Additionally, movie buffs will be happy to know that over the years, the sector has become a popular location for both films and television productions. The lake itself has appeared in episodes of The X-Files, in Freddy vs. Jason, The Blair Witch Project, It, Hot Rod and many more.
For those looking to head out on a lengthy running adventure, the Dilly Dally Loop is a challenging 25-kilometre loop that zigzags through high mountain forest with an elevation gain of 1,150 metres. Following the Halvor Lunden Trail, the course will take you through a series of peaks and ridges all the way to the scenic Dilly Dally Summit before heading back down on the east side of Buntzen Lake. This trail features picturesque vistas of Buntzen Lake, Mount Seymour, Widgeon Peak, the lower mainland as well as the Indian Arm, just to name a few. The Diez Vistas trail is another great alternative for those seeking some epic sights. Spanish for “ten views,” this 14-kilometre loop starts off with a series of switchbacks that will have your heart pounding out of your chest. Once you make your way past the first few kilometres, you’re greeted with views of beautiful waterways and the surrounding North Shore mountains along the upper ridge, making the trek up the loose rock and rooty technical terrain all worthwhile. A large portion of the trail is also canopied, which comes as a nice reprieve during
the warm summer months.
Buntzen Lake Trail is an enjoyable, mellow run with minimal vertical gain for a total of 10 kilometres. Though heavier trafficked than the aforementioned trails, this loop will take you around the lake, through densely forested patches, across a suspension bridge and past both the North Beach and South Beach, which are ideal spots for a postrun dip if the weather permits. The Buntzen Lake Trail is also the perfect beginners’ circuit.
There are well over half a dozen trails to choose from in the region. Plus, with its close proximity to the Indian Arm Provincial Park, the Belcarra Regional Park and Sasamat Lake, novice and elite trail runners alike have enough selection to feed their insatiable trail appetite.