Belcarra Regional Park Hike
Belcarra Regional Park on the Indian Arm in British Columbia, Canada
Getaway From Vancouver to Belcarra Regional Park
Hiking the Jug Island Beach Trail
We have enjoyed a stretch of gorgeous fall weather here in Vancouver. Sunday morning, the clocks went back, and we decided to take advantage of another beautiful day to head out of the city before the days got shorter.
The coronavirus is still prevalent, and as it will be around for a while longer, we are looking for new adventures, day trips, and staycations closer to home. We would love to travel further afield, but now is not the time to do so.
Explore the pier at the Belcarra Picnic Area
Driving From Vancouver
The drive from Vancouver to Belcarra Regional Park takes less than an hour when there is no traffic. You can travel via Hwy 1 or, as we did, via East Hastings and then 7A to Port Moody.
This Sunday morning, Google Maps suggested this route. We complied and are happy we did, as we rarely travel this way and could enjoy the views of the Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains.
With beautiful views of Burrard Inlet, we picked the route taking us from Vancouver to Belcarra Regional Park driving along the coast around Burnaby Mountain and Port Moody. Click to view larger.
Belcarra Picnic Area - Starting Point
The Belcarra Picnic Area offers free parking, picnic tables, a park, and bathroom facilities. We arrived on a Sunday around noon and found the parking lots almost full. Parking along the road is not permitted.
If you have the flexibility, we suggest an earlier arrival. When we left around 2:30 p.m., visitors were struggling to find parking.
The Trail head to Jug Island Beach Trail and Bedwell Bay Trail
Jug Island Beach Trail
A couple of years ago, for Father's Day, I got a great book: 109 Walks In British Columbia’s Lower Mainland by Alice Purdey, John Halliday and Mary, and David Macaree.
We highly recommend this book, and we are making our way through the different hikes. The book helped us easily find the trailhead after crossing Bedwell Bay Road.
The Jug Island Beach Trail is rated moderate, whereas the Bedwell Bay Trail is rated easy. If you venture to Belcarra Regional Park, you have both options.
We picked the Jug Island Beach Trail, and the estimated time to complete this hike, two hours, was spot on for us. Two hours of hiking and half an hour for lunch. Distance, 5.5 K.
A flat section of the Jug Island Beach Trail
Viewpoint
Belcarra Regional Park is a popular getaway for people living in nearby Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Vancouver. On a November day, it was more crowded than we had anticipated.
We enjoyed seeing the many friends and families out enjoying the fresh air. Kids were running up and down the trails, having a great time. If you are looking for a quiet and more serene experience, visiting the park midweek may be a good idea.
The trail gets steep in sections, but hiking along the ridge rewards you with wonderful views of Bedwell Bay.
Taking a breather and taking in the view of Bedwell Bay
Jug Island
Diana suggested we swim across to Jug Island so we could enjoy the fall sun on its south side. The name of the trail is perhaps a bit misleading, as the prize at the halfway point is a view of Jug Island, not a visit to the island itself.
There is no bridge or way to get across unless you have a boat or swim. On a summer day, I may have taken Di up on the idea, but not on November 1st :)
We found a spot under the trees and enjoyed our packed lunch and snacks along the north shore of the Belcarra Peninsula.
Jug Island, BC, Canada
The Indian Arm
The waters surrounding the Belcarra peninsula are the Burrard Inlet and the Indian Arm. We hung out at the beach for a bit and took in the magnificent view of the untouched treed hillsides and mountains in the distance.
Beware of the steeper sections on this trail. Admittedly, we stopped several times to catch our breath and ensure our knees fully functioned.
Two sailboat on the water at the Indian Arm on a beautiful fall day
A few joggers effortlessly whisked by, and visitors, in general, were good at spacing out or stepping aside to allow for social distancing on the narrower parts of the trail.
Di found a walking stick and wished she had brought her walking poles as they would have been helpful on the steeper sections.
An uphill section of the Jug Island Beach Trail
Final Thoughts - Jug Island Beach Trail
We can certainly recommend this two-hour hike, which has varied terrain and is a great halfway point destination with views of Jug Island and the surrounding Indian Arm and mountains.
We can only imagine how rewarding a swim on the north shore of Belcarra Peninsula or back at the picnic area on a warm summer day would be. Come early, as this is a very popular spot.
Back on the flat section near the Belcarra Picnic Area.
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The photos in this article are made with a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses - XF 35mm f/1.4 R - XF 50mm f/1 R WR - XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Capture One Express and have used Fujifilm simulations for some of the photos.
